SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Freshman Kristi Tighe scored a career-high 21 points to lead the 24th-ranked South Dakota women's basketball team (9-3) to a 88-47 nonconference win over Chadron State (1-10) at the Augustana Basketball Classic on Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 29) at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Coyotes, which ended the tournament with a 1-1 record, defeated Chadron State for the second time this season. The Coyotes defeated the Eagles, 96-60, at the Nebraska-Omaha Tournament on Nov. 27. With the win, USD improved its all-time series mark to 3-0 vs. Chadron State.

Tighe, a reserve guard from Homer Neb., did not play until midway through the first half but then responded with her career-best performance as a member of the Coyotes. Tighe had 11 of her 21 points in the first-half, including eight in the final minute of the opening stanza when she hit a pair of three-pointers, including one at the buzzer. Overall, Tighe hit 6-of-9 field goals, including a career-best 5-of-6 three-pointers and she also had four made free throws. Tighe chipped in with four rebounds and two steals. It was Tighe's third double digit scoring game this season. Tighe scored better than a point a minute with 21 points in 20 minutes.

Overall, USD had four players score in double digits, including sophomore guard Jenni Flynn of South Sioux City, Neb., who added 16 points and seven rebounds. Flynn made 4-of-7 three-pointers in reaching double digits for the 10th straight game. Flynn's four three-point baskets give her 96 in her career, which is seventh all-time at USD. Junior guard Meghan Woster of Sioux Falls, S.D., contributed eight points, eight assists and seven rebounds in a solid all-around floor game for USD. Vanessa Yanez, a sophomore from Wagner, S.D., totaled 12 points and six rebounds. Freshman forward Ashley Robinette of South Sioux City, Iowa, added 10 points and three assists while sophomore forward Erica Schroeder of Miller, S.D., tied a career-best with nine points and she also had six rebounds.

The Coyotes made 29-of-70 field goals for 41.4 percent, tying a season-high with 14 made three-pointers on 33 attempts for a 42.4 percent conversion rate. USD also hit 16-of-21 free throws for 76.2 percent. USD won the rebound battle, 49-43. Key for the Coyotes was bench production in which USD, led by Tighe's performance, held a 46 to 15 advantage over Chadron State. USD also took advantage of turnovers, outscoring the Eagles, 28-6, in points off turnovers. Chadron State committed 19 turnovers while USD made just 10 miscues.

Taylor Cady led Chadron State with 14 points. Also for the Eagles, guard Fawn Trepka had 10 points, including three, three-pointers in the second half. The Eagles hit 20-of-68 field goals for 29.4 percent, including 4-of-16 from three-point range. CSC made 3-of-4 free throws.

South Dakota jumped to a quick 13-0 lead after Flynn hit a three-pointer at the 15:09 mark. Chadron State answered with six straight points, all from Taylor Cady, whose inside basket cut the USD's lead to 13-6 at the 12:07 mark. Shortly thereafter, Tighe went to work, hitting her first three-point field goal at the 8:18 mark. Later (6:11), Robinette scored inside off an assist from Woster and USD led, 28-11. An offensive rebound and put-back by freshman Janielle Bryan (Bellevue, Neb.) provided USD with a 35-15 lead with 3:34 left in the half. After that USD's Tighe went to work. In the final minute of the half, she scored eight points, including a pair of threes, one of which beat the buzzer and gave USD a 43-17 lead at halftime.

Tighe's 11 points led USD at the break. Flynn had eight points, including 2-of-3 from three point range. USD also received six points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals from Woster. USD hit 15-of-35 field goals for 42.9 percent during the first half. The Coyotes made 7-of-17 from three-point range for 41.2 percent and also made 6-of-7 from the free throw line.

Chadron State was led by Taylor Cady with 10 points. CSC made just 8-of-35 field goals for 22.9 percent, missing all five of its three-point field goals in first half action.

Chadron State opened the second half on a 17-10 run, cutting USD's lead to 53-34 at the 12:40 mark. USD quickly reversed that trend by utilizing its perimeter game. Schroeder's three-pointer moved the USD advantage to 56-34 at the 10:33 mark. Then, Tighe hit a three-pointer at the 8:12 mark for a 63-36 lead over the Eagles. Later, Flynn hit a driving lay-up (7:21) and knocked home a three-point field goal (5:00) as USD upped its advantage to 70-40.a A three-point basket by Robinette built the advantage to 79-43 with 2:37 to play. Tighe's fifth three-pointer of the game with 31 seconds remaining provided USD with a 43-point lead (88-45) and its largest advantage of the game.

Next for South Dakota will be a road game with Wayne State at 6 p.m., on Sunday in Wayne Neb. Earlier this season, USD defeated Wayne State, 61-60, on Dec. 3 at the DakotaDome.