MARSHALL, MINN. - Fourth-ranked South Dakota (8-1) won its seventh straight game with a nonconference win over 19th-ranked Minnesota-Duluth (3-2) on Friday afternoon at the Southwest Minnesota Basketball Classic in Marshall, Minn.
The Coyotes were led by All-American Mandy Koupal, a senior from Wagner, S.D., who had her sixth double double of the season with 32 points and 11 rebounds. Koupal hit 11-of-21 field goals and 9-of-11 from the free throw line to lead the Coyotes to its eighth win in nine starts this season.
Freshman guard Jenni Flynn (South Sioux City, Neb.) contributed 11 points, making 3-of-5 three-pointers.
Both senior Erin Bourne (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) and senior point guard Stacy Schooley (Watertown, S.D.) had eight points. Schooley also had eight assists, five steals, four rebounds and two blocks.
While the Coyotes three-point shooting was off (4-of-15, 26.7 percent), USD made 46.8 percent from the field (22-of-47) and knocked down 81 percent from the foul line (17-of-21).
The nationally ranked foes battled each other from start to finish with neither team gaining a significant advantage. A three-pointer by Koupal, who scored 15 first-half points, provided the Coyotes with an 13-8 lead with 10:24 to play in the opening stanza. Later, a pair of free throws by Koupal gave USD a 20-14 lead with 6:25 to play in the half. UMD fought back and grabbed a 24-22 lead when Jess Berglund canned a three-pointer at the 3:38 mark. After that, USD finished the half on a 8-3 run to take a 30-27 halftime lead.
Early in the second half, USD opened a 35-27 lead with 18:15 after a basket by Woster. Once again UMD closed the gap, going on a 17-5 run for a 44-40 lead with 11:29 to play in the game. Then, it was USD's turn to rally. The Coyotes went on a 18-7 run and took a 58-51 lead at the 4:07 mark. UMD pulled within 63-61 with 31 seconds to play, but Flynn made a pair of free throws in the final seconds to hold off UMD.
UMD was led by Lindsey Dietz, who had 23 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Natalie Hopkins chipped in with 11 points. Overall, the Bulldogs made 40.7 percent from the field (24-of-59) and 55.6 percent from the foul line (10-of-18). UMD made just 17.6 percent from three point range (3-of-17).
Next for South Dakota is a game with classic host Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Marshall, Minn.
