BISMARCK, ND – Poised to knock off one of the top teams in the Northern Sun, the University of Mary women's basketball team faded down the stretch to drop a 65-60 decision to the University of Sioux Falls. The Cougars, second in the NSIC standings, scored the last eight points of the game.
 
In a close contest that saw the Marauders (11-14 overall, 6-11 NSIC) hold the biggest lead of the second half at six points, turnovers proved Mary's downfall. Despite limiting USF (17-4, 13-4) to a shooting percentage of 34.7 and holding a 41-28 edge on the boards, Mary committed 26 turnovers while forcing just eight. The Cougars turned the Marauders miscues into a 30-4 advantage on points off turnovers.
 
Behind an impressive offensive performance from freshmen Gabbie Bohl and Lauren Rotunda, Mary struggled the last five minutes.
 
After a pair of Dani Williams free throws pushed Mary in front 56-55, a Rotunda basket gave the Marauders a 58-55 lead. Sam Knecht pulled USF within a point on a layup before a Bohl jumper off a Williams feed provided Mary a 60-57 lead with over five minutes remaining. It was the last points of the night for Mary.
 
Following three turnovers in their next five possessions, Mary soon found itself down 61-60 after baskets by Knecht and Andi Mataloni. Two missed shots by the Marauders soon led to a Madi Robson basket to increase the USF lead to 63-60 with 49 seconds left. Mary then missed two more shots before turning the ball over again. In the closing seconds Robson was fouled and hit a pair of free throws to seal the Cougars win.
 
Bohl scored a game-high 26 points for the Marauders. She was 8-for-9 at the line and had eight rebounds. The freshman totaled more free throws made and attempted by herself than the complete USF team, who was a combined 4-for-6.
 
Rotunda added 14 points and six rebounds. Hannah Larson had six points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Cassie Askvig added ten rebounds.
 
Mataloni came off the bench to hit five treys and score 19 points for USF. Alyson Johnsen chipped in 11 points. Knecht had eight points and ten rebounds.
 
The Marauders close out the weekend at home against Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 4 pm.
 
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