VERMILLION, S.D.—The University of South Dakota women's basketball team concluded its season with an 80-56 victory over Augustana to finish third in the North Central Conference tournament in Vermillion (Feb. 25-27).
USD beat Morningside, 67-60, in the opening round of the NCC tourney before North Dakota State snapped the Coyotes' 10-game home winning streak with an 84-78 semifinal victory.
The Coyotes, who finished with a 14-10 mark, landed three players on the NCC all-tournament team. Senior guard
Jo Haase (Olivet, S.D.), sophomore forward
Karrie Wallen (Britt, Iowa), and junior forward
Pam Olerich (Wall Lake, Iowa) were among the eleven player honor squad. Haase scored 34 points, recorded 14 assists and was credited with 11 steals during the tourney. Eight of those steals came in the season finale, Haase's 102nd Coyote game, matching her individual record of steals in a game. Wallen poured in 54 points, making 10 of 12 free throws, and hauled down 19 rebounds while Olerich scored 50 points, making 20 of 25 field goal attempts (.800), including a record 12 consecutive over two games and connected on 10 of 14 free throws.
"The quality of play of all four semi-finalists (Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota State, Augustana and South Dakota) both Friday and Saturday nights made it a super tournament," said USD head coach Mary Zimmernan. "We averaged 52 percent from the field in our three games, obviously good shooting for us.
"We played a good game against Morningside but did not stay intense, which almost cost us the game. North Dakota State was most impressive. They have a host of outstanding shooters. We tied the game with eight minutes left but couldn't break the barrier and take the lead. They forced us to foul during the last two minutes and made their free throws.
"The Augustana win was a great team effort. We held Cindy Heyden to 18 points and kept our intensity the entire game, making it a good end of the season victory."
Renee Steeve, the Coyotes' all-time leading scorer with 1,306 career points, is one of two graduating seniors. Among her 13 records Steeve also exists with a share of most career games played, 107; most career field goals made, 526; most career free throws made, 254 and attempted 363; consecutive free throws made 25; most assists in one game, 13; and most career steals, 844; most steals in one game, eight; and second in career steals, 135.
"Our season record was disappointing," said Zimmerman. "I felt we should have won more of the close games. Our freshmen gained a lot of experience, so we'll have a good returning group despite the loss of two fine seniors. We'll play a more basic Division II schedule next year (having played nine games against Division I competition this season)."
Wallen led the Coyotes in scoring with 330 points, for a 13.8 average; was second in rebounds with 143 and tied with Haase for second in assists, 63. Steeve led the team in both assists (77) and steals (60) while finishing second in scoring, averaging 11.0 points per game.
Carol Finley was the leading rebounder with 163 and second in field goal percentage, .519.
Deb Petersen led the team in free-throw percentage, .525 (95-181), was third in rebounding with 140 and third in scoring, averaging 9.8 points per game.
