MARSHALL, MINN. -- Led by freshman Bridget Yoerger's career-high 25 points and nine rebounds, The South Dakota Women's Basketball Team (4-2) captured a 70-64 nonconference decision against Minnesota-Crookston (0-6) on Friday afternoon at the Southwest Minnesota State/U.S. Bancorp/McDonald's Basketball Classic in Marshall, Minn.

Yoerger, a freshman forward from Hinton, Iowa, hit 11-of-18 field goals and 3-of-5 free throws. She also had six offensive rebounds, dished out three assists and had two steals in 29 minutes of action.

USD senior point guard Meghan Woster (Sioux Falls, S.D.) also played a huge role in USD's fourth win in six decisions this season. Woster tied a career-high and set a R/A Facility (SMSU basketball arena) record with 13 assists. She also contributed five rebounds with two blocked shots. Woster now has 376 assists in her career and has moved into fifth place on USD's career assist chart (Barb Vilhauer, 1985-89, 374). With five more assists, she will pass Shelby Petersen Mayer (1990-94, 380 assists) on the career chart at USD.

Aside from Yoerger, two other Coyotes - Vanessa Yanez and Erica Schroeder, reached double figures against UMC. Yanez, a junior forward from Wagner, S.D., connected on five, three-point field goals and scored a season-best 19 points. Yanez, who has a team-high 16 three-pointers (16-of-35) this season, made 5-of-7 shots from three-point range on Friday. Schroeder, a junior forward from Miller, S.D., reached double digits for the third time this season by scoring 10 points, grabbing five rebounds, and recording two assists.

Overall, South Dakota connected on 28-of-62 field goals for 45.2 percent. The Coyotes hit 7-of-20 three-point field goals for 35 percent but made just 7-of-13 free throws for 53.8 percent.

Minnesota-Crookston, which was led by Karna Plaine's 32 points, made 26-of-58 field goals for 44.8 percent, but hit only 4-of-13 from three-point range. The Golden Eagles hit 8-of-13 free throws for 61.5 percent. Carly Score scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds for UMC.

USD grabbed a quick 14-6 lead at the 15:39 mark of the first half, as Yoerger scored off an assist from Woster. UMC fought back to within 22-18 on a basket by Plaine at the 5:41 mark of the half. Then, the Coyotes used a 12-2 run to gain a 34-20 halftime advantage as Yanez hit a three-pointer with nine seconds to play.

Early in the second half, USD built its largest lead of the game at 38-20, on a lay-up by Yoerger off Woster's assist at the 19:12 mark. UMC made several runs at the Coyotes but USD used its' inside strength to hold the Golden Eagles at bay. A three-point basket by Carly Score cut USD's lead to 43-31 with 14:16 left in the game. The Coyotes re-established a 14-point lead (56-42) at the 8:45 mark when Yoerger knocked down a jumper. Later, the Golden Eagles pulled within 65-60 on a lay-up by Plaine at the 2:03 mark. USD responded with a field goal by Woster and a three-point play by Yoerger to establish a 70-60 lead and put the game away (:55).

Next for South Dakota is a contest with host Southwest Minnesota State (2-2) at 6 p.m. on Saturday on the second day of the SMSU/U.S. Bancorp/McDonalds Basketball Classic in Marshall, Minn.