GREELEY, Colo. - Senior point guard Kelly Gese drove the length of the floor and hit a driving lay-up with 1.7 seconds to play as South Dakota women's basketball team (10-10, 5-8 in the NCC) defeated Northern Colorado (9-12, 4-9 in the NCC) in North Central Conference basketball at Greeley, Colo., on Saturday night.
"Kelly had a big time weekend and she deserves to have some good things happen to her in her career," South Dakota head basketball coach Chad Lavin told Jim Hockett of KVTK in a post-game radio interview. "Without a doubt we were really tired. But Amanda Iverson and Gese really got something going. To hold this team down defensively is a great effort. Our players really worked hard and earned this victory," said Lavin, who now is 110-78 (.585) at South Dakota. Overall he has a 284-241 (.541) mark.
The win increased the Coyote winning streak to two games, both coming during the weekend road swing to Nebraska-Omaha and Northern Colorado. South Dakota swept the season series with Northern Colorado and now has won three of the last four games against the Bears. Earlier this season, the Coyotes defeated the Bears, 77-69 at the DakotaDome. Northern Colorado now holds a 14-12 series advantage against USD. South Dakota improved their road record to 2-4 in the NCC and 4-4 overall on the road. And, the Coyotes improved their record when trailing at half to 2-8. The win was important as it puts the Coyotes in position to grab one of the seven spots for the NCC postseason tournament.
Gese had 18 points for the second straight night and also had six assists, six rebounds and a blocked shot. Gese, who had her 47th double figure scoring game of her career, sits in ninth place on the Coyote career scoring with 1,194 points. Gloria Suntken (1977-81) is just ahead of Gese with 1,212 points. With six assists, she now has 409 for her career The first half went back and forth as neither team was able to muster more than a four-point lead. Early on, it was a Gese vs. Missy Borell show. Gese scored the Coyotes' first eight points and Borell had five of the Bear's eight points as both teams fought to a 8-8 tie at the 15:10 mark. The Coyotes grabbed their first lead of the game when freshman Krista Orsack hit a three-point basket at the 12:02 mark. Then Gese scored on a jumper as the Coyotes grabbed their largest first half lead at 16-12 with 10:45 to play. But this game was a struggle offensively for both squads. The Bears answered with a three-point basket by Lisa Gangel at the 9:44 mark. A lay-up by Iverson moved the lead to 18-15 (8:40) before the Bears ended the half on a 9-4 run to grab a 24-22 halftime lead. A three-point basket by Gangel was a key play in the run. Neither team was able to sustain an offensive balance and the defenses prevailed.
While both teams had more success on the offensive end in the second 20-minutes, the game remained close with neither squad gaining more than a five-point advantage. With the score deadlocked at 51-51, Gese took the ball and made the biggest shot of her career at South Dakota.
South Dakota hit just nine of 26 field goals for 34.6 percent and were just one of eight from three-point range. The Coyotes hit three of four free throws. Gese had 12 of the Coyotes' 22 points in the opening half. The Bears hit nine of 24 field goals for 37.5 percent. They hit three of five three-point baskets for 60 percent and also hit three of four free throws. Northern Colorado won the rebound battle, 19-14.
Overall the Coyotes hit 19 of 52 field goals for 36.5 percent but were just two of 13 three-point field goals for 15.4 percent. The Coyotes converted 13 of 20 free throws. Iverson had another solid game for the Coyotes with 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds. She hit four of six field goals and five of eight free throws. Julie Frie added seven points and Orsack contributed six scores.
The Bears hit 18 of 50 field goals for 36 percent including four of 11 three-point field goals. The Bears hit 11 of 16 free throws. They won the rebound battle, 37-34. Jill Fadenrecht had 12 points to lead the Bears. Borell added 11 points and seven rebounds.
