VERMILLION, S.D. - Defense is the trademark of Chad Lavin's South Dakota women's basketball team. Tight, aggressive defense has been the one constant this season for South Dakota and on Saturday night, the Coyotes again limited their opponents to below 60 points and won their fourth straight game. The Coyotes won their NCC home opener and moved to 1-2 in the NCC.

South Dakota (7-4, 1-2 in the NCC), led by sophomore forward Mandy Koupal, defeated Augustana (7-4, 2-1 in the NCC), 65-54 before 2,221 at the DakotaDome. Koupal, the NCC's third leading scorer (19.0) and leading rebounder (9.7 per game), had 18 points and 11 rebounds for her seventh double double (points and rebounds) this season.

With the win, South Dakota broke a 12-game losing streak to Augustana, dating back to the Coyotes' 73-70 win over the Vikings in 1994-95. Entering tonight's game, the Coyotes led the NCC in scoring defense, permitting just 56.5 points per game. And, the results tonight were similar as South Dakota limited the Vikings to 23 first half points and 31 points in the second half. South Dakota, which had uncharacteristic 21 turnovers, limited the visitors to 31.7 percent shooting for the game.

Augustana jumped to a quick 5-0 lead when the Vikings' Laura Hensley knocked home a three-pointer at the 16:55 mark. South Dakota's Krista Orsack (Sioux Falls, S.D.) responded with a three of her own to draw USD within 5-3 at the 16:14 mark. After the Vikings increased the margin to 11-5 (12:30) on a three-pointer by Tresse Klumper, the Coyotes fought back to take the lead 17-16 on a pair of free throws by Orsack at the 8:34 mark.

The Coyotes increased their lead to 21-16 on a lay-up by South Dakota junior forward Amanda Iverson (Vermillion, S.D.) at the 3:58 mark of the first half. Then it was the Vikings who fought back, pulling within 21-20 at the 3:11 mark on two free throws by Klumper. After the Vikings tied the game at 23-23 on a field goal and free throw by Katie Krauth, the Coyotes answered with four straight points as Koupal scored inside off an assist by Dawn Sudbeck (Dimock, S.D.) and junior forward Heather Nelson (Yankton, S.D.) hit a jumper in the lane, also off a feed from Sudbeck. USD led 27-23 at halftime. South Dakota hit 10 of 29 field goals in the first half for 34.5 percent, including three of 10 three-point field goals and four of six free throws for 66.7 percent. Nelson had seven points and four rebounds to lead the Coyotes, who received five points from Koupal, Orsack and Iverson. Augustana hit eight of 28 field goals for 28.6 percent and they hit three of 11 three-point field goals for 27.3 percent. The Vikings hit four of five free throws for 80 percent. Joanna Naumann had seven points off the bench to lead Augustana. Early in the second half, a jumper by Charissa Shephard cut the Coyotes' lead to 29-27 at the 18:39 mark. South Dakota came back with a 5-2 run to grab a 34-29 lead at the 16:28 mark as Nelson hit a jumper. Four straight points by Iverson game South Dakota a 38-31 lead with 15:14 left to play. A three-pointer by Sudbeck and a lay-up by Iverson increased the lead to 44-31 at the 13:05 mark. A jumper by the Vikings Joanna Naumann cut the lead to 49-39 with 9:46 to play.

Consecutive jumpers by Augustana's point guard Tamera Oltmanns cut the Coyotes' lead to 49-43 with 8:31 to play. The Coyotes regained their composure as Nelson hit a jumper (7:55) and a lay-up plus a free throw after she was fouled to grab a 54-43 lead with 7:19 to play in the game. Two free throws and a jumper by Koupal gave USD a 60-46 lead with 3:55 to play.

From that point, it was a matter of Augustana firing up shots as quick as possible and South Dakota trying their hand at the free throw line. The Coyotes hit five of 10 free throws to hold off Augustana.

Nelson had a solid game for the Coyotes as she had 18 points includiing seven of nine field goals and two of three from the three-point line. She also grabbed six rebounds, handed out two assists and had a steal in 32 minutes of action. Iverson scored 12 points, hitting four of five field goals. She had four steals. Overall the Coyotes made 20 of 48 field goals for 41.7 percent, including five of 13 three-point field goals for 38.5 percent. USD hit 20 of 30 free throws for 66.7 percent.

Augustana, led by Klumper's 13 points, hit 19 of 60 field goals for 31.7 percent. They were five of 17 from the three-point line and 11 of 13 from the free throw line for 84.6 percent. Also scoring in double figures was Naumann with 12 and Oltmanns with 10 points.

South Dakota will host South Dakota State at 6 p.m. on Sunday night at the DakotaDome.