SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team suffered a 59-56 loss to University of Sioux Falls in the quarterfinals of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/Sanford Health Tournament on Sunday night at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. MSUM junior guard Jacky Volkert set a single-season record for assists in the loss.

MSUM fell to 23-5 on the year while Sioux Falls improved to 16-12.

Volkert had three assists in the game, and set the new MSUM single-season record with 151 assists. The previous mark of 149 was held by Dragon Hall of Famer Rosalie Hayenga.

Senior forward Drew Sannes had 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks for MSUM.  Volkert had 11 points and three assists while senior guard Cassidy Thorson had 11 points.

MSUM 36.1 percent (22-of-61) for the game, compared to 44.2 percent (23-of-52) for the Cougars, who were playing in their home city. The Dragons outrebounded USF 35-31.

MSUM led by eight (50-42) going into the fourth quarter and held a 56-51 lead with 3:06 left after a Sannes jumper. However, the Dragons would not score again.

Sophomore Mariah Szymanski, who scored a game-high 26 points, converted a basket with eight seconds left to put the Cougars up 57-56.  The Dragons had a chance to take the lead by a three-pointer bounced off, forcing them to foul.

Szymanski hit two free throws with two seconds left to make it 59-56, and the Dragons called a timeout to set up a play. Volkert got a decent look from the corner but the three wouldn't fall, leaving MSUM three points short.

The Dragons got off to a good start, building a 26-14 lead after one quarter. Thorson had seven first-quarter points while Volkert and Sannes had five each. MSUM hit 11-of-21 (52.4 percent) field goal attempts in the first quarter.

MSUM cooled off in the second, hitting just 3-of-13 field goals, as the Cougars cut the lead to 34-32 at halftime.

The Dragons ended the third quarter on a 10-3 run to push the lead to 50-42 going into the fourth.  The Cougars outscored MSUM 17-6 in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore guard Kourtney Selensky and freshman guard Lauren Fech had four assists each for MSUM.

MSUM will now await to see if it qualifies for the NCAA tournament. The field will be announced on Sunday, March 4 at 9 p.m. Central time.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons were eliminated from the NSIC tournament for the third straight year in the second round by a team hailing from Sioux Falls. The Dragons also fell to the University of Sioux Falls last year, and to Augustana two years ago.