ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia Golden Bears women's basketball team (18-9, 14-7 NSIC) came away with a big 75-68 win against Sioux Falls (18-7, 14-7 NSIC) on Friday night inside the Gangelhoff Center.

After struggling shooting from the floor last weekend, Concordia shot the ball fairly well against USF as they finished 47.1% (24-51) from the field, 40.0% (8-20) from beyond the arc and 73.1% from the free-throw line.

Sioux Falls finished 40.0% (24-60) shooting from the field, 6-22 (27.3%) from distance, and went 77.8% (14-18) from the charity stripe.

The Cougars did hold a 30-26 points in the paint advantage and a 12-8 points off turnovers advantage. CSP produced 12 second chance points compared to USF's six second chance points.

Anna Schmitt led the way for the Golden Bears with a game-high 29 points on 9-13 shooting and 4-6 from distance. Mishayla Jones added 19 points, four rebounds and four assists and Caitlyn Russell rounded out the double-digit scorers with 16 points and four blocks. Kyrah Fredenburg pulled in a game-high 18 rebounds in 39 minutes of play.

Jones' four rebounds has now given her 400 career rebounds and she also became the fifth player in program history to record 1,000 career points, 400 career rebounds and 300 career assists.

The Cougars were led by Alyson Johnsen who scored a team-high 21 points. Madi Robson and Kaely Hummel also finished in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

CSP knew they had to win to keep their chances of possibly hosting a home playoff game alive and after a back and forth first five minutes of play Concordia put together a 9-0 run to take a 16-8 lead. The Golden Bears would go on to hold a 19-14 lead after the first quarter of play.

Schmitt would lead CSP with 10 points after one and Hummel would lead USF with eight points after the first 10 minutes of play.

In the second quarter, after a basket by Concordia, the Cougars use a 5-0 run to pull within two with 6:46 left in the half. The Golden Bears would respond with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to build their lead to 31-19.

Each team would record a pair of baskets before the half and CSP would take a 36-23 lead heading into the locker room. Schmitt and Jones led CSP with 14 and 11 halftime points, respectively. Hummel led USF with eight first half points.

Coming out of the halftime intermission, the Golden Bears would continue to hold their double-digit lead the entire quarter and would reach their biggest lead of the quarter of 18 on two occasions. CSP and USF combined for 43 third quarter points but Concordia would take a 58-44 lead heading into the final quarter of play.

In the final quarter of play the Golden Bears would continue to pile on as they would eventually lead by 20 with just under six minutes remaining in the game. However, the Cougars would not go away as they would slowly claw away at the CSP lead and would get within 10 points with two minutes left in the game.

Concordia would seal the win at the free-throw line as they went 7-10 from the line in the final 1:14 of the game to come away with the 75-68 win and keeping the possibility of hosting a home playoff game alive.

Concordia is now 8-3 all-time against Sioux Falls.

CSP conclude their regular season schedule as they host Southwest Minnesota State at 4 pm inside the Gangelhoff Center.