11/18/2009 11:31 pm

Sioux Falls, SD - The University of Sioux Falls women’s basketball team suffered an 85-55 loss to cross-town rival Augustana College (S.D.) in the third annual Prairie Spirit Challenge at the Sioux Falls Arena.

USF struggled shooting the entire game as they hit 24% from the field in the first half and an apparent Augustana height advantage led to 14 blocks by the Vikings. Additionally the Cougars only hit six of their 26 three point attempts. Throughout the night, when USF started to build momentum, the Vikings watered-down the momentum with a bucket of their own.

With the Cougars down 8-0 in the first half sophomore forward Betsy Hildreth (Norwalk, Iowa) put USF's first points on the board at the 15:12 mark. Hildreth finished with nine points and five rebounds.

After a couple of more Cougar scores the lead was cut in half, 14-7, but physical play inside by the Vikings held USF to 10 points over the next seven and half minutes. With the score a 30-17 Viking lean, USF matched Augustana’s eight points over the final five minutes of the half with seven points.

In the second half Becky Christofferson (Summit, S.D.) drained 14 of her 18 total points and grabbed six rebounds, but Augustana continued to control the tempo opening a 20 point lead to a 30 points, taking the 85-55 victory.

USF will play next at Hastings College (5-2) on Saturday, November 21 at 2:00 pm.

---

back to list