WAYNE, NEB. -- The South Dakota women's basketball team (1-0) successfully opened the 2002-03 season by rolling past Northern State (0-1), 79-64, on Friday night at the Wayne State Tipoff Classic in Wayne, Neb.

Junior all-American forward Mandy Koupal (Wagner, S.D.), who had 15 double doubles in 2001-02, picked up where she left off a year ago. She had her first double double in 2002-03 with 21 points and 12 points. Koupal, who also recorded four steals, hit four of 10 field goals, including two three-point baskets. She made 11 straight free throws and recorded a blocked shot in 32 minutes of action. Senior forward Heather Nelson (Yankton, S.D.) had 16 points and five steals. Freshman guard Renae Luecke (Sioux Falls, S.D.) reached double figures in her first game as a Coyote, scoring 11.

"In the last 15 minutes of the first half and first 10 minutes of the second half, we played really well," said head coach Chad Lavin, in a postgame interview with Joe Van Goor of ESPN Radio 1570 AM. "We kept them off the line in the second half and that was key."

USD, which led 45-31 at halftime, built up a 21-point halftime lead before NSU cut the margin in the last five minutes. The Coyotes hit 21 of 67 field goals for 31 percent and 12 of 33 (36 percent) from the three-point arc. South Dakota made 25 of 29 free throws for 86.2 percent.

Northern State was led by Krista Rambow with 11 points and six rebounds while Brooke Fandrich had 10 points and four rebounds. The Wolves outrebounded South Dakota, 42-34. Overall, NSU made 23 of 59 field goals for 39 percent, including two of 12 (16 percent) from the three-point arc. The Wolves hit 16 of 23 free throws for 69 percent.

The Coyotes will face Wayne State on Saturday night in the second round of the Super Eight Classic at 8 p.m. at Rice Auditorium.