VERMILLION, S.D. -- The South Dakota women's basketball team (6-4) took a 15-point halftime lead and cruised to their third-straight win with a 82-53 victory over Simpson College (7-1) on Friday night before 725 in attendance at the DakotaDome.

Four Coyotes scored in double figures, including sophomore forward Mandy Koupal (Wagner, S.D.), who had 17 points, four rebounds and three steals in 16 minutes of action. Junior forward Heather Nelson (Yankton, S.D.) added 15 points, four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and three steals. Sophomore guard Dawn Sudbeck (Dimock, S.D.) had a season high 12 points and four assists while junior forward Julia Frie (Byron, Minn.) provided 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds for South Dakota. Casey Spree and Katie Egli each had 11 points for Simpson, who are ranked No. 12 in NCAA Division III. Defense has been the name of the game for South Dakota during its first 10 games of the season. They have permitted opponents just 56 points per game. Tonight, it was more of the same as South Dakota throttled a high-powered Simpson College attack, limiting the Storm to 23 first half points and holding them to 34.7 percent shooting from the field for the game. For the third straight game, the Coyotes recorded at least 20 steals and also had six blocked shots.

As has been the case in recent games, the Coyotes once again limited their opponents offensively in the first seven minutes of the game. South Dakota, which jumped to 17-0 first-half leads in recent wins over Minnesota-Morris and the College of St. Mary, jumped to a 14-3 lead at the 13:05 mark of the opening half against Simpson College. Three pointers by Erin Case (13:40) and Frie (13:05) provided the Coyotes with the 11-point margin.

A jumper by Egli brought the Storm within 17-10 at the 11:14 mark. The Coyotes used a three-point basket by Krista Orsack (9:11) and a lay-up by sophomore guard Stacy Schooley (Watertown, S.D.) to take a 24-12 lead with 7:23 to play in the half. The Coyotes' lead drew to 30-17 when Frie hit her second three-point basket of the evening. Simpson scored the next four points to draw within 30-21 at the 2:00 mark after Michelle Stover hit a jumper. Two free throws by Ashley Bogaards cut the lead to 31-23 at the 1:35 mark but then the Coyotes received seven straight points from Sudbeck to grab a 38-23 halftime lead.

South Dakota hit 14 of 38 field goals for 36.8 percent in the first half but was hot from the three-point arc, knocking home seven of 17 three-point baskets for 41.2 percent. Frie hit three of four three-pointers and led South Dakota with 11 points in the opening stanza. Meanwhile, Simpson hit nine of 20 field goals for 45 percent and was two of five from three-point range. They received six points from Stover and Egli.

The Coyotes opened the second half on a 14-0 run to grab a 52-23 lead at the 15:46 mark. Nelson had five points and a steal to lead the Coyotes' charge. Simpson answered with an 11-4 run as Egli hit a jumper at the 12:13 mark to pull the Storm within 56-34. On the next possession, Sudbeck hit another three-point basket as South Dakota led 59-34 with 11:54 to play.

Simpson again mounted a challenge by outscoring South Dakota, 9-0 over the next three minutes to draw within 59-43 as Egli scored inside and converted a free throw after being fouled (9:34). Once again, the Coyotes answered the charge by Simpson. The Coyotes outscored the Storm, 11-4 to grab a 70-47 lead with 5:07 to play on a pair of free throws by Koupal. Two free throws by Sudbeck at the 2:18 mark gave South Dakota an 80-53 lead.

Overall, South Dakota hit 27 of 70 field goals for 38.6 percent. They were eight of 24 from three-point range for 33.3 percent and they hit 20 of 24 free throws for 83.3 percent. Koupal, who was hampered by foul trouble in the first half and scored just two points, had 15 points in the second half. She hit five of eight field goals and seven of eight free throws on the night. It was Koupal's 10th straight double figure scoring game.

Simpson hit 17 of 49 field goals for 34.7 percent but were just eight of 29 from the field in the second half for 27.6 percent. On the night, they made just three of 11 three-point field goals but were 16 of 21 from the charity stripe for 76.2 percent. The Storm won the rebound battle, 42-34.

Next weekend, Dec. 29-30 (Saturday and Sunday), the Coyotes will host Augustana and South Dakota State. The Coyotes will face Augustana at 6 p.m. on Saturday and they play SDSU at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening.