VERMILLION, S.D. -- Led by Jeana Hoffman, the South Dakota Women's Basketball Team improved to 4-0 with a 97-80 nonconference win over Colorado Christian on Saturday at Lakewood, Colo. The Coyotes are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since the 2002-03 team opened the season with nine straight wins.

Hoffman, a junior from Mitchell, S.D., broke the 20-point barrier for the second straight night with 23 points, including a season- and career-best seven three-point baskets. She was named the MVP of the Cougar Thanksgiving Classic. Hoffman was joined on the all tournament team by sophomore forward Bridget Yoerger (Hinton, Iowa).

Hoffman scored 47 points in the two games of the tournament or 23.5 per game. She had a career-best 24 points in a 67-66 win over 23rd-ranked Regis University on Friday night. Against Colorado Christian, Hoffman hit 8-of-14 field goals, including 7-of-11 three-point field goals. Yoerger scored a career-high 27 points and also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

"Jeana (Hoffman) was phenomenal this weekend," said USD head coach Chad Lavin. "She carried us for a time during both the Regis game and again tonight. We also received a strong performance from Bridget (Yoerger), who is really an outstanding rebounder," Lavin told Joe Van Goor of the Coyote Sports Network in a post-game interview.

Yoerger made 10-of-15 field goals and 6-of-8 free throws for her 27 points in 26 minutes of action. Two other Coyotes scored in double digits with junior guard Jenna Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.) totaling 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists while junior guard Shannon Daly (Groton, S.D.) had 10 points.

USD scored a season-best 97 points, which is the highest point total since defeating Chadron State, 104-62 on December 27, 2003. South Dakota made 35-of-68 field goals for 51.5 percent. The Coyotes had a season-best 14 three-point field goals in 24 attempts for 58.3 percent, which is also a season-best. USD made 13-of-17 free throws for 76.5 percent. The Coyotes won the rebound battle, 39-28.

Colorado Christian was led by Ashley Braasch with 16 points while Abby Rosenthal added 14 points and Talmai Aguirre had 13 points. Colorado Christian hit 24-of-55 field goals for 43.6 percent, including 7-of-20 from three-point range for 35 percent. They also made 25-of-28 free throws for 89.3 percent.

"Colorado Christian is a solid offensive team," said Lavin. "I thought the difference was that we shut them down in the opening minutes of the second half. We are fortunate to get the win. We played very well offensively throughout this tournament," added Lavin.

USD jumped to a quick 6-2 lead after Jeana Hoffman hit back-to-back three-point field goals in the opening 1:17 of the game. Colorado Christian fought back and grabbed a 13-10 lead at the 16:43 mark on a three-point by Aguirre. Colorado Christian extended the lead to 18-12 at the 14:39 mark before the Coyotes rallied. USD used 12-0 run to take a 24-18 lead at the 11:28 mark after a jumper by Ashley Bjorkman (Vermillion, S.D.). Once again, Colorado Christian rallied with a 12-6 run to tie the game at 30-30 at the 6:17 mark of the first half. The Coyotes responded with a 7-0 run for a 37-30 lead at the 4:26 mark after Jeana Hoffman again converted on a three-point field goal. Two free throws by Jenna Hoffman provided USD with a 39-32 lead at the 3:32 mark of the first half. Colorado Christian drew with 46-43 when Aguirre made a pair of field goals. Yoerger hit a jumper to give USD a 48-43 lead which the Coyotes took to the halftime break.

The Coyotes hit 19-of-33 field goals (57.6 percent), including 6-of-11 three pointers in the opening half. Colorado Christian was 13-of-30 (43.3 percent) from the field, including 6-of-14 from three-point range in the first half.

South Dakota used a quick start in the second half to gain control of the game. The Coyotes scored seven unanswered points in the opening 1:20 of the second half to take a 55-43 lead (18:40).

After Colorado Christian closed to 58-50 at the 17:28 mark, USD took off on a 13-0 run to move their advantage to 71-52 at the 15:10 mark of the second half. A jump shot by Jeana Hoffman provided USD with a 19-point advantage.

Maggie Youngberg (Yankton, S.D.) made a three-point field goal to give USD a 21-point lead at 81-60 with 7:51 to play in the game. USD's lead grew to 91-64 at the 5:39 mark when Jeana Hoffman hit a three-point field goal off an assist from her sister, Jenna. From that point, the Coyotes maintained a 20-point lead or better until Colorado Christian hit a jumper and a free throw in the final 30 seconds of action to cut USD's lead to the final margin of 97-80.

Key to the South Dakota second half surge was its outstanding shooting from three-point range. USD hit 8-of-13 from three-point range in the second half and also made 9-of-12 free throws. The Coyotes took advantage of turnovers, owning a 27-14 advantage in points off turnovers. USD also received a solid contribution from its bench with a 28-17 points edge over Colorado Christian.

South Dakota will return to action on Nov. 30 with a road game at Nebraska-Kearney. The game between USD and Nebraska-Kearney is scheduled to tip-off at 6 p.m.