DULUTH, MINN. (Jan. 22, 2005)-- The 16th-ranked South Dakota women's basketball team (12-6, 1-3 NCC) dropped a 73-63 decision to 23rd-ranked Minnesota Duluth (14-5, 3-2 NCC) at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth, Minn. on Saturday.

Although the Coyotes had four players in double figures, they could not overcome their 15 turnovers and 24 points from the Bulldogs' All-American Lindsey Dietz.

Vanessa Yanez (Wagner, S.D.) led USD with 13 points and seven rebounds as USD shot 45.5% (22-of-48) from the field. The Coyotes were 5-of-18 (27.8%) from three-point land and made 14-of-16 (87.5%) from the free throw line.

South Dakota outshot Minnesota Duluth from the field, as the Bulldogs shot 37.7% by making 26-of-69 field goals. UMD made 28.6% (10-of-35) from downtown and were 11-of-13 (84.6%) at the charity stripe.

UMD outrebounded the Coyotes 38-34.

USD's Brittany Bessert (Fort Collins, Colo.) recorded 12 points as she reached double-figures for the first time since scoring 13 against Concordia-St. Paul on Dec. 28. Ashley Robinette and Jenni Flynn, both of South Sioux City, Iowa, pitched in 11 and 10 points, respectively for the Coyotes.

Besides 24 points from Dietz, the Bulldogs got a dozen points each from Tanysha Scott and Tasha Martin.

The Coyotes will have a short rest on Sunday before hosting Upper Iowa on Monday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. in the DakotaDome.