SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Winona State University women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Friday night when Sioux Falls beat the buzzer for a game-winning layup to complete a late second half comeback, 61-60.
The Warriors fall to 5-1 (1-1 NSIC) while USF improves to 4-1 (2-0 NSIC).
WSU led by a 57-48 count after a three-pointer by Liz Evenocheck with under four minutes left to play in the contest. The Warriors opened the fourth quarter with eight-unanswered points which was aided by nine Cougar missed shots before the home team got hot.
USF proceed to go on a 9-0 run to knot the score with 1:17 left on the clock. Senior Hannah McGlone had a huge night for the Warriors and halted the Cougar streak with a layup to put the Warriors back in front on the ensuing possession.
Allie Pickrain gave Winona a 60-57 lead at the free throw line with 18 seconds remaining, but USF refused to quit. The Cougars cut it to a one-point game on a quick basket after a timeout, and forced a critical Winona turnover as the Warriors were unable to inbound the ball.
Jamine Harris capped her 22-point night with a layup before the buzzer sounded to complete the Cougar comeback.
The teams traded baskets and the lead in the first half of play before USF went on a run late in the second quarter to take a 34-29 advantage into the break.
Both sides shot 48 percent from the field over the first two quarters, but the Cougars were 5-of-9 from beyond the arc while WSU hit just 1-of-6 attempts from downtown. Neither team knocked down more than two shots from long range in the second half.
USF led by as many as eight points early in the third quarter, only to see WSU send the game into the fourth at a 46-all tie, which served as a precursor to the Cougars' late comeback.
McGlone notched her second double-double of the year, and 14th of her career, with 17 rebounds and a career-best 25 points. She posted 19 points and 13 rebounds in the first two quarters alone.
Pickrain also added another double-digit performance to her young resume with 10 points.
The Cougars forced Winona into committing a season-worst 19 turnovers which USF turned into 20 points.
The Warriors are back in action tomorrow night as they continue the weekend road trip with another tough test in Southwest Minnesota State. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. from Marshall, Minnesota.
