VERMILLION, S.D. - Led by sophomore Julia Frie's 19 points and nine rebounds, USD's women's basketball team won its second straight with a 77-50 win over Mount Marty (0-3) in non-conference action in the DakotaDome Tuesday night. The Coyotes (2-1) won their home opener.
USD scored six unanswered points to jump to a 13-4 lead first-half lead (14:13) on a jumper by sophomore Heather Nelson, and lay-ups by Frie and senior Kelly Gese, following steals by the Coyotes. Later a three-pointer by Frie gave the Coyotes a 24-14 lead at the 7:10 mark of the first half. Then a lay-up and two foul shots by sophomore Amanda Iverson pushed the lead to 33-20 with 2:45 to play. The Coyotes led 37-26 the break when Kelly Koepp hit a jumper with two seconds to play in the opening stanza.
The Coyotes went on a 10-0 run early in the second half as they increased the advantage to 49-30 after Frie converted a pair of free throws. Later the Coyotes moved ahead 59-32 when freshman Krista Orsack hit a three-pointer at the 10:49 mark. A free throw by the Lancer's Emily Johnson cut the lead to 68-50 with 2:53, but that was as close as the Lancers would get in the second half. The Coyotes scored the final nine points of the game on a pair of free throws by Frie, a lay-up by freshman Katie Pulford, a lay-up and then a three-pointer at the buzzer by sophomore Gwen Meyer.
Overall, USD hit 26-of-65 field goals for 40 percent, 7-of-21 three pointers for 33 percent and 18-of-22 free throws for 82 percent. Freshman Jodi Schroeder had 10 points and four rebounds while Gese had eight points, seven assists and three steals. Sophomore Nicole Jaycox had eight points as did Iverson, who also had three rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. The Coyotes recorded nine steals and three blocks although they lost the rebound battle 45-44 to Mount Marty.
The Lancers received a team-high 12 points from Eliza Leloux, who also had eight rebounds. Kylee White had eight points and eight rebounds while Emily Fletcher added eight points. Mount Marty hit 16-of-54 field goals for 30 percent, 0-of-8 three pointers and 18-of-32 free throws for 56 percent.
