MANKATO, S.D. - Despite a career high 30 points by Mandy Koupal, The University of South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball team (3-4, 0-2 in the NCC) dropped a 70-68 decision to Minnesota State - Mankato (6-2, 2-0 in the NCC) in North Central Conference basketball at the Bresnan Arena in the Taylor Center at Mankato, Minn.

For the second straight night, the Coyotes lost a game in the final seconds. With South Dakota holding a 68-65 lead with :27 seconds to play, Minnesota State got a three-pointer from Kim Curtis to tie the game at 68 with 3.7 seconds left. Then MSU guard Kris Wolle stole the ball and hit a baseline jumper with 0.9 seconds left to give the Mavericks their second straight North Central Conference victory. For the Coyotes, this is the fourth game this year that they have lost by two points or less.

Koupal (Wagner, S.D.), who just missed a double double, hit 10 of 20 field goals, including 10-14 free throws. She also had nine rebounds. South Dakota opened up a 9-4 lead as Krista Orsack (Sioux Falls, S.D.) continued her hot shooting from three-point range with a pair in the opening minutes. Koupal scored inside to give USD an 11-6 lead at the 14:30 mark. Minnesota State answered the run as Kristin Volk hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 11-11 with 13:37 to play.

The Mavericks then outscored South Dakota, 7-2 to grab an 18-13 lead when Curtis hit a three-pointer with 10:37 to play in the half.

After South Dakota's Heather Nelson (Yankton, S.D.) hit a three-pointer to draw USD within 20-19 at the 8:53 mark, Minnesota State took control. Susan Salonek hit a three-pointer at the 5:20 mark to give the Mavericks a 31-21 lead.

Then after the Coyotes took off on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 33-28, MSU's Kristin Volk hit a three-pointer to give the Mavericks a 36-28 lead with 3:12 to play. But the Mavericks' three-point barrage was not finished as Kim Elg and Kelli Freeman connected on long jump shots for a 42-30 lead with 1:32 to play. The Mavericks, who eight of 16 three-point field goals in the first half, led 44-32 at the halftime break.

Overall Minnesota State made 17 of 29 field goals for 58.6 percent in the opening half while South Dakota was just nine of 27 from the field for 33.3 percent. USD hit four of eight three-point field goals and 10 of 14 free throws (71.4 percent). Koupal kept South Dakota close with 16 first-half points while Orsack had eight. Volk and Elg, who each had eight points, led the Mavericks.

This game was a tale of two halves. For the most part, South Dakota dominated play in the second half, outscoring Minnesota State, 36-26, in the final stanza.

The Coyotes opened the second half on a 27-12 run to grab a 59-56 lead with 8:30 to play when Koupal scored inside on hook shot. During the run, junior forward Julia Frie (Byron, Minn.) hit a pair of three-point baskets.

After Curtis scored to cut the lead to one, Orsack hit her third three-point basket to give USD a 62-58 lead at the 7:22 mark. Two free throws by the Mavericks' Jenny Groom cut the Coyotes' lead to 62-60. After South Dakota point guard Stacy Schooley (Watertown, S.D.) hit a jumper, Curtis hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 64-64 with 2:07 to play.

A jumper by Koupal gave USD a 66-64 lead with 1:34 to play. Then Groom was fouled and made one free throw to cut the lead to 66-65 with :31 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Schooley was fouled and she made a pair to give the Coyotes a three-point lead at 68-65. That is when the roof fell in for the Coyotes.

After the Coyotes grabbed a missed shot, the ball was knocked loose and in a scramble for the ball, the officials ruled a jump ball with possession going to Minnesota State. After a Mavericks' timeout, Curtis got free and hit the game-tying shot, setting up the dramatic final moments when Wolle stole the ball and scored.

For the game, the Coyotes hit 22 of 51 field goals for 43.1 percent, including seven of 13 three-point field goals. The Coyotes were 17 of 24 from the free throw line for 70.8 percent. Frie had 12 points and five rebounds for South Dakota. Orsack had 11 points and seven rebounds. She hit three of six three-point baskets and had 10 three-point goals in the weekend games. Schooley had eight points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Minnesota State made 25 of 56 field goals for 44.6 percent, but the Mavericks hit only eight of 27 field goals in the second half for 29.6 percent. The Mavericks were 11 of 29 from three-point range and nine of 13 (69.2 percent) from the free throw line. Curtis had 14 points including four of five from three-point range. Jenny Groom had 12 points and six rebounds.