Orlando, Fla. -- No. 3 ranked South Dakota (1-0) opened the 2003 season with a 64-32 win over Mansfield (0-1) at the Disney Division II Classic in Orlando, Fla., on Friday (Nov. 7) afternoon.

All-American Mandy Koupal, a senior from Wagner, S.D., led South Dakota with 15 points, four rebounds, and five steals in only 23 minutes of action. Senior guard Erin Bourne of Sauk Rapids, Minn., who played just 21 minutes, hit five of seven field goals, including four of six three-pointers for 14 points.

South Dakota, ranked No. 1 by the Division II Bulletin earlier this season, was given the No. 3 spot in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA preseason Division II Top 25 poll released today.

Overall, South Dakota hit 23-of-61 field goals for 37.7 percent, including eight-of-27 from three point range. USD made 10-of-11 free throws. Mansfield was 11-of-40 from the field for 27.5 percent and missed all 10 of its three point field goal attempts. Mansfield was 10-of-17 from the foul line. Christine Ross had eight points and Alison Tagliaferri also had eight points for Mansfield.

After Mansfield scored first for a 2-0 lead, it was all South Dakota. Koupal's three-pointer gave USD a 5-2 lead and Bourne's three made it 8-2 at the 18:06 mark. Later, senior point guard Stacy Schooley of Watertown, S.D., had a steal and lay-up for a 14-4 lead with 13:39 to play in the half. At the 9:25 mark, sophomore guard Meghan Woster of Sioux Falls, S.D., hit a three-pointer as USD look a 23-4 lead. When redshirt freshman Erica Schroeder of Miller, S.D., scored inside, the Coyotes led 29-10 with 4:40 to play in the half. From that point, USD extended the lead to 33-11 at halftime.

In the opening half, Koupal scored 13 points, grabbed three rebounds and had four steals to lead the Coyotes.

The second half played out much like the first half as USD scored 12 straight points to open the second stanza. Leading the charge was Bourne, who hit consecutive three-point baskets to give the Coyotes a 39-11 lead at the 17:34 mark. USD led 45-11 on a jumper by Bourne with 15:54 to play. A basket by Erica Schroeder extended the lead to 53-16. USD's Lead Bakke hit a jumper with 2:55 left as the Coyotes led 61-26.

Schroeder finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Freshman Jenni Flynn of South Sioux City, Iowa, contriuted eight points and five rebounds while Schooley, who played 23 minutes, had six points, five assists and three steals. Woster had five points, four rebounds and a pair of steals. Overall, USD had 14 steals and won the rebound battle, 42-31.

Next for South Dakota is a date with No. 9 ranked Drury at 2:30 p.m. central on Saturday afternoon. The Coyotes will face No. 5 Central Arkansas on Sunday with gametime scheduled at 5 p.m. central time.