FARGO, N.D. - While it may be true that defense wins championships, in the game of basketball, a little bit of offense is also needed. The South Dakota women's basketball team again played a stellar defensive game but suffered through a difficult shooting night and lost 74-63 to North Dakota State University in the quarterfinals of the Wells Fargo North Central Conference Postseason Tournament on Tuesday night at the Bison Sports Arena.
While the No. 6 seeded Coyotes fell to the No. 3 seeded North Dakota State Bison, they showed they are a team and a program on the rise. South Dakota, which won eight of its final 12 games, finished the season 15-12, their best season since the 1992-93 team went 16-11. Since Lavin's first year, the Coyotes have improved their seasonal win total by eight games. Lavin is now 115-80 (.590) mark at South Dakota and 289-243 (.540) record overall.
From the get-go, NDSU and South Dakota experienced shooting woes as neither squad was able to manage 40 percent shooting from the field for the game. The Coyotes shot just 32.3 percent (21-65) for the game, including three of 13 from three-point range. They did manage to connect on 18 of 25 free throws. Meanwhile, the Bison were just 22 of 56 from the field for 39.3 percent, including three of 12 from three-point range. They were 27 of 34 from the free throw line. While nearly everyone had problems making a field goal, NDSU's Amanda Gehrke proved to be the difference in the game as she hit 11 of 19 field goals, including two of four three-pointers, and scored 26 points. Time and time again, Gehrke hit a big basket to thwart a Coyote rally. She also grabbed nine rebounds while senior Jaime Berry had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Things started positive for the Coyotes as they grabbed a 4-0 lead on a jumper by Kelly Koepp and a beautiful reverse lay-up by Alissa Koronkiewicz at 17:44 of the opening half. A steal and lay-up by Gehrke tied the game at 4-4 (16:47) before Berry scored inside to give the Bison a 6-4 lead with 15:12 to play. The Coyotes' Amanda Iverson broke a 3:50 scoring drought when she hit a hook shot from the right side of the court at the 12:48 mark to pull the Coyotes within 8-6. Playoffs jitters were evident in the opening 10 minutes as NDSU hit 4-14 field goals field goals for 28.6 percent while the Coyotes hit just four of 16 for 25 percent.
Still the homestanding Bison maintained a six to 10 point lead throughout the game after the Coyotes led early. Two free throws by Amundson opened the lead to 16-8 at the 7:50 mark. But, as would be the case all night, the Coyotes would fall behind before they steadied their footing and rallied against NDSU. In the opening half, Coyotes' forward Julia Frie played a key role as she scored 10 points during a three minute span. First, she scored on a driving lay-up and free throw after being fouled to cut the margin to 16-13 at 6:28. Another Frie basket answered a basket by NDSU's Luecke at 6:16 to pull South Dakota within 18-15. Then Frie hit a three-pointer and was fouled but missed the free throw to pull the Coyotes within 20-18 at the 5:00 mark.
Still, everytime the Coyotes made a run, NDSU seemed to have an answer. After the Coyotes drew within two points, the Bison built a 26-18 lead with 3:53 to play in the half. A three-pointer by Gehrke at the 1:38 mark gave NDSU a 31-20 lead. After Berry scored on an inside runner for a 33-22 lead, Gese drove the floor and found a wide-open Iverson inside to draw the Coyotes within 33-24 as the half ended.
The Coyotes had to be happy to be within nine points at the break because of their inability to score. The Coyotes hit just nine of 31 field goals for 29 percent and were just one of five from the three-point line. South Dakota hit five of nine free throws for 55.6 percent. NDSU wasn't exactly hot from the field as they hit just 12 of 32 field goals for 37.5 percent but hit eight of nine free throws for 88.9 percent. The Bison, who won the rebound battle, 29-19, hit just one of seven three-pointers. Gehrke led the Bison with 13 points and six rebounds.
NDSU gained control of the game quickly in the second half by scoring the first five points for a 38-24 lead with 18:29 to play. While the Coyotes continued to struggle on the offensive hand, no one could fault their effort. They worked hard on the defensive end, causing turnovers and scrambling for loose balls. Amanda Iverson, who had 16 points and nine rebounds on the night, helped the Coyotes stay within striking distance by continually grabbing rebounds and scoring inside after grabbing offensive rebounds. On one possession, she grabbed two straight offensive rebounds and put in a shot as she was falling to the floor. Then she hit a free throw to draw the Coyotes within 38-28 with 16:34 to play. After missing out on several opportunities, the Coyotes fell behind 41-28 when Gehrke continued her great night with a long three-pointer at the 14:17 mark. A lay-up and free throw by Amundson gave NDSU a 44-29 lead with 13:53 to play. It was the NDSU's biggest lead of the game.
Just as it appeared that this Coyote's boat was about to sink, freshman Krista Orsack stepped on board. She hit a three-pointer to pull South Dakota within 44-32 at the 13:38 mark. Then, Frie was fouled on a three-pointer and she made all three shots at the 13:00 mark as the Coyotes crawled within 44-35. On the Coyotes' next possession, Orsack hit another three-pointer at the 12:34 mark and the Coyotes trailed only 44-38. NDSU's Angie Froehlich broke a 9-0 Coyote run by hitting a pair of free throws at 12:05. After the Bison went up 49-38 on another Gehrke driving score, Gese hit a jumper to pull the Coyotes within 49-40 at the 10:03 mark. Then when Koronkiewicz scored inside to pull within 49-42 at the 9:20 mark, it appeared South Dakota was on the move but NDSU answered when Gehrke hit a long three-pointer for a 54-44 lead with 7:41 to play. But the persistent Coyotes would not fold. Iverson scored inside and then Frie was fouled on a drive and hit one of two free throws to pull the Coyotes within 54-47 at the 7:03 mark. Still, the Coyotes could not sustain their offense and at the 5:25 mark, a free throw by Heidi Jacobsen gave NDSU a 58-47 lead. After a Koepp basket, Gehrke score inside for a 60-49 lead at 4:07. Then Gehrke again scored inside before Nelson hit a jumper to draw the Coyotes within 62-53 with 3:17 to play and setting the stage for South Dakota's final run at the Bison. Two free throws by Gese drew the Coyotes within 62-55 with 3:05 to play. Then Nelson scored inside as South Dakota trailed just 62-57 with 2:40 to play. But the Bison showed why they are one of the nation's best. Froehlich answered the Coyote run by scoring inside before Berry hit a jumper at 1:38 for a 66-57 lead. A few seconds later, two free throws by Iverson drew the Coyotes with 66-59. But the Coyotes were forced to foul and NDSU padded its lead in winning the NCC tournament game.
For the Coyotes, Frie had 16 points and five rebounds as well as three steals. Iverson also scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Gese added nine points, three assists and three steals. For the Bison, who won the rebound battle, 49-34, Amundson had 11 points and eight rebounds.
More information on the Wells Fargo Finals NCC Postseason Tournament can be found at the NCC's Web site.
