VERMILLION, S.D. -- After a slow start this season, The University of South Dakota women's basketball team (18-8, 12-6 in the NCC) has been on a tear. South Dakota has won 15 of their last 19 games, including a 68-54 win over St. Cloud State (14-12, 9-9 in the NCC) in the regular season finale before 2,112 at the DakotaDome on Saturday night.

The Coyotes finished 12-6, which is for second place in the NCC. The Coyotes finished in a tie with SDSU at 12-6 but USD holds the tiebreaker advantage and will be the number two seed in the upcoming Wells Fargo Finals. The Coyotes will host a first round home game vs. Augustana on Tuesday night. The time of the game will be announced on Sunday.

With the win, South Dakota won its 12th conference game, which is a school record. The Coyotes have won six of their past seven games with their only loss a 83-77 decision to North Dakota at Grand Forks. The 18 wins this season is the most since the 19-9 mark of the 1990-91 team. This season, they have a 12-1 record at the Dome.

Tonight, the Coyotes struggled at times offensively but they sustained a strong defensive effort and received a strong performance from sophomore forward Mandy Koupal (Wagner, S.D.) to win their ninth straight home game. Koupal hit 10 of 17 shots, including one of four from three-point range, and 10 of 13 from the foul line as she had 31 points. It was her fourth 30-plus point performance of the season. In addition, Koupal, who had an NCC best 14th double double of the season, had a career high 16 rebounds, including 12 defensive rebounds. She also recorded two assists and had four blocked shots.

With 31 points, Koupal has finished the regular season with 540 points which is the best single season scoring effort in South Dakota school history. She passed Karrie Wallen, who had 521 in 1983-84. Her rebound total gives her 249 this season, which is the seventh best single season rebound total in school history.

While Koupal had a solid offensive night, the Coyotes put the clamps on St. Cloud State's leading scorer, Tina Schreiner, who had just four points and three rebounds on the night. She came into the game averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds a contest.

Overall, South Dakota hit 22 of 56 shots for 39.3 percent, including eight of 24 three-point field goals and 16 of 23 free throws. Krista Orsack (Sioux Falls, S.D.) had 12 points, including four of nine from three-point range. She now had 129 career three-point baskets which places her third on the all-time chart at South Dakota. She trails second place Anne Knutson, who had 131 during her career (1994-98). Junior forward Heather Nelson added 10 points.

St. Cloud State hit 19 of 58 field goals for 32.8 percent, including six of 18 three-point shots and 10 of 21 free throws. The Huskies were led by Jessica Abrahams with 18 points.

In the first half, both teams would exchange small runs but neither team would gain a significant advantage. South Dakota jumped to a 9-4 lead in the first half after Koupal hit a jumper at the 15:23 mark. However, St. Cloud State fought back to within 12-11 after Katie Huschle scored inside at the 10:21 mark. The Huskies tied the game at 16-16 when Celestine Frank scored inside at the 6:45 mark.

South Dakota answered with a 10-5 run to grab a 26-21 lead after Orsack hit a three-point basket at the 2:52 mark. St. Cloud State countered with a three-point basket to close within 26-24 but then South Dakota outscored the visitors, 6-2, to grab a 32-26 lead at the halftime break. Julia Frie (Byron, Minn.), who had five points and 12 rebounds on the night, hit a shot just before the buzzer as the Coyotes gained their largest lead of the half.

In the first half, the Coyotes were 13 of 29 from the field for 44.8 percent, although they connected on just three of 12 three-point shots. Koupal had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead the Coyotes. St. Cloud State hit 10 of 28 field goals for 35.7 percent and they made three of five three-point shots for 60 percent. They were led by Huschle with seven points.

Early in the second half, Koupal gave South Dakota a 35-26 lead when she drained a three-point field goal at the 18:45 mark. But the Huskies were up for a challenge and they closed the gap to 39-38 after Abrahams connected from three-point range at the 13:22 mark.

The Coyotes slowly built back a lead, grabbing a 45-38 lead at the 10:19 mark when Orsack again hit a three-point shot. The Huskies drew within 48-42 at the 7:48 mark when Abrahams hit another three-point basket.

However, that was as close as the Huskies would get on the night. The Coyotes took off on a 11-3 run to grab a 57-45 lead at the 3:36 mark after Nelson scored on a lay-up. The Coyotes built the lead to 66-50 with :52 seconds to play on a lay-up by Koupal.