Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Sioux Falls Cougars got off to a fast start and shot 57 percent from the field to defeat Nebraska-Kearney, 84-60, Friday night in South Dakota.

This was the season opener for both teams.

Picked to finish third in the NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference), USF scored the game's first 18 points. UNK was down 28-10 after the first quarter and was outscored by just six points the rest of the way.

A veteran USF squad shot 67% (20 of 30) in the first half to build a 47-27 cushion. They remained that hot until late the third quarter and finished 32 of 56, including a 7 of 18 effort from behind the arc.

Defensively, the Cougars held UNK to 21% (7 of 34) field goal shooting in the first half and 31% (18 of 58) overall. The Lopers shot below 31% three times last season, twice against NSIC foes.

USF also had plus three rebounding and turnover margins and outscored UNK 46-16 in the paint.

Individually, 6-2 junior post Sam Knecht went 11 of 14 from the floor to score a game-high 24 points with senior guard Taylor Varsho, a former Colorado State Ram, tallying 22 on 9 of 15 (4 of 8 threes) shooting. Off the bench, 6-1 senior post Teagan Molden had 16 points, six rebounds and three assists.

UNK saw Grand Island sophomore guard McKenzie Brown have a team-high 15 points thanks to 6 of 11 (3 of 7 threes) shooting. Next, starting post Imani Kyser (Madison, Ala.) had 10 points and four boards with Lincoln freshman reserve post Kenney Sander at 12 points, five rebounds (two offensive) and two steals.

Finally, Kansas senior forward Bri Starks had a team-best nine rebounds (four offensive), three assists and two points.

The Lopers face Augustana Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in USF's Stewart Center. The Vikings crushed Northwest Missouri State, 89-52, earlier tonight.