St. Paul, Minn. -- It was round four and the No. 14 North Dakota State Bison (24-6) held the upper hand in dealing No. 16 South Dakota (25-8) a 70-63 loss in the opening round of the NCAA Division II North Central Region Playoffs on Friday afternoon at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn.
South Dakota, which had defeated NDSU twice during the regular season, could not find the answer against the Bison in the postseason. Last weekend, USD dropped a 74-68 decision to the NCC Co-Champs in the Wells Fargo FInals and then the Coyotes saw its season end this afternoon in the first round of the national playoffs.
USD ended the season with the second most victories in a season in school history, winning 25 of the 33 games they played this season. In addition, USD won 25 games for the second straight year, also a first in school history. The Coyotes participated in the national playoffs for its second straight season. The game against NDSU ended the careers of four South Dakota seniors. Aside from Mandy Koupal, the other seniors included Jodi Schroeder (Tulare, S.D.), Erin Bourne (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) and Stacy Schooley (Watertown, S.D.), who has not played since an injury in the 23rd game this season.
In her last game as a Coyote, Koupal showed why she was the North Central Conference MVP for a record third time and a candidate for national player of the year. The senior All-American from Wagner, S.D., scored the game's first 12 points en route to 32 points and 16 rebounds. She picked up her school-record 22nd double double this season and her school-record 57th at South Dakota. Koupal ended her collegiate career with 2,497 points, which is sixth best in the history of NCAA Division II women's basketball. At USD, Koupal had 2,132 points, also a school record. She also ended with 1,027 career rebounds at USD, which was one shy of the school record of 1,028 held by Mary Jonesen (1977-81). She also had her 11th 30-point game of the season, ending the 2003-04 campaign with 32 double figure scoring games in 33 games. She also had her 22nd double digit rebound game this season.
Koupal hit 10-of-19 field goals, including 2-of-4 from three point range, and also converted 10-of-11 free throws but it was not enough. The difference for South Dakota laid in their problems shooting the ball from the field. The Coyotes, which carried a 45 percent field goal shooting percentage as a team entering the game, could muster just 36 percent on 18-of-50 shooting. USD, which was shooting 38.6 percent from three point range this season, hit just 29.2 percent from the three-point arc, making 7-of-24. The Coyotes had a solid night from the foul line as they make 20-of-24 charity tosses for 83.3 percent.
Early on, it appeared the Coyotes were going to have a good night. Led by the play of Koupal, South Dakota grabbed a 10-3 lead at the 17:26 mark and led 12-7 with 14:33 to play in the first half. How dominant was Koupal? Well, she scored USD's first 12 points. In all, Koupal dominated the first half by putting together 20 points and 10 rebounds. Koupal hit seven of 10 field goals.
Two shooting droughts hurt the Coyotes against the Bison. After USD led 12-7, NDSU went on a 12-0 run to take a 19-12 lead at the 7:40 mark. Then freshman Jenni Flynn (South Sioux City, Neb.) picked up the Coyotes. She hit consecutive three pointers to stop a seven minute scoreless span as the Coyotes pulled within 19-18 at the 6:28 mark of the first half. The Bison built a 25-20 lead on a basket by Katie Lorenz with 4:11 to play but USD responded. The Coyotes ended the half on a 10-0 run for a 30-25 halftime lead. Key to that surge was a rare five-point play. USD's Vanessa Yanez (Wagner, S.D.) scored inside and made a free throw and when NDSU fouled Koupal and she converted both charity tosses, the Coyotes had tied the game at 25-25 at the 3:54 mark.
USD scored first in the second half as Koupal worked inside for two points as USD led 32-25 with 19:40 to play. But, that was USD's largest lead of the half and the Coyotes went into its second scoring drought. NDSU caught fire and went on an 8-0 run for a 33-32 lead at the 18:19 mark.
NDSU opened up a 43-36 lead at the 11:09 mark before USD mounted another comeback. First, Flynn connected from deep at 9:37 to cut the lead to four points. Then after Meghan Woster (Sioux Falls, S.D.) made two free throws, Yanez hit a three to cut the lead to 45-44. Fricke answered with a three-pointer for a 48-44 lead at the 6:58 mark.
The Bison moved to a 61-52 lead at the 3:09 mark when Leah Klabo scored inside. USD fought back to within 61-57 on a pair of foul shots by Flynn with 2:09 to play but Fricke hit the biggest shot of the game - a three-pointer with 1:14 left to give NDSU a 64-57 lead and seal the game for the Bison.
USD received eight points and five assists from Woster while Yanez had six points and five rebounds.
Fricke led the Bison with 21 points while Angela Froehlich had 20 points and Klabo added 14 and had 10 boards. Overall, the Bison hit 36.2 percent from the field (25-of-69), although they made just 4-of-16 from three-point range. The Bison made 16-of-19 free throws for 84.2 percent. NDSU also won the rebound battle, 47-35.
