ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The St. Cloud Huskies (18-7, 11-6 in the NCC) outscored the South Dakota women's basketball team, 13-5, in overtime to grab a 72-64 win in North Central Conference women's basketball at Halenbeck Hall at St. Cloud on Friday night. The win by St. Cloud snapped South Dakota's six-game winning streak, including five in a row in the NCC.
With the win, St. Cloud evened the all-time series with South Dakota at 19-19 and now has won seven of the past eight games vs. South Dakota.
St. Cloud jumped to a 6-0 lead after the Huskies' Christina Williamson hit a three-point basket with 16:19 to play in the first half. South Dakota, which did not scored in the opening four minutes of the game, cut the deficit in half (6-3) when freshman Krista Orsack hit a three-point basket at the 15:45 mark. Orsack tied the game at 8-8 on another three-pointer at the 14:06 mark. The Coyotes grabbed a two-point lead, 17-15, with 9:47 to play on a three-point basket by sophomore Nicole Jaycox. That shot began an 11-4 Coyote run. After Jaycox's basket, sophomore Amanda Iverson made a free throw, which was followed by jumpers from sophomore Heather Nelson and senior point guard Kelly Gese (2:11). But the home-standing Huskies fought back, cutting the deficit to 27-25 with 43 seconds to play in the half on a basket by Nicole Persby. The Coyotes finished the scoring in the first half as Nelson hit a free throw and Gese knocked down two foul shots with eight seconds to play as South Dakota grabbed a 30-26 lead at the break.
South Dakota hit 10 of 24 field goals for 41.7 percent, including five of 12 three-point field goals for 41.7 percent in the first half. The Coyotes made five of seven free throws and had 13 rebounds, including three offensive boards. Orsack led South Dakota with nine points, converting a trio of three-point baskets. Meanwhile St. Cloud made 10 of 27 field goals for 37 percent. They made two of 10 three-point field goals for 20 percent and hit four of seven free throws for 57.1 percent. St. Cloud won the rebound battle, 22-13, and had 10 offensive rebounds.
St. Cloud came out on fire in the second half, scoring the eight straight points to grab a 34-30 lead after Leah Thomsen hit a jumper with 17:20 to play. But the second half was a back and forth battle as both teams played strong defense and neither team could grab more than a four-point advantage during the second 20-minutes of play. The Coyotes regained the lead, 35-34 (16:07), when Orsack hit her fourth three-point basket of the night. St. Cloud took a 43-40 lead at the 12:48 mark when Thomsen scored inside. South Dakota answered the Huskies' charge by taking a 44-43 lead when Iverson hit a pair of free throws. But, St. Cloud responded by taking a 50-46 lead on a jumper by Schreiner at the 9:39 mark. Shortly thereafter, Nelson made a jumper and the Coyotes tied St. Cloud, 50-50, at the 8:19 mark. A pair of free throws by Frie gave the Coyotes a 54-53 lead.
At the 4:10 mark, Schreiner tied the game at 54-54 by making a free throw. Then Frie made a three-pointer to give the Coyotes a 57-56 lead with 3:13 to play. Williamson hit a free throw and then followed up her own missed free throw with an offensive rebound and putback to give St. Cloud a 59-57 lead. Then Koepp hit two free throws to tie the game at 59-59 with a 1:03 to play. Both teams had shots to win the game in the closing seconds but failed to convert the opportunities.
St. Cloud dominated the overtime period as Jessica Abrahams opened the extra period by hitting a three-pointer at the 4:44 mark. After Frie scored to draw South Dakota within 62-61, the Huskies went on a 10-3 run to grabthe victory. Schreiner had seven points in overtime to lead the Huskies to the victory.
Overall South Dakota hit 18 of 59 field goals for 30.5 percent including seven of 24 three-point field goals for 29.2 percent. The Coyotes hit 21 of 24 free throws for a season high 87.5 percent. Frie led the Coyotes with 15 points while Orsack had 12 points, Gese and Iverson both had 10 points.
St. Cloud hit 25 of 59 field goals for 42.4 percent, including five of 18 three-point field goals for 27.8 percent. The Huskies hit 17 of 24 free throws for 70.8 percent. Schreiner had 28 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Huskies. Persby had 11 points, five assists and four rebounds while Andrea Shogren had 10 points. St. Cloud won the rebound battle, 51-32.
