OMAHA, NEB. -- It was the Mandy Koupal show on Saturday night in Omaha, Neb. Koupal scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead South Dakota (9-5, 3-3 in the NCC) to a 68-61 win over Nebraska-Omaha (5-11, 1-5 in the NCC) at Sapp Fieldhouse before 850 in attendance. Koupal scored 12 points in the first half and then exploded for 21 points in the second half as she recorded her third 30-point performance of the season and the second in three games. Against SDSU on Dec. 30, Koupal had a career high 35-points. She very nearly reached that tonight as she scored inside and outside. She hit 10 of 17 field goals and both of her three-point field goals. In addition, she was 11 of 12 from the free throw line. She had two blocked shots and one steal in 34 minutes of action. Koupal had her eighth double double (points and rebounds) of the season. From the git-go, Koupal gave all in attendance a sign that this was to be a special night when she opened the game by hitting a three-pointer. UNO responded by scoring four straight points with Rachel Volnek hitting a jumper at the 17:20 mark for a 4-3 lead. Koupal answered for South Dakota but UNO's Jennifer Mitchell responded with a three-pointer for a 7-5 lead. Then Tanya Hammes took over the game, scoring six of the Mav's next eight points and a 15-7 lead with 12:03 to play in the game.

After that, it was South Dakota's Amanda Iverson's turn to make a difference. She scored six points, including a deft hook shot, to draw USD within 17-15 at the 9:20 mark. Koupal hit a pair of free throws to tie the game, 17-17, with 8:06 to play in the half. It was part of an 8-2 Coyote run. Mitchell hit another three-pointer at the 7:10 mark to give the Mavericks a 20-17 lead and Hammes again scored for a 22-17 lead with 6:14 to play. South Dakota broke a 4:23 scoreless drought when Julia Frie hit a pair of free throws with 3:43 to play in the half and cut the lead to 22-19. Freshman guard Erin Case hit a three-pointer at the 2:59 mark to tie the game at 22-22.

Again, it was Hammes who scored for UNO, give the Mavericks a 24-22 lead with 2:20 to play. South Dakota took a 27-26 lead when Koupal scored inside and converted the free throw after being fouled at the 1:38 mark. The Coyotes extended the lead to 28-26 with a 1:23 on a free throw by Koronkiewicz.

UNO answered with an inside score by Anne Bomstad with 1:10 to play. UNO received a three-pointer from - on the break to take a 31-28 lead before Koupal scored inside with 24 seconds to play. Then it was Hammes, who led UNO with 12 first half points, who tallied a score and gave UNO a 33-30 halftime lead. Hammes was averaging 8.2 points coming into tonight's action.

South Dakota hit 10 of 20 field goals for 50 percent, including two of five from the three-point line and eight of 11 free throws for 72.7 percent. Koupal led the Coyotes with 12 points, two blocked shots and two rebounds. UNO hit 14 of 31 field goals for 45.2 percent. The Mavericks hit three of 10 three-pointers and two of three free throws. Early in the second half, Schooley scored off an offensive rebound to cut the lead to 33-32 at the 19:14 mark. UNO's Hammes scored again at the 18:09 mark as the Mavs led 35-32 lead at the 18:09 mark. Back came the Coyotes as Frie scored on a drive to basket to cut the lead to 35-34 at the 17:47 mark. Then Koupal scored on a jumper to give USD a 36-35 lead at the 17:03 mark.

Mitchell hit a jumper at the 16:37 mark for a 37-36 Maverick advantage. South Dakota regained the lead when Koupal scored inside. Schooley followed with a steal and score for a 40-37 lead with 15:31 to play. Again Mitchell knocked down a long range shot to tie the game at 43-43 but Case answered the score for a 45-43 lead with 12:51 to play. Mitchell's basket at the 12:10 mark gave UNO a 47-45 lead. But the Coyotes' responded when, Koupal hit her second three-point basket for a 48-47 lead at the 11:52 mark.

UNO's Wessling scored inside at 10:14 mark to cut the lead to 51-49. At the 8:55 mark, Koupal again scored inside for a 53-49 lead. South Dakota extended the lead when Frie hit a three-pointer at the 7:17 mark for a 56-49 lead. Volnek answered with an inside score for a 56-51 lead at 6:59 mark.

The Mavs cut the lead to 56-53 when Hammes, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds, scored inside at the 6:16 mark. But the Coyotes continued their strong second half play with Nelson driving to the basket and providing USD with a 58-53 lead with 5:24 to play. At the 4:43 mark, Koupal hit one of two free throws for a 59-53 lead.

Time and time again, Hammes scored for South Dakota and this time her inside score cut the Coyotes lead to 59-55 with four minutes to play. But Koupal responded when she hit an inside basket with 3:40 to play and a 61-55 lead. Back came Hammes who scored inside at 2:57 to cut the lead to 61-57. She hit again at the 1:36 mark to cut the Coyotes' lead to 61-59. But then USD closed the game on an 8-2 run to gain their third conference victory. Koupal was fouled with 39.3 seconds to play and she hit both free throws for a four-point lead. After a UNO turnover, Alissa Koronkiewicz hit one of two free throws and USD led 64-59 with 24 seconds left. But on the second free throw attempt, Koupal grabbed the missed shot and was fouled. The sophomore forward hit both charity tosses for a 66-59 lead with 14 seconds to play and with it iced the game.

South Dakota hit 23 of 50 field goals for 46 percent, including five of 14 three-point field goals for 35.7 percent. The Coyotes were 17 of 22 from the free throw line for 81.8 percent. USD won the rebound battle, 35-32. Joining Koupal in double figures was Frie, who had 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, three steals and a blocked shot. Schooley and Iverson both had six points. UNO hit 27 of 62 field goals for 43.5 percent, including four of 18 three-point field goals for 22.2 percent. The Mavs hit three of five free throws for 60 percent.