MANKATO, Minn. - The University of South Dakota women's basketball team (15-11, 9-9 in the NCC) rebounded from an overtime loss on Friday to take a 64-50 North Central Conference victory over Minnesota State-Mankato on Saturday night at the Bresnan Arena of the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn.
As a result of the Coyote victory and other NCC results, South Dakota will be seeded No. 6 in the Wells Fargo/NCC Postseason Tourney which begins on Tuesday. They will face No. 3 seeded North Dakota State on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at Fargo, N.D.
Against Minnesota State-Mankato, the Coyotes hit 16 of 25 field goals for a blistering 64 percent to grab a 41-19 lead and cruised to the victory. The Coyotes are 9-4 at home, 6-5 on the road and 0-2 on a neutral floor. In NCC play, they have a 5-4 mark at home and 4-5 away. South Dakota has now won eight of their past 11 games. The nine conference wins this season is the most for a Coyote team since the 1992-93 season when USD was 9-9. South Dakota improved their overall series record to 21-16 vs. Minnesota State-Mankato. With the win, the Coyotes evened their season series with the Mavericks, who defeated South Dakota, 64-61 on Dec. 8, 2000 at the DakotaDome. With the win, head coach Chad Lavin is now 115-79 (.590) at South Dakota and 289-242 (.542) overall.
After suffering the 72-64 overtime loss to St. Cloud on Friday night, the Coyotes came out on fire against the Mavericks. South Dakota jumped to a 7-2 lead after sophomore forward Amanda Iverson scored on a lay-up at the 15:50 mark of the opening half. A lay-up by Kelly Gese extended the lead to 11-6 (14:23). The Coyotes scored the next 11 points of the game to grab a 22-6 lead at the 10:24 mark of the first half. After the Mavericks' Kristin Volk hit a three-pointer, South Dakota freshman Krista Orsack hit from long distance for a 25-9 lead. Two free throws by Iverson extended the margin to 30-13 at the 5:41 mark. Freshman Jodi Schroeder hit a jumper to give the Coyotes a 34-15 lead at the 4:07 mark. Then Heather Nelson and Kelly Koepp made jumpers for a 40-18 lead with 1:03 to play in the opening half. In the best shooting first half of the season by South Dakota, the Coyotes not only hit 16 of 25 field goals but also made both of their three-point baskets and knocked down six of seven free throws for 85.7 percent. Orsack and Gese both had eight points to lead South Dakota. Koepp added seven points. The Coyote won the rebound battle, 17-10. Meanwhile, the Mavericks hit just seven of 20 field goals for 35 percent including just two of 10 three-point baskets and three of nine free throws. Volk and Danielle Bridges had five points to lead Minnesota State-Mankato.
In the second half, the Coyotes did not maintain their blistering offensive pace but played solid defense to keep the Mavericks at bay. South Dakota hit just 10 of 29 field goals for 34.5 percent and missed all eight of their three-point attempts in the final 20 minutes. South Dakota was able to maintain a double figure margin as the Mavericks were able to hit just 10 of 29 field goals for 34.5 percent, including two of 15 three-point field goals.
A lay-up by Gese extended the Coyote lead to 44-21 at the 16:40 mark. South Dakota led 47-27 when Iverson made one of two free throws at the 12:09 mark of the second half. South Dakota increased their lead to 57-30 at the 8:08 mark after Koepp hit consecutive jumpers. Minnesota State cut the margin to 62-45 at the 2:55 mark following a lay-up by Kim Curtis. A jumper by Kris Neuberger trimmed the deficit to 62-48 with 1:29 to play in the game. Two free throws by Kris Wolle drew the Mavericks within 62-50 with 41 seconds left. South Dakota's Julia Frie hit a jumper with 12 seconds to play to finish the scoring on the night.
Gese who had 16 points, six assists and five rebounds led South Dakota. She now has 308 points this season for a career total of 1,284, to move into fifth place on the Coyote career-scoring chart. With 26 points this weekend, she passed Mitzi Frericks (1982-86), 1,264, Stacy Kracht (1987-91), 1,277, and Amy Heller (1987-91), 1,282. Her 140 assists this season gives Gese 433 for her career, which is third on the school's all-time assist list. Gese has three of the 20 best all-time single season assist totals in school history. Her total this season is the 5th best all-time and her 119 assists in 1997-98 is 11th best all-time. Her total of 105 in 1996-97 is the 17th best total in school history. Also for South Dakota, Iverson had 11 points and three rebounds while Koepp contributed 12 points.
Minnesota State-Mankato received 12 points from Curtis and nine points from Kelli Freeman and Volk. The Mavericks won the rebound battle, 37-32.
