VERMILLION, S.D. -- South Dakota Women's Basketball Team (7-0) won their 16th straight home game with a 65-47 win over Briar Cliff (2-6) on Tuesday night at the DakotaDome.

Senior forward Heather Nelson (Yankton, S.D.) scored 16 points to lead the Coyotes to their seventh straight win and their 12th straight nonconference win. The 7-0 start is the best by a South Dakota team since the 1984-85 team that went 23-6, won the NCC, and advanced to the national playoffs.

Junior forward Mandy Koupal (Wagner. S.D.) had 14 points and nine rebounds. She also had a blocked shot and four steals. Junior guard Erin Bourne (Mankato, Minn.) added nine points and freshman guard Renae Luecke (Sioux Falls, S.D.) had seven points. Overall, USD hit 26 of 54 field goals for 48.1 percent. They hit six of 16 from three-point range and the Coyotes made seven of seven from the foul line.

Briar Cliff was led by Sara Niles with 19 points and eight rebounds. Dana Ledner had 12 points. Overall, Briar Cliff hit 18 of 51 from the field for 35.3 percent. The Chargers made three of 10 from three-point range and eight of 12 from thee foul line.

South Dakota jumped to a quick 2-0 lead on a basket by Koupal (19:38) but Briar Cliff responded by taking a 5-2 lead at the 16:49 mark. USD regained the lead (9-7) when guard Bourne hit a three pointer at the 14:22 mark. After the Chargers tied the game at 11-11, the Coyotes took off on a 21-3 run, taking a 32-14 lead on a lay-up by Luecke at the 3:53 mark. After Briar Cliff closed to 32-20, Nelson had five straight points to give USD a 37-20 halftime lead.

Nelson had eight points, Julie Frie (Byron, Minn.) and Luecke had seven points to lead South Dakota. The Coyotes hit 16 of 27 shots from the field for 59.3 percent. USD hit four of eight three-point field goals and made their only free throw attempt. Briar Cliff hit eight of 27 field goals for 29.6 percent and they made one of four from three-point range. The Chargers made three of six free throws. Sarah Niles had 14 points to lead Briar Cliff.

USD extended their lead to 36-22 when junior guard Dawn Sudbeck (Dimock, S.D.) made a lay-up at the 13:06 mark. For the remainder of the half, the lead swung from 25 points to 16. Nelson's lay-up with 11:33 to play gave USD its largest lead of the game(50-25).USD took a 54-33 lead with 7:36 to play and led 59-39 with 4:12 to play after Nelson hit a three-point basket.

USD will host Morningside on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. in the DakotaDome.