OMAHA, NEB. - The South Dakota women's basketball team (4-0), paced by junior All-American Mandy Koupal's 25 points and 11 rebounds, turned back a game Southern Colorado (2-2) squad, 71-63, in nonconference action at the Nebraska-Omaha Classic on Saturday in Omaha, Neb.

Koupal (Wagner, S.D.) had her third double double in four games, hitting seven of 12 field goals and 10-10 free throws. She also had two blocks, a steal and a three-point basket. The Coyotes also received 12 points from junior guard Erin Bourne (Mankato, Minn.), who had two three-point baskets, and 11 points from senior forward Heather Nelson (Yankton, S.D.). Nelson had two steals, two rebounds, and three three-point baskets. Junior point guard Stacey Schooley (Watertown, S.D.) had eight points, six rebounds and four steals.

Overall, South Dakota hit 23 of 59 field goals for 39 percent, including 11 of 29 from beyond the three-point arc. The Coyotes hit 14 of 17 from the foul line for 82.4 percent.

Southern Colorado was led by Nadia Fercha, who had 20 points, 15 rebounds and four steals. She hit nine of 13 from the field. Tara Palko had 16 points, including four of six from the three-point arc. Coty Kilpatrick also scored in double figures, scoring 14 points. USC hit 23 of 61 field goal attempts for 37.7 percent, but were seven of 15 from the three-point arc (46.7 percent). They made 10 of 15 free throws. USC won the rebound battle, 40-37. The Coyotes jumped to a 21-12 lead on a three-pointer by Julia Frie (Byron, Minn.) at the 10:43 mark. Southern Colorado fought back to tie the game at 23-23 when Palko hit a jumper with 4:50 left in the half. A three-point basket by Ebony Walker provided USC with a 26-23 lead at the 4:17 mark. South Dakota regained the lead when Nelson hit a three-point basket at the 2:37 mark. A three-point basket by Bourne with 36 seconds to play in the half moved South Dakota's lead to 34-29.

South Dakota jumped ahead 39-31 when Nelson hit a three-point shot early in the second half. A foul shot by Koupal gave the Coyotes a 42-33 lead at the 15:58 mark. USC closed to within 44-39 when Fercha scored inside at the 13:16 mark. Then, the Coyotes went on a 5-0 run as Renae Luecke (Sioux Falls, S.D.) hit a three-pointer with 12:14 to play. It was USC's turn to make a run, outscoring the Coyotes, 12-0, to take a 51-49 lead with 8:30 to play. Kilpatrick's basket gave USC the lead.

Koupal answered for South Dakota, hitting a three-point basket with 7:50 to play and a 52-51 South Dakota lead. Koupal hit a pair of foul shots with 2:34 left to provide the Coyotes with a 65-58 advantage. USC drew within 68-63 with 21 seconds to play on a lay-up by Fercha but the Coyotes hit three of four free throws in the final seconds for the final margin of victory.

South Dakota returns home for a game with the College of St. Mary's at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the DakotaDome.