VERMILLION, S.D. -- The University of South Dakota women's basketball team (1-2) lost their second straight close game, this time a 62-61 nonconference decision at home to Dakota Wesleyan (6-1) on Wednesday night at the DakotaDome. Sophomore Randi Morgan hit a shot with 22 seconds to play to give DWU the one-point victory.

The Coyotes' offensive woes continued as they made just 23 of 65 field goals for 35.4 percent, including just nine of 32 second half shots for 28 percent. The Tigers did not shoot much better, hitting just 25 of 66 field goals for 37.9 percent. They made 12 of 31-second half field goals for 38.7 percent.

South Dakota grabbed an early 7-2 advantage (18:08) when Heather Nelson (Yankton, S.D.), who led the Coyotes with 18 points, knocked home a three-point basket. On the night, Nelson hit three baskets from beyond the three-point arc and had a team high nine rebounds in her best performance of the season.

After the early Coyote surge, DWU responded with seven straight points and took a 9-7 lead at the 16:41 mark on a jumper by Morgan, who had a team-high 17 points and 13 rebounds. Another inside basket by Morgan gave the visitors a 14-11 lead at the 14:53 mark of the opening half.

Mandy Koupal (Wagner, S.D.) hit a jumper to tie the game at 16-16 at the 11:25 mark but DWU scored the next four points to grab a 20-16 lead with 10:14 to play. DWU extended the lead to 29-22 when Nikki Weber hit a three-point basket and Morgan scored inside.

With :47 seconds left in the half, Nelson hit a three-point basket to cut the deficit to 31-27. Nelson, who scored the Coyotes' final seven points of the half, hit a pair of free throws and a jumper at the buzzer to pull South Dakota within 33-32 at the halftime break.

Nelson led all scorers with 13 points in the first half. South Dakota hit 14 of 33 field goals for 42.4 percent in the first half but made just two of 11 three-point baskets for 18 percent.

Meanwhile, Morgan led DWU with nine first half points and Emily Janssen added eight. DWU hit 13 of 32 first half field goals for 40.6 percent. They were two of five from the three-point arc and five of six from the free throw line.

DWU extended their lead to 37-32 when Morgan scored inside at the 17:38 mark of the second half. A three-point basket by Krista Orsack (Sioux Falls, S.D.) cut the lead to 37-35 with 16:19 to play. But DWU responded with consecutive baskets on jump shots by Janssen and Victoria Drefs to grab a 43-35 lead with 14:40 to play.

The Coyotes answered that surge when Orsack hit another three-point basket and Julia Frie (Byron, Minn.) scored inside as South Dakota cut the DWU lead to 43-40. A jumper by Orsack and a lay-up by Frie gave the Coyotes a 44-43 lead at the 10:05 mark.

After DWU's Amanda Williams scored, Koupal answered with a jumper at the 7:26 mark for a 46-45 South Dakota lead. Then freshman Erin Case (Sioux Falls, S.D.) made a lay-up and South Dakota led 48-45 with 6:44 to play. Weber answered with a three-point basket to tie the game at 48 with 5:39 left to play. In this back and forth tussle, the Coyotes grabbed a 54-50 lead on a pair of free throws and a lay-up by senior forward Alissa Koronkiewicz (Peshtigo, Wisc.) at the 3:52 mark. Back came DWU as Williams hit a three-point basket to cut the Coyote lead to 54-53 with 3:44 left.

After a timeout, Nelson hit her third three-point basket to give the Coyotes a 57-53 lead with 3:06 left in the game. The Coyotes made it 59-53 on a pair of Nelson free throws at the 2:37 mark.

From that point, the Coyotes had trouble on offense and DWU outscored South Dakota 9-2 down the stretch to grab the victory. After Morgan hit the go-ahead basket with :22 seconds to play, Orsack had an open jumper with three seconds to play but it bounced off the rim and the Coyotes were forced to foul. Aside from Nelson, two other Coyotes reached double figures in scoring with Orsack contributing 12 points and Koupal, who spent most of the night in foul trouble, adding 10 points. South Dakota made 10 of 13 free throws for 77 percent and committed just 11 turnovers. They had six steals and six blocked shots as Nelson and Koupal each had two. Frie had eight points and five rebounds.

DWU had four players in double figures. Aside from Morgan, Drefs and Janssen each had 12 points and Amanda Williams added 10 points along with 10 rebounds. DWU had 14 turnovers, four blocks and six steals, They made seven of nine free throws for 78 percent. The Tigers held a 47-39 advantage in rebounds.