GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The South Dakota Women's Basketball Team (17-13) saw its season draw to a close in a 84-69 setback to the top seeded and 13th-ranked North Dakota (24-5) before 1,802 in attendance at the Betty Engelstad Center in Grand Forks, N.D. But, it was not without a USD performance that kept those gathered on the edge of their seats.

The Coyotes, appearing in its first NCC Wells Fargo Finals title game, battled to a first half lead and held a six-point second half lead before the homestanding UND squad found its shooting range and pulled away in the final five minutes. USD was trying to knock off its third straight higher seed in the tournament after having eliminated second-seeded Minnesota Duluth (77-69) at Duluth, Minn.; and ousted third-seeded Augustana (84-83) in Grand Forks on Friday night.

Two Coyotes, sophomore guard Jenni Flynn and freshman forward Ashley Robinette, both originally of South Sioux City, Neb., earned All Tournament honors. Robinette had a solid outing in the title game with a career-high 23 points and seven rebounds. Robinette hit 6-of-11 field goals, including three, three-point field goals and eight straight free throws. In the tournament, she totaled 45 points and 22 rebounds, averaging 15.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in the three-games played by USD. In the three games, she made 17-of-20 free throws for 85 points. Flynn, who had 14 points and three, three-point field goals against UND on Saturday, totaled 73 points and averaged 24.3 per game to go with 6.7 rebounds a contest during the three games of the tournament. Flynn hit 22-of-37 field goals for 59.5 percent, including 17-of-24 three-point field goals for for 70.8 percent as well as 12-of-14 free throws for 85.7 percent.

Both Robinette and Flynn played key roles to help USD give top-seeded UND a scare in the championship game. Early on it was a three-pointer by Vermillion, S.D., native Ashley Bjorkman that provided USD a 5-4 lead at the 16:58 mark. UND rebounded with a 11-1 run to take a 16-5 lead at the 13:43 mark. North Dakota continued to build its lead to 19-7 at the 12:51 mark after Kelly Maffin hit a jumper. That is when Robinette keyed a Coyote charge by hitting a pair of free throws and a rare four-point played after being fouled on a successful three-point field goal as USD drew within 19-12 at the 11:51 mark. Shortly thereafter, Flynn hit a jumper as UND's lead was reduced to 19-14. Robinette converted a three-point play - inside basket and free throw after being fouled - as USD cut the UND lead to 25-21 at the 7:52 mark. A possession later, Robinette hit a three-point field goals to cut the UND lead to 25-24. Robinette had 12 points during the 17-6 run that brought USD back into the game. A Flynn three-point basket tied the game at 27 with 5:55 left in the half. Later Robinette's inside basket drew USD within 36-35 and a three-pointer by Kristie Tighe of Homer, Neb., with 24 ticks left on the clock gave USD a 38-36 halftime advantage.

Early in the second half, freshman sensation Ashley Langen of UND scored inside to tie the game at 38-38 with 18:48 to play. However, Flynn hit a three to give USD a 41-38 lead. The Coyotes gained its largest advantage of the game at 44-38 when Brittany Bessert of Fort Collins, Colo., knocked home a three-pointer for a 44-38 lead at the 17:38 mark. UND answered with a 6-0 run, including four points by Chelsea Hausauer, who had 30 points and 12 rebounds on the night, to tie the game at 44-44 with 14:46 to play. A basket by Yanez gave USD a 49-45 lead at the 13:44 mark. That is when UND gained control, taking off on a 15-1 run for a 60-50 lead with 11 minutes to play. A Flynn three at the 10:55 mark cut the lead to seven but the deficit was too large for USD to overcome.

A three-pointer by Amy Mahlum of UND built the lead to 67-53 at the 9:32 mark. The Coyotes made a number of runs at UND, including cut the lead to 72-65 when Robinette hit her third three-pointer of the game at 4:40. USD had a shot to cut into the lead further but were unable to convert a shot in the lane. From that point, UND built its advantage to double digits and won its second NCC title in three years.

Overall, South Dakota hit 20-of-53 field goals for 37.7 percent, including 9-of-23 from three-point range for 39.1 percent. It was the first time in four games that USD, which leads the nation with an average of 9.2 three-pointers per game, did not make at least 10 three-pointers in a game. USD continued its solid shooting from the foul line by making 20-of-25 free throws for 80 percent. Aside from Flynn and Robinette, Meghan Woster had eight points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Junior forward Bessert added eight points, six rebounds and five assists while reserve forward Janielle Bryan of Bellevue, Neb., had four points and three rebounds.

North Dakota, which also received a double double from Kristi Boese with 19 points and 10 rebounds, hit 28-of-65 field goals for 43.1 percent. UND was 5-of-17 from three-point range for 29.4 percent and also hit 23-of-28 field goals for 82.1 percent.

UND won the rebound battle 44-31, although USD held an 18-14 advantage at halftime. USD committed 18 turnovers. USD held UND's leading scorer, Langen, in check as she scored just four points and two rebounds, well off her season averages of 18 points and eight rebounds a contest.

Notes:

~ With four assists, Meghan Woster finished the season with 196, which ranks third all-time for a season at USD. She now has 339 assists which is sixth all-time at USD.

~ With three more three-pointers Jenni Flynn had 77 three-pointers in 2004-05, a total which is the second best all-time at USD. She now has 145 career three-point field goals, which places her just five behind Julie Frie (150, 1999-2003) for third on the career chart.

~ The crucial point - or points - was the fact that USD failed to score at least 75 points. In games that USD scored 75 points or more, USD was 13-0. USD had scored 77 and 84 points in its wins in the tournament.

~ The Coyotes had 280 three-pointers on the season, just six from a school record.

~ North Dakota defeated USD for the third time this season. UND defeated the Coyotes 89-62 on Jan. 15 in Grand Forks and 78-73 in Vermillion on Feb. 19 before winning the title game tonight.