SIOUX CITY, IOWA (NOVEMBER 16, 2001) - The South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball team (1-0) successfully opened the 2001-02 season with a 81-62 nonconference win over the Wayne State Wildcats (0-1) at the Tri-State Classic in Sioux City, Iowa on Friday night before 500 people at Allee Gym on the Morningside College campus.
Newcomer Mandy Koupal (Wagner, S.D.), who sat out last year after transferring to South Dakota, led the Coyotes with 24 points and 14 rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal. With Koupal, the Coyotes had three players in double figures. Junior forward Heather Nelson (Yankton, S.D.) had 15 points including two three-point baskets. Sophomore shooting guard Krista Orsack (Sioux Falls, S.D.) also scored 15 points. Dating back to last season, the Coyotes have won eight of their last 10 games.
Things have started far different in 2001-02 than a year ago when Wayne State dealt South Dakota a 74-58 loss in the season opener. Tonight, the Coyotes jumped ahead early and maintained a double figure advantage for most of the game.
After Wayne State took an early 4-3 lead, the Coyotes took off on a 10-0 run to grab a 13-4 lead as Alissa Koronkiewicz (Peshtigo, Wisc.) knocked home a pair of free throws at the 13:32 mark of the opening half. A jumper by Wayne State's Dodie Martin cut the margin to 19-13 at the 8:12 mark, but once again, the Coyotes gathered themselves and built on their lead. A three-point basket by Orsack provided South Dakota with a 27-16 lead at the 5:35 mark.
After the Wildcats received consecutive lay-ups by Karen Hochstein to draw within 27-20, Orsack answered again from three-point range, giving the Coyotes a 30-20 advantage. Then, Koupal hit a pair of free throws and sophomore guard Stacey Schooley (Watertown, S.D.) hit a jumper as South Dakota increased their lead to 34-20. A free throw by Koronkiewicz and a basket by freshman Erin Case (Sioux Falls, S.D.) culminated another 10-0 Coyote run and provided South Dakota a 37-20 lead. After a Hochstein lay-up, the Coyotes received consecutive baskets by Orsack, including a three-point basket with :32 to play for a 42-22 lead. Hochstein hit a three-point basket with :12 left in the half to cut the Coyotes' halftime lead to 42-25.
Orsack led all scorers with 11 points in the first half while Koupal added 10. Hochstein had 10 points for Wayne State. In the opening half, South Dakota hit 14 of 34 field goals for 41.2 percent and five of 12 three-point baskets for 41.7 percent. They were nine of 11 from the free throw line for 81.8 percent. Meanwhile, Wayne State suffered through a difficult shooting first half, hitting just eight of 28 field goals for 28.6 percent. They were two of six from the three-point line for 33.3 percent and seven of 13 from the free throw line for 53.8 percent.
The second half was much like the first half as South Dakota built a 25-point lead after Nelson converted a lay-up and junior Amanda Iverson (Vermillion, S.D.) hit a free throw for a 58-33 advantage with 12:38 to play.
Wayne State cut into the margin at times in the second half but could not draw any closer than 17 points. Martin hit a pair of three point baskets to cut the Coyotes lead to 58-41 with 10:51 to play.
After a South Dakota timeout, the Coyotes answered that charge. Koupal scored inside, Orsack converted a lay-up and sophomore point guard Dawn Sudbeck (Parkston, S.D.) hit her second three-point basket of the game for a 66-41 lead with 8:05 to play.
The Coyotes regained a 25-point lead with 3:32 to play on a Koupal basket.
For the game, the Coyotes hit 28 of 75 shots for 37.3 percent, including eight of 20 three-point baskets for 40 percent. They were 17 of 23 from the free throw line for 73.9 percent. Wayne State hit just 17 of 55 shots for 30.9 percent and was seven of 21 from three-point range for 33.3 percent. They hit 21 of 32 free throws for 65.6 percent.
Tracy Williamson and Hochstein led the Wildcats with 16 points while Martin chipped in with 15 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Hochstein tied Koupal for rebound honors with 14 boards.
Sudbeck had eight points, four rebounds, three assists and five steals in 20 minutes of action. Iverson had seven points and eight rebounds while Koronkiewicz added six points and seven rebounds. The Coyotes won the rebound battle, 49-45.
A key difference in the game was turnovers as South Dakota committed just nine and forced the Wildcats in 18 miscues.
The Coyotes will play Northern State on Saturday night at the Tri-State Classic with gametime at 6 p.m.
