VERMILLION, S.D. -- The South Dakota women's basketball team (12-5, 0-2 NCC) will play a pair of North Central Conference opponents this week as the schedule heats up for the Coyotes.

South Dakota, which gave second-ranked North Dakota fits last weekend at the DakotaDome (73-64 USD loss), will face another team hungry for a win in Nebraska-Omaha (12-6, 0-3 NCC) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Sapp Fieldhouse in Omaha, Neb. The game will be broadcast on South Dakota and Nebraska Public Television.

USD will then welcome 20th-ranked Minnesota-Duluth (16-3, 3-1 NCC) on Saturday, Jan. 21 for a 1 p.m. start at the DakotaDome. UMD features one of the nation's top players in All-American Lindsey Dietz. UMD ran past Minnesota State, 78-64, on Jan. 14, to improve to 3-1 in the league.

Probable Starters South Dakota (12-5, 0-2) G - 5 - Meghan Woster, 6'0, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D. (6.2 ppg, 7.9 apg, 4.1 rpg) G - 22 - Ashley Bjorkman, 5'10, So., Vermillion, S.D. (9.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg.) F - 24 - Vanessa Yanez, 5'11, Jr., Wagner, S.D. (10.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg.) F - 32 - Erica Schroeder, 6'1, Jr., Miller, S.D. (5.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg) F - 25 - Bridget Yoerger, 5'11, Fr., Hinton, Iowa (15.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg)

Nebraska-Omaha (12-6, 0-3) G - 5 - Karen Thies, 5'4, Jr., Durango, Colo. (12.2 ppg, 6.1 apg) G - 10 - Toni Kinsey, 5'5, Sr., Florence, Colo. (6.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg) F - 40 - Carlye Jones, 6-2, So., Omaha, Neb. (5.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg ) F - 44 - Ashley Freerksen, 5'10, Jr., Des Moines, Iowa (12.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg) F - 52 - J.J. Smith, 5'11, Sr., Lincoln, Neb. (14.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg)

Minnesota-Duluth (16-3, 3-1) G - 25 - Justine Axtell, 5'10, So., Barnum, Minn. (9.7 ppg, 5.7 apg) G - 22 - Alissa Pauly, 5'8, So., Shakopee, Minn. (6.9 ppg, 3.5 apg) F - 14 - Megan O'Hern, 5'11, Sr., North Branch, Minn. (4.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg ) F - 13 - Lindsey Dietz, 6'0, Sr., Elk River, Minn. (24.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg) C - 4 - Katie Winkelman, 6'1, Jr., Morris, Minn. (12.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg)

Radio Broadcasts The game will be broadcast on Culhane Communication Sports, All Sports Radio 1570 AM (KVTK, Vermillion/Yankton, S.D.) with play-by-play by Jeff Culhane. The game will also be available on the internet at www.usdcoyotes.com or www.kvht.com or by calling Teamline at 1-800-846-4700 (team code: 6056). Teamline is a fee-based phone service, in which Coyote fans can call to listen to the live broadcast.

TV Broadcasts South Dakota Public Television and Nebraska Public Television (NET2) will carry the game live on Thursday night. NET2 is the Nebraska Educational Television's (NET) cable channel and is made available to viewers by participating Nebraska cable systems. The broadcast will also be web cast live through the UNO-TV home page at unotv.unomaha.edu. The TV broadcast will include Rich Roberts as the play-by-play announcer with Steve Thum of SDPB providing color commentary. The sideline announcer will be Julia McConahay.

NCAA Division II Regional Rankings The South Dakota women's basketball team sits 10th in the NCAA Division II basketball regional rankings, which were released on Jan. 18 for the first time this season. The regional rankings will be released every Wednesday through March 1. North Central Region 1. North Dakota; 2. St. Cloud State, 3. Minnesota-Duluth; 4. Wayne State (Neb.); 5. Concordia St. Paul; 6. Northern State; 7. Metro State; 8. Regis (Colo.); 9. Augustana; 10. South Dakota.

About South Dakota USD will attempt to crack the NCC win column after falling to Augustana (68-54, Jan. 7) and North Dakota (73-64, Jan. 14). South Dakota opened the 2005-06 season with a 3-2 mark before ripping off eight straight wins and an 11-2 record. The Coyotes are outscoring opponents by a 71.4 to 59.2 margin. However, USD narrowly trails in rebounding at 37.9 to 37.8. The Coyotes are hitting 43.7 percent from the field on 427-of-977 shooting. USD has made 35.1 percent from three-point range, making 147-of-419 shots. The Coyotes are connecting on 71.5 percent from the foul line on 213-of-298 shooting. USD opponents are making 36.6 percent from the field, including 28.8 percent from three-point range. Overall, USD owns a 1,214 to 1,006 points advantage against opponents. The Coyotes outscore opponents, 593 to 467, in the first half, while owning a 621 to 539 advantage during the second half. This season, USD is averaging 18.4 assists, 14.4 turnovers, 8.8 steals and 3.2 blocked shots per game. Individually, freshman Bridget Yoerger (Hinton, Iowa) leads the team with 15.1 points (5th, NCC) and 6.5 rebounds per game (8th, NCC). Yoerger also leads the team in steals with 26 and field goal percentage at 53% (107-of-202). Junior Vanessa Yanez (Wagner, S.D.) is averaging 10.4 points per game and leads the team and the NCC with 41 three-point baskets, which is third in the nation. Senior Meghan Woster (Sioux Falls, S.D.) leads the league with 135 assists (7.9/gm).

2004-05 Review A year ago, USD recorded a 17-13 overall record, including a 3-9 mark in the NCC. USD returns four starters and nine letter winners from the 2004-05 team. USD won three of its final four games, including two of three in the Wells Fargo/NCC Post Season Tournament. USD defeated upper seeds Minnesota-Duluth and Augustana before dropping an 84-69 decision to NCC regular season and tournament champion North Dakota.

Coyote Notes The Coyotes are 10-2 when leading at halftime this season. USD has broken double digits in made three-pointers seven times this season with a season-best 15 vs. Chadron State on Nov. 15 (82-44 win). USD shot a season-best 52 percent (26-of-50) from the field in a 61-60 win over UC-San Diego on Nov. 25. The Coyotes made 88.9 percent (16-of-18) from the foul line in a 78-52 win over Southwest State on Dec. 3. USD's best three-point shooting performance was the 13-of-26 (50 percent) performance against Mount Marty on Dec. 18.

About Nebraska-Omaha Nebraska-Omaha will try and get on the winning track against USD after losing three straight conference tilts to open the season. UNO has lost at Augustana (80-64) and drop a home-and-home series with second-ranked North Dakota. UNO lost at North Dakota (89-64) and also lost (72-47) at home.

UNO, which is averaging 75.3 points per game and allowing 58.3, has outscored opponents, 1,355 to 1,099. UNO has hit 44.8 percent (387-of-1088) from the field, including 31.4 percent (103-of-328) from three-point range. In addition, the Mavericks have made 74.5 percent (278-of-373) from the foul line.

J.J. Smith leads UNO is scoring at 14.7 points per contest. She also averages 5.6 rebounds. Guard Karen Thies is averaging 12.2 points per game and lead the team with 6.1 rebounds per game. She has also connected on 21-of-63 three-point field goals for 33.3 percent. Ashley Freerksen, who has hit 18-of-55 three-pointers, is scoring 12.0 points per game. UNO is coached by Patty Patton-Shearer, who is 26-20 in her second season at UNO. Overall, she is 86-69 in five years of collegiate coaching. A 1990 graduate of Rocky Mountain College, she coached four seasons at Fort Lewis College where she had a 60-49 overall record.

The USD-UNO Series UNO owns a 30-27 series lead over the Coyotes. The Mavericks defeated USD twice last season as the Coyotes fell, 67-61, at the DakotaDome on Jan. 20. UNO also recorded a 61-48 win over the Coyotes on Feb. 3. South Dakota's last win over Nebraska-Omaha was a 63-47 decision at the Dome in 2003-04. USD also picked up a 77-63 decision at UNO that season. The series dates back to 1976 when UNO defeated the Coyotes, 74-38.

On Minnesota-Duluth The 20th-ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (16-3, 3-1 NCC) enter the game with a two-game winning streak after falling to then sixth-ranked St. Cloud State, 92-83, on Jan. 7. UMD has since knocked off Augustana, 75-72, on Jan. 12 and Minnesota State, 78-64, on Jan. 14. UMD's only other losses are to then top-ranked Drury, 74-60, in the season opener and to Cal Poly-Pomona, 71-64, on Dec. 29. As a team, UMD is averaging 72.9 points and 40 rebounds per game, while allowing 59 points and 28.5 rebounds per contest. The Bulldogs are shooting 45.9% (499-of-1087) from the field and 30.5% (106-of-347) from three-point range. At the foul line, UMD is shooting 72.4% (281-of-388). They average 18.2 assists, 10.4 steals, 2.7 blocks and 19.7 turnovers per game. Conversely, opponents are shooting 40.7% from the field and 33.6% beyond the three-point arc, while turning the ball over 19.7 times per game and collecting 9.1 steals per contest. Lindsey Dietz, a senior forward, leads the team and is second in the nation in scoring at 24.3 points per game. Dietz is also grabbing 9.2 rebounds per contest and is shooting 68.3% (166-of-243) from the field. Center Katie Winkelman is also averaging in double figures at 12.5 points per game. Winkelman is averaging 5.7 rebounds and leads the team with 38 steals. Justin Axtell leads the team in assists with 75 and had 30 steals, while averaging 9.7 points per game. Also starting are Alissa Pauly and Megan O'Hern, who average 6.9 and 4.6 points per game, respectively.

Head coach Sue Fiero, a former Bulldog, is in her first season and owns a 16-3 overall record.

The USD-UMD Series South Dakota and Minnesota-Duluth will meet for the fifth time, with the all-time series tied at 2-2. Last season, the two teams met three times with UMD winning both regular season games. In the first round of the NCC/Wells Fargo Finals, the Coyotes pulled off a 77-69 upset of then 21st-ranked UMD, in Duluth, Minn. USD won the first meeting of the series, 65-61, in the Southwest Minnesota State Classic on Dec. 5, 2003. At the time, the Coyotes were ranked fourth, while the Bulldogs were 19th, nationally.

Yoerger Making Impact in Freshman Season Freshman Bridget Yoerger is putting together an impressive opening act in her initial season on the Coyote women's squad. The Hinton, Iowa native is the only true freshman in the NCC to rank in the top-10 in both scoring and rebounding. She is averaging a team-high 15.1 points (fifth in the NCC) and 6.5 rebounds (eighth in the league) per game. Yoerger has recorded 16 starts in 17 games and averaged 24 minutes per game. Until she was limited to eight points against UND, Yoerger had a string of 13-straight (14 overall) double digit scoring games. She has broken the 20-point mark on four occasions, including twice scoring 25 points. Yoerger was named the MVP of the SMSU/U.S. Bancorp/McDonald's Invitational after averaging 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. She scored a career-high 25 points in a win against Minnesota-Crookston. At the Classic, she hit 57.1 percent of her field goals and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. She was named NCC Player of the Week after her play at the Southwest Minnesota State Classic. Overall, Yoerger has hit 107-of-202 field goals for 53.0 percent and 41-of-60 free throws for 68.3 percent. Of her 111 rebounds, she has 46 offensive boards. She has recorded 26 steals and 11 blocked shots this season. Yoerger recorded her first career-double double with 20 points and 10 rebounds in USD's 77-40 win over Mount Marty on Dec. 18.

Woster Moves to Third on Career Assists Chart and Fourth in All-time Blocked Shots Senior point guard Meghan Woster, who is leading the league with 7.9 assists per game, continues to move up the USD career assist chart. With 135 assists this season, Woster, who ranks third in the nation, now has 474 assists and has moved into third-place on USD's career assists chart, passing Kelly Gese (439, 1996-2001). Directly ahead of Woster is Jodi Pipes (1988-92), who is second all-time with 507 assists; with Katie Dailey (1981-85), first, with 665 assists. Woster has nine blocked shots this season and has moved into fourth-place on USD's blocked shots chart with 70. Ahead of Woster are Jean Misterek (1983-87), first, 134; Mandy Koupal (2000-04), second, 121; and Amy Heller (1987-91), third, 81. Woster, who is averaging 4.1 rebounds and 6.2 points per game, has six double-digit assists games, including a career-best 15 in the win over William Penn on Dec. 11, 2005. Yanez Continues Ties Knudtson for Sixth on 3-Point Chart Junior forward Vanessa Yanez of Wagner, S.D., has tied Anne Knudtson (1994-98) for sixth-place on USD's career three-point shots list with 131. Yanez will move into fifth place with one more three-point field goal. She will pass Krista Orsack (133, 2000-02) for fifth-place all-time with three more converted treys. This season, Yanez has knocked down a team-high 41-of-109 three-point shots for 37.6 percent. She leads the NCC with 2.41 made three-pointers per game. Her total of 41 three-point shots is also an NCC-best. Yanez, who is averaging 10.4 points per game for the Coyotes, has made 131-of-398 (37.2 percent) three-point shots in her career. This season, Yanez has seven double digit scoring games, including a season-high of 20 in the win over Chadron State on Dec. 31, 2006. In that game, she hit a season-high of six three-pointers (11 attempts), which is her best long-distance shooting performance of the season. Yanez has made 63-of-142 field goals for 44.4 percent and 9-of-14 free throws. She has scored 176 points and is averaging 3.6 rebounds per contest. Yanez has started in 15 of the 17 games this season. In her career, Yanez now has 32 double digit scoring games and two double doubles.

Three-Point Field Goals - USD Career Chart 1. Shelby Petersen (1990-94) 271 2. Heather Nelsen (1999-2003) 180 3. Jenni Flynn (2003-present) 161 4. Julia Frie (1999-2003) 150 5. Krista Orsack (2000-02) 133 6. Anne Knudtson (1994-98) 131 7. Vanessa Yanez (2003-present) 131 8. Erin Bourne (2002-04) 97 9. Mandy Koupal (2001-04) 93 10. Sherri Bitter (1991-95) 81

Coach Lavin Is Coaching 12th Season Coach Lavin, who has guided South Dakota to four NCC titles at South Dakota, is in eighth season (12th overall at USD) coaching the women's basketball program. He is coaching in his 24th collegiate season, overall. USD is 12-5, 0-2 NCC, in 2005-06. Lavin directed the Coyotes to a 17-13 record overall and 3-9 in the NCC in 2004-05. Lavin has a 215-122 (.638) record at South Dakota. He sports a 390-282 (.582) overall record. In NCC play, he owns a 91-75 (.551) mark. At the DakotaDome, Lavin owns a 121-39 record (.759). Since his return to USD in 1998, the Coyotes own a 132-86 record (.608), including a 54-62 mark in the NCC. At USD, he has coached three-time All-American and two-time national player of the year Mandy Koupal, 22 All-NCC players, 19 Academic All-NCC performers, and three NCC MVPs (Karrie Wallen, 1982-83; Ann Pancost, a1984-85; and Mandy Koupa1, 2001-2004). He has coached three Academic All-Americans, including USD's only CoSIDA College Division Academic All-American of the Year (Mandy Koupal) in 2003-04. Two years ago, Lavin directed USD to a 25-8 record (9-5 in the NCC, 4th) and to its second straight NCAA Division II Playoff appearance. The Coyotes were the Division II Bulletin Preseason No. 1-ranked team. USD was ranked as high as third and finished 16th-ranked in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. He was named the Russell Athletic/WBCA North Central Region Coach of the Year in 2002-03, directing the Coyotes to a school-record 27-5 record. He was also named the NCC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career. The Coyotes won the NCC with a 14-2 record (tied with SDSU), and advanced to the national playoffs. USD finished second at the North Central Regional Championship, winning two before losing the regional title game. The Coyotes were ranked No. 9 in the final NCAA Division II poll, capturing one first-place ballot. Twice, his teams (2004-05, 2002-03) have won Division II three-point shooting titles. In his career, he has directed five teams to 20-win seasons with 11 other teams winning at least 17 games. During his coaching tenure, Lavin has five of the top six seasons of all-time with his 2002-03 squad owning a school-record 27-5 mark. On Jan. 11, 2002, Lavin won his 300th game with an 89-77 win over then No. 1 ranked North Dakota. A native of Clear Lake, S.D., Lavin was the head women's basketball coach at the University of Wyoming for 12 years from 1986-98, constructing a record of 175-162, including the High Country Athletic Conference title in 1989-90. He has been the NCC Coach of the Year in both 1984 and 1985, the year he was the South Dakota Collegiate Coach of the Year. Lavin was the High Country Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1987 and 1990. Lavin's 1996-97 team was recognized for the second-highest grade point average in NCAA Division I. His Wyoming team is one of only two teams to participate in every High Country Athletic Conference and Western Athletic Conference post-season tournament from 1986-98. A three-year letter winner for the South Dakota men's basketball team, Lavin was academic All-NCC in 1978. He earned a B.S. degree in business management from USD in 1978 and an M.A. degree in physical education in 1983. Lavin, a former head coach at Dell Rapids High School (22-19) in 1979 and men's basketball assistant at Mount Marty from 1981-82, took over the USD women's basketball program in 1982. He promptly led the Coyotes to a four-year record of 82-32 (.719) and three NCC titles He is married to the former Cindy Little of Castlewood, S.D.