South Dakota women's basketball team (0-0) will open the season at the Super Eight Classic in Wayne, Neb. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22-23. South Dakota will face Northern State (0-0) at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 and tourney host Wayne State (0-0) at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.

AT STAKE: This will be the season opener for both South Dakota and Northern State. USD is 4-6 in openers on the road in the past 10 years.

LAST TIME: The Coyotes split a pair of games at the Super Eight Classic which was held in Aberdeen, S.D. in 2001-02. Despite 25 points and 13 rebounds from Mandy Koupal the Coyotes dropped a 58-56 decision to Northern State in the opening round. Koupal had 24 points and 14 points as USD defeated Wayne State College, 81-62, in the second round of the tournament.

COYOTES DEFEAT D-I SAN DIEGO IN EXHIBITION: The University of South Dakota women's basketball team defeated San Diego, 67-59 in exhibition basketball Nov. 15 in San Diego, Calif. Heather Nelson, a senior forward from Yankton, S.D., scored 20 points to lead the Coyotes to the win. She hit seven of 19 field goals including three three-point goals. She had seven rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Erin Bourne (Mankato, Minn.) added 10 points and Stacy Schooley (Watertown, S.D.) scored nine points and had eight rebounds for the Coyotes. USD jumped to a 37-24 halftime lead, hitting 13 of 31 field goals for 42 percent. In the second half, USD made 11 of 29 field goals for 38 percent. USD hit six of 23 three-pointers and was 13-21 from the free throw line. Junior forward Mandy Koupal (Wagner, S.D.) had seven points and four rebounds plus three blocks and two steals. Renae Luecke (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Amanda Iverson (Vermillion, S.D.) both had six points. Dawn Sudbeck (Dimock, S.D.) led USD with five assists.

TEAM INFORMATION: Overall Record in 2001-02: 19 -9 Home Record: 13-1 Away Record: 3-6 Neutral: 3-2 Conference Record: 12-6 (2nd) Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1 Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/3 HISTORY: First Year of basketball: 1972 Overall all-time record: 403-364 (.525)

COACHING STAFF: Head Coach: Chad Lavin Alma Mater/Year: USD, 1978 Record at School (years): 134-89 (8 years)(.601) Basketball Office Phone: 605-677-5941 Assistant Coach (Alma Mater): Becky Flynn-Jensen

PROBABLE STARTING LINE-UP - SOUTH DAKOTA SOUTH DAKOTA PROBABLE STARTERS F - 23 - Julie Frie, 6'0, Sr., Byron, Minn. (9.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg) F - 42 - Heather Nelson, 5'10, Sr., Yankton, S.D. (10.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) F - 15 - Mandy Koupal, 6'0, Jr., Wagner, S.D. (21.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg) G - 40 - Stacey Schooley, 5'9, Jr., Watertown, S.D. (3.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.0 apg) G - 03 -- Erin Bourne, 5'6, Jr. (16.8 ppg at Bethany Lutheran JC, 2001-02) TOP RESERVES G - 20 - Dawn Sudbeck, 5'4, Jr., Dimock, S.D. (3.7 ppg, ) G - 25 -- Renae Luecke, 5'9, Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D. C - 43 -- Amanda Iverson, 6'0, Sr., Vermillion, S.D. (7.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg) F - 04 -- Jodi Schroeder, 6'1, So., Tulare, S.D. (4.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2000-01) F - 44 -- Leah Bakke, 5'11, So., Volga, S.D. F - 24 - Vanessa Yanez, 5'11, Fr., Wagner, S.D. F - 32 - Erica Schroeder, 6'0, Fr., Miller, S.D. C - 50 - Katie Pulford, 6'2, So., Sioux Falls, S.D.

IN-GAME NOTES RADIO/INTERNET/TEAMLINE: The South Dakota Coyotes basketball games will be offered on the Coyote Sports Network, on Teamline and through the internet. South Dakota women's basketball will be heard on ESPN Radio 1570 AM Vermillion/Yankton, S.D. Kevin Culhane will begin his sixth season as the voice of the Coyotes, both home and away during the 2002 season. Veteran sportscaster Joe Van Goor will provide color commentary while Eric Rawson will serve as analyst. In addition, Coyote fans can tune to the game live on the internet at www.usdcoyotes.com or listen free by phone at Teamline. To connect to Teamline call 1-800-846-4700 and enter the team code of 6056.

IN NONCONFERENCE GAMES IN 2001-02: A year ago, the Coyotes had a 7-3 mark in nonconference games, including a 4-1 mark at home. USD was 3-2 on a neutral floor. Mandy Koupal led South Dakota with 20.6 points and 9.0 rebounds with Julia Frie added 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. USD averaged 72 points and permitted 53.0 points in nonconference games. The Coyotes hit 250 of 632 shots for 39.6 percent and were 67 of 212 from the three-point line for 31.6 percent. The Coyotes made 153 of 194 free throws. A year ago, the Coyotes outscored nonconference opponents 365-227 in the first half and 355 to 303 in the second half.

2002-2003 OUTLOOK: The University of South Dakota women's basketball team returns eight letterwinners from a team that posted a 19-9 overall record and a .666 record (12-6) in the North Central Conference. In 2002-2003, the Coyotes will have a veteran roster with several newcomers. USD has five new players and will look to them to have an immediate impact on the basketball program. Leading USD this year will be senior forwards Julie Frie(Byron, Minn.) and Heather Nelson (Yankton, S.D.), junior forward Mandy Koupal (Wagner, S.D.) and junior guard Stacey Schooley (Watertown, S.D.). Frie, a three-year starter and two-time academic all-NCC selection, averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 2001-02. Frie hit 38-95 three points for 40 percent. Nelson, who was named All-NCC, averaged 10.8 points and 4.2 rebounds while scoring in double figures 17 times last season and 45 times in her career. Koupal, one of the best players in the NCAA Division II, was named Co-NCC MVP of the Year in 2001-02. She was also selected to the All-NCC team, NCC All Tournament team, 4th Team All-American by Division II Bulletin, 2nd Team Verizon Academic District VII, Academic All-NCC, Daktronic All-Region, and Daktronics Honorable Mention All-American. Koupal, who averaged 21.3 points and 9.5 rebounds, scored in double figures all 28 games last season and had 15 games with double figure rebounds. The junior forward broke a South Dakota single season scoring with 596 points, shattering the mark of 521 points held by Coyote Hall of Fame member Karrie Wallen. She set a new school record for points scored in a single season with 596. Her 266 rebounds is the 3rd best single season rebound total in school history and the 26 blocked shots is the ninth best single season total in school history. USD will have experience at the point guard with Schooley returning to start at point guard and junior Dawn Sudbeck as a top reserve. Schooley averaged 3.6 ppg., 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 2001-02. Sudbeck averaged 3.3 ppg. and 1.6 assists. A key returner for USD will be forward Amanda Iverson, who averaged seven points and shot 73.3 percent from the foul line. USD will also have the services of sophomore forward Jodi Schroeder, who redshirted a year ago, after averaged 4.0 points a game as a true freshman two years ago. Leading the newcomers is junior college guard transfer Erin Bourne (Mankato, Minn.) who averaged 16.8 points during her career at Bethany Lutheran. Guards Renae Luecke (Sioux Falls, S.D.), and forwards Erica Schroeder (Miller, S.D.), Vanessa Yanez (Wagner, S.D.) and transfer Leah Bakke (Volga, S.D.), provide depth for the Coyotes. The Coyotes lost one senior, Alissa Koronkiewicz, to graduation.

BJORKMAN, FLYNN, MUELLER, WEGEHAUPT JOIN USD WOMEN'S BB PROGRAM: The University of South Dakota head women's basketball coach Chad Lavin has announced that four area basketball players have signed national letters of intent to enroll at USD and play basketball for the Coyotes. The four student-athletes include: Ashley Bjorkman, a 5'10 forward from Vermillion, S.D.; Jenni Flynn, a 5'8 guard from South Sioux City, Neb.; Kira Mueller, a 5'6 point guard from Hartford, S.D. (West Central High School); and Laura Wegehaupt, a 5'11 forward from Aberdeen S.D. (Aberdeen Central). Bjorkman averaged 19 points and seven rebounds per game in 2001-02 for the Vermillion Tanagers. She hit 40 percent of her three point field goals and 75 percent of her free throws. She was named third team all-state as a sophomore and second team all-state as a junior. She helped lead Vermillion High School to consecutive state tournament appearances during her sophomore and junior seasons. As a sophomore, she scored 27 points in a state tournament game. Twice named to the South Dakota Class A All Tourney Team, she was a member of the Argus Leader Elite 10 Team in 2001-02. Flynn, a 5'8 junior guard, has been named all state two straight seasons, the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, Huskerland Prep Magazine Player of the Year and invited to the Adidas Top 10 Camp in Atlanta Ga. Flynn averaged 14.8 points and 5.1 assists in 2001-02 for a South Sioux City team that went 24-3 and won its third consecutive Class B title in Nebraska. She hit 77.3 percent of her free throws, 48.7 percent of her field goals, and she was 68-145 for 46.9 percent from the three-point arc a year ago. Flynn was named to the Lincoln Star Journal and Omaha World Herald's Super State First Team and named captain for the Class B All State Team. She was selected captain of the Class B State tournament Team and captain of the State Tournament All Class Team. An academic all-state selection, she was the team MVP a year ago. Mueller, a 5'6 point guard from West Central High School, averaged 13 points and seven assists a game a year ago. She was a member of the West Central team that won a Class A State title in 1999 and that finished fourth in 2000. A four-year starter, she has twice been named all conference, and this summer was named MVP at the Hansen and Anderson Camp of Stars. Wegehaupt, a 5'11 forward, was named second team all-state and first team all-Eastern Conference while a member of the Aberdeen Central Eagles in 2001-02. A year ago, she contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named to the state AA all tournament team.

HEAD COACH - CHAD LAVIN: Coach Lavin, who guided South Dakota to three consecutive NCC crowns from 1982-85, completed his fifth year of coaching the Coyotes (ninth overall) after returning to his alma mater in 1998. Lavin, the all-time wins leader for head coaches at South Dakota, directed his team to a 19-9 record which ties the 1990-91 and 1982-83 team for the fourth best record in school history. Lavin has a 134-89 (.601) record at South Dakota. Lavin directed his 2001-02 squad to a second place finish (tied with SDSU) in the NCC with a 12-6 mark and overall record of 19-9. He sports a 309-251(.552) overall record. In NCC play, he has a 65-57 (.533) record. On Jan. 11, 2002, Lavin won his 300th game with an 89-77 win over then No. 1 ranked North Dakota. During his coaching tenure, Lavin has four of the top five seasons of all-time with his 1984-85 team recording the best record in school history at 23-6. That team won the NCC with a 10-2 mark. A native of Clear Lake, S.D., Lavin was the head women's basketball coach at the University of Wyoming for 12 years from 1986-98, constructing a record of 175-162, including the High Country Athletic Conference title in 1989-90. He has been the NCC Coach of the Year in both 1984 and 1985, the year he was the South Dakota Collegiate Coach of the Year. Lavin was the High Country Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1987 and 1990. Lavin's 1996-97 team was recognized for the second-highest grade point average in NCAA Division I. His Wyoming team is one of only two teams to participate in every High Country Athletic Conference and Western Athletic Conference post-season tournament from 1986-98. A three-year letterwinner for South Dakota men's basketball team, he was academic all-NCC in 1978. Lavin earned a BS degree in business management from USD in 1978 and an MA in physical education in 1983. Lavin, a former head coach at Dell Rapids High School (22-19) in 1979 and men's basketball assistant at Mount Marty from 1981-82, took over the USD women's basketball program in 1982. He promptly led the Coyotes to a four-year record of 82-32 (.719) and three NCC titles. Lavin, who directed USD to three NCAA Division II Re-gional Tournament berths, led the 1984-85 team to a 23-6 record which is still the best in school history. He is married to the former Cindy Little of Castlewood, S.D.

ON THE OPPONENTS:

NORTHERN STATE: The Wolves, who finised with a 19-9 mark and 13-5 in the NSIC for second place, return two starters in 2002-03. NSU is led by coach Curt Fredrickson, who has compiled a 545-123 mark in 23 years. NSU will be led by junior guard Carin Rambow, who averaged 9.6 points and hit 87 percent from the foul line one year ago. Also back will be 6'4 center Tia Michalski, who averaged 6.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 2001-02. Shana Theobald, a senior forward, scored 7.78points and grabbed 3.8 rebounds per game. A year ago, NSU averaged 71.4 points and allowed 60.2 per game. They hit 40.4 percent (709-1754) from the field and 34.7 (162-467) from the three point line. The Wolves were 419-619 from the foul line for 67.7 percent. Overall, NSU outscored opponents by a 1,043 to 757 margin in the first half and 956-930 in the second half.

WAYNE STATE: A year ago, Wayne State finished 12-15, including 9-9 in the NSIC. They return four starters, losing one to graduation. The Wildcats are led by all-NSIC senior center Karen Hochstein, who averaged 15.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Senior forward Tracy Williamson averaged 10.8 points and 2.1 rebounds and also returns. Dodie Martin, a senior guard, scored 11.4 points and grabbed 5.9 rebounds per game for Wayne State a year ago. The Wildcats, who place their home games in Rice Auditorium, are coached by former Coyote standout Ryun Williams, a 1992 USD graduate. He is 64-45 in four years at Wayne State. In total, Wayne State returns seven letterwinners. A year ago, Wayne State, who was 9-3 at home, were outscored in the first half, 851-847 and 909-885 in the second half. They hit 590 of 1,562 (37.8 percent) from the field, including 164-504 (32.5 percent) from three-point range. The Wildcats made 384 of 541 free throws for 71 percent.

A LITTE HISTORY: The Coyotes won the first three NCC championships from 1982-85 but happened won a title since. The Coyotes, who were coached then and now by Chad Lavin, accumulated 28 wins and just eight losses during that era. Two Coyotes, Karrie Wallen (1982-83) and Ann Pancoast (1983-84) won NCC scoring titles while Katie Dailey won three consecutive assists titles from 1983-86. Shelby Petersen won a three-point field goal title in 1992-93. The Coyotes have three academic all-Americans including Deb Petersen (first team, 1983-84), Karrie Wallen (second team, 1983-84), and Jean Misterek (first team, 1986-87)

SOUTH DAKOTA IN POSTSEASON: South Dakota has made four post-season playoff appearances including 1982-83 (North Central Region runner-up), 1983-84 (North Central Region champions), 1984-85 (North Central Region runner-up) and 1988-89 (North Central Region qualifier). The Coyotes have appeared four times in the NCAA Division II Poll including as high as seventh during the 23-5 season of 1985. MEDIA INFORMATION: The University of South Dakota invites media to cover Coyote athletics for the 2002-03 season. From photographs to feature ideas, statistics, and travel plans are available through the Sports Information Office at (605) 677-5927, fax - 605-677-6273 or email dgenzler@usd.edu