Doane was able to top their second straight opponent who was knocking on the doors of the national poll on Saturday evening, topping Sioux Falls, 68-62. The Cougars were receiving votes and currently sit in fifth place in the GPAC standings. Both teams were cold from the floor early before Kristine Ortmeier hit a lay-up four minutes into the contest. However, USF still had the lead as they hit three free throws prior to the Doane basket. Sioux Falls took a 9-2 lead before Tiger senior Lindsay Shaw entered the game.
Shaw hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to one at 9-8. USF responded with a 6-0 run of their own to take back the seven-point lead before Shaw hit her third shot from behind the arc. The Coo came back as Becky Christofferson hit a three-pointer to lead 18-11.
Another Tiger senior, Vanessa Munter gave the Tigers their second spark of the half with back-to-back buckets, including an old-fashion three-point play. Doane closed the half on a 24-9 run to take a 35-27 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Doane was able to build a 15-point lead at 52-37. However, USF showed why they are a team to consider for the national poll. The Coo went on a 22-8 run and pulled with one point at 60-59.
The Tigers have been a different team in the second half of the season and when faced with adversity, they have been able to find an answer in most occasions the past two weeks.
Ortmeier hit a basket and free throw to move the lead to four points and Munter posted a jumper and a pair of free throws to move the lead to eight, 67-59. Christofferson knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead to five. Brittany Luettel hit a free throw to close out the scoring and the six-point victory for Doane.
Munter led the Tigers with 21 points and three steals. Shaw posted 14 points, hitting four three-pointers in the game. Cheryl Braithwait added 11 points and four assists while Ortmeier and Luettel added nine and eight points, respectively, off the bench. Braithwait, Nicole Skolnick and Savannah Lohmeier in team-high honors as they each posted six rebounds.
Sioux Falls received 22 points off the bench from Jamey Hofer. Christofferson added 11 points and a game-high seven rebounds. She also led USF with four assists.