FARGO, N.D. -- The No. 15 South Dakota women's basketball team (25-7) dropped a 74-68 decision to No. 12 North Dakota State (23-5) in the semifinals of the Wells Fargo Finals on Friday night at the Bison Sports Arena.

Despite shooting 52.2 percent from the field, South Dakota could not hold off an equally hot North Dakota State squad. South Dakota hit 24-of-46 shots from the field, including a hot 11-of-22 from three point range (50 percent) and 9-of-11 from the free throw line. While USD had 11 threes, NDSU was 10-of-24 for 41.7 percent and made 30-of-68 field goals for 44.1 percent and 4-of-6 from the charity stripe. NDSU had a 46-18 rebound advantage, including a 20-0 margin on the offensive boards.

South Dakota put four players in double figures, including All-American Mandy Koupal (Wagner, S.D.), who had 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, a blocked shot and a steal. Freshman Jenni Flynn (South Sioux City, Neb.) added 16 points, including 3-of-3 from three-point range. Senior guard Erin Bourne (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) supplied 10 points while junior forward Kayla Jacobs (Watertown, S.D.) provided 10 points.

The Bison was led by reserve forward Danni Heintzelman, who had 19 points and five rebounds. She hit 5-of-7 shots from three point range. Amanda Krenz added 15 points while Angie Froehlich tossed in 14.

The win by the Bison was just their second in the last nine games against South Dakota. However, the games between the schools this season have been decided by a total of 11 points. USD won at Fargo earlier this season by a 71-69 count before emerging with a 71-68 decision during the regular season at the DakotaDome. With its comeback in the second half, the Bison ended South Dakota's halftime streak of 20 wins when leading at the break.

The Coyotes are now 3-4 in Wells Fargo Finals games and 0-3 in the semifinal round.

Now, South Dakota awaits word on its postseason hopes. The field of 64 will be announced on Sunday night by the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Committee. The show will be aired on College Sports TV on direct TV (channel 610), beginning at 9:30 p.m. Coming into into tonight's game, USD was ranked fifth in the region.

In a furious and fast first half, both USD and NDSU matched each other by draining a flurry of three-point field goals as South Dakota led 39-37 at halftime. After NDSU opened the scoring, Flynn hit the first of three, first-half three pointers as USD led 3-2. After that NDSU jumped to a 10-6 lead after Froehlich connected on a jumper. A basket by Amanda Krenz gave NDSU a 18-9 lead at the 12:48 mark.

The Coyotes responded with an 8-0 run, capped by a Meghan Woster (Sioux Falls, S.D.) three-pointer to cut the Bison lead to 18-17 at the 11:05 mark of the first half.

Later, NDSU opened up its largest lead of the game at 27-18 lead on a three-pointer by Krenz with 7:48 to play.

On this night of downtown shooting, the game would go back and forth all night. USD fought back to within 31-27 after Woster scored on a lay-up at the 3:57 mark. After Heintzelman connected from three-point distance (3:37) for a 34-27 lead, USD went on a 10-0 run to take a 37-34 lead with under two minutes to play. Key was the play of Flynn, who converted a four-point play to tie the game at 34-34 with 2:41 to play. Then, Jacobs hit a three with 1:30 left as USD led 37-34. Krenz answered for the Bison but Flynn, who had 14 first half points, made a driving lay-up as USD led 39-37 at halftime.

The Coyotes opened up a 46-40 lead with 17:57 to play in the game after Bourne knocked home a three-pointer. USD eventually grabbed its largest lead at 51-45 with 15 minutes to play following Bourne's made free throws.

It was the Bison's turn to run. NDSU took off on a 13-2 run capped by Heintzelman's three-pointer at the 9:31 mark.

The Coyotes tied the game at 62-62 when Jacobs again connected from deep. However, the Bison answered with a three from guard Katie Lorenz and mained the lead for the rest of the game. USD cut the lead to 65-64 at the 5:17 mark but drew no closer. Twice in the closing minutes, the Coyotes trailed by three points only to miss the front end of one and ones.

A three-pointer by Heintzelman sealed the deal for NDSU and gave them a 72-66 lead with 2:20 left in the game.