VERMILLION, S.D. - It had been a long-time since the last South Dakota win over North Dakota State - 16 years and 32 straight games. But senior guard Kelly Koepp rectified that by hitting a pair of crucial shots late in overtime, including a fade-away shot with 14 seconds left to send South Dakota women's basketball team (11-10, 6-8 in the NCC) to a dramatic 72-71 overtime North Central Conference win over No. 9 North Dakota State (19-5, 9-4 in the NCC) on Friday night in the DakotaDome before 1,637 in attendance. With Koepp's heroics, the Coyotes won their third straight NCC game and broke a 32-game losing streak to NDSU, dating back to the 1984-85 season. Interestingly, current Coyote head coach Chad Lavin was the coach of the last Coyote squad to record a win over NDSU.

On Parent's Night, both of South Dakota's seniors, Koepp and point guard Kelly Gese, had big nights. Koepp ended with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two huge shots late in overtime. Gese hit seven of 13 field goals, grabbed four rebounds and have four assists. Also playing key roles were sophomore forward Julia Frie, who hit five of 11 field goals, and had 15 points and seven rebounds while sophomore Heather Nelson had 18 points, including three of six from the three-point line. She also hit five of six free throws.

The win keeps South Dakota in the running for one of the NCC Postseason Tourney spots. South Dakota improved their overall home record to 7-4, including a 4-4 home record in NCC games. Lavin improved his overall record at South Dakota to 111-78 (.587).

The Coyotes jumped to a quick start over the visitors from Fargo, forging a 6-2 lead at the 17:46 mark as Gese scored four points for South Dakota. NDSU tied the game on a jumper by Donni Luecke at the 15:51 mark. Shortly thereafter, the Coyotes' Amanda Iverson hit a jumper and South Dakota led 10-6 at the 13:45 mark. NDSU took a 14-12 lead on a foul shot by Jaime Berry with 10:07 to play. Coyote freshman Krista Orsack hit a three-pointer at the 8:04 mark as the Coyotes grabbed back the lead at 19-18 (8:04). Back and forth the game went as the Bison jumped ahead 24-21 at the 6:29 mark on a lay-up by Janna Davis. With 1:47 to play, Frie hit a pair of free throws as South Dakota moved to a 28-27 lead. A lay-up by South Dakota's Jodi Schroeder gave the Coyotes a 30-27 lead. But that lead was short-lived as Berry tied the game by hitting a three-point baskets with 30 seconds to play in the half and send both teams into the locker room tied 30-30.

South Dakota hit 11 of 30 field goals for 36.7 percent in the first half. They were two of eight from three-point range and six of seven from the free throw line. Gese had 10 points to lead the Coyotes. Meanwhile, the Bison hit 13 of 31 field goals for 41.9 percent. They were just two of 10 from three-point range and two of four from the free throw line. Jaye Amundson had seven points to lead the Bison.

In past years, South Dakota teams have had trouble finishing against strong opponents. On Friday night, South Dakota would put that skeleton in the closet. South Dakota had periods in the second half when they couldn't score but they upped the pressure on defense and either maintained a lead or hung close. With the Coyotes leading 35-34, South Dakota went on a 10-2 run and a Gese basket moved the lead to 45-36 with 13:41 to play in the game. But NDSU was not about to give in to the home-standing Coyotes. A basket by Angie Froehlich cut the Coyote lead to 45-40 with 11:08 left to play. Frie scored a lay-up as the Coyotes maintained an eight-point lead (50-42) with 8:55 to play. The lead grew to 54-45 on a pair of foul shots by Nelson at the 7:40 mark. Once again, the Bison rallied. With 3:50 to play, a lay-up by Jayne Boeddeker cut the Coyotes lead to 54-51. Nelson hit a lay-up on a breakout against the NDSU pressing defense as the Coyotes moved ahead 58-52 at the 2:15 mark. The Bison answered with a pair of three-point baskets by Amanda Gehrke to draw within 59-58 at the 1:20 mark. Then Berry hit a free throw to tie the game at 59-59 with 52 seconds to play. Koepp scored on a jumper as the Coyotes grabbed back the lead at 61-59 with 22 second to play. Amundson then hit a pair of foul shows to tie the game, and when Frie couldn't convert inside, the game went into overtime.

Right away, Nelson hit a three-point basket for a 64-61 lead (4:47). NDSU worked back into a lead when Amundson had two more free throws at the3:56 mark of overtime and the Bison had a 65-64 lead. Again Nelson answered with a three-point basket as the Coyotes moved back in front 67-65 with 3:40 left to play. When Gehrke scored on a lay-up with 1:41 left, the Bison had a three-point margin. But that is when Koepp showed her senior leadership and put the Coyotes' fortunes on her back. She hit a jumper with 1:09 to play and then knocked home a tough shot with 14 seconds left as South Dakota won their sixth NCC game this season. They had just four NCC wins all of last year.

Overall South Dakota hit 27 of 66 shots for 36.7 percent, including six of 17 three-point baskets for 35.3 percent. The Coyotes were 12 of 19 from the foul line for 63.2 percent.

NDSU hit 24 of 61 field goals for 39.3 percent and were just five of 20 from three-point range for 25 percent. They hit 18 of 26 free throws for 69.2 percent. Amundson had 17 points and six assists for the Bison. Gehrke added 15 points and eight rebounds while Boeddekker had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Luecke finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Overall, NDSU held a 50-34 rebound margin but had four more turnovers than South Dakota.