SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Concordia Golden Bears women's basketball team (13-7, 9-5 NSIC) came away with a big upset win at Sioux Falls (15-3, 11-3 NSIC) on Saturday night, topping the Cougars 62-51 to extended their winning streak to six games.

CSP had a rough start to the game but picked up the intensity in the final three quarters. The Golden Bears finished the game shooting 42.9% (18-42) from the field and from 3-point range (6-14). They did struggle shooting from free-throw line as they shot 60.6% (20-33).

USF started off the game shooting the ball extremely well but would go cold in the final three quarters as they shot 36.5% (19-52) from the field and 20.8% (5-24) from distance.

Caitlyn Russell had an outstanding game for the Golden Bears scoring a game-high 22 points, pulling in 10 rebounds and blocking five shots. Russell's five blocks tied her career-high Anna Schmitt added 20 points on 6-9 shooting and a pair of assists. Mishayla Jones finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Kyrah Fredenburg pulled in a game-high 12 rebounds.

Sioux Falls was led by Sam Knecht who scored a team-high 13 points. Brooke Smith finished with 12 points for the Cougars while adding four rebounds and four assists.

It was a quick and hot start for Sioux Falls as they used a 9-0 run to break the 4-4 tie and take a 13-4 lead at the first media timeout. CSP would get their offense going following the media timeout but the hot shooting Cougars would take a 21-11 lead heading into the second quarter.

The Golden Bears picked up the offense in the second quarter as they outscored USF 15-9 in the quarter to pull within four heading into the intermission. Caitlyn Russell led CSP with eight first half points while Anna Schmitt added seven first half points. Sam Knecht led all scorers with 10 first half points.

Coming out of the intermission, the Golden Bears continued to continue to slowly chip away at the USF lead and would pull within one after a pair of free-throws by Russell with just over six minutes left in the quarter.

The Cougars would rebuild their lead back up to six on their next two possessions and would continue to hold a slight lead until Mishayla Jones hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 42 apiece heading into the final quarter of play.

CSP outscored USF 16-12 in the quarter and tied the game for the first time since it was 4-4 in the first quarter.

Concordia would begin the fourth quarter with possession of the ball and after lay-in by Russell off a nice pass from Jones, the Golden Bears would take their first lead of the game of 44-42.

The Golden Bears would continue to hold their small lead for the next six minutes of the quarter and with a two point lead CSP would take a timeout with 3:26 left in the game.

Coming out of the timeout, Schmitt would hit her third 3-pointer of the game and then make a pair of free-throws to give CSP their biggest lead of the game at the time of seven, with just over two minutes left in the game.

From there the Cougars would not be able to get any closer, forcing them to foul and sending Concordia to the free-throw line. The Golden Bears would go 6-8 from the line to close out the game and seal the 62-51 win.

Concordia now holds a 7-3 series record against Sioux Falls and the win snaps their three game losing streak against the Cougars.

Concordia continues their four game road trip as they travel to Bemidji State on Friday, Jan. 27 for a 6 pm start before traveling to Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, Jan. 28 for a 4 pm start.