VERMILLION, S.D. -- The South Dakota Women's Basketball Team moved to 9-1 on the season with a 71-50 upset win over 13th-ranked Northern State (10-2) in nonconference action before 2,109 on Monday night at the DakotaDome.
The Coyotes won its fifth straight game and ended NSU's five-game winning streak. For the second straight game, the Coyotes scored 71 points in defeating an in-region opponent. The Coyotes now have won seven games this season when breaking the 70-point mark. The Coyotes' 9-1 start this season is its best since the 2003-04 team opened 15-1. After opening the season 4-1 on the road, USD has won five straight home games.
"This is a great feeling to get this win tonight," said USD head women's basketball coach Chad Lavin, who improved to 402-291 in his career and 227-129 at USD. "I think our full court pressure got Northern State out of their rhythm and they are a rhythm team. The key to everything was that our players stuck to what we wanted them to do and then they executed the plays both on offense and defense," added Lavin.
The Coyotes had three players score in double figures, led by sophomore forward Bridget Yoerger of Hinton, Iowa, who had 16 points and eight rebounds to go with two blocks, two steals and two assists. Junior guard Jenna Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.) contributed 14 points, four assists, three rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal in 29 minutes of action. Hoffman, who made 4-of-6 field goals, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, had her seventh double digit scoring game of the season. Junior forward Ashley Robinette of South Sioux City, Neb., added 12 points in 24 minutes of work. USD also received eight points, five assists and three steals from Jeana Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.). Point guard Shannon Daly (Groton, S.D.) had a career-high eight rebounds to go with three assists, three steals, two points and a blocked shot.
The Coyotes hit 23-of-54 field goals for 42.6 percent. However, USD made 16-of-29 field goals for 55.2 percent as they raced to a 44-25 halftime lead. On the night, the Coyotes made 12-of-29 three-point field goals for 41.4 percent. In the first half, the Coyotes made 8-of-16 shots from three-point distance. In addition, USD was nearly perfect from the foul line, going 13 -of-14 for 92.9 percent.
USD hounded Northern State all night, forcing the Wolves into 24 turnovers while committing just 14 themselves. As a result, USD had a 34-7 advantage in points off turnovers. The Coyotes had 12 steals and five blocked shots on the night.
As expected Northern State won the battle in the paint with a 28-14 point advantage. NSU was led in scoring by guard Allison Johnson who had nine points. Noelle Hall, NSU's leading scorer, had eight points and six rebounds. Carolin Becker also had eight points for NSU. The Wolves made 20-of-46 shots from the field for 43.5 percent, including 3-of-11 for 27.3 percent from three-point range. NSU made 7-of-11 free throws for 63.6 percent. NSU won the rebound battle, 32-28.
The Coyotes jumped to a 7-3 lead at the 16:27 mark of the first half after Robinette connected on a three-point basket. NSU rallied and grabbed a 13-11 lead at the 13:25 mark when Becker scored inside. Over the next five minutes, USD had a 16-2 run to build a double digit lead (27-15) at the 8:12 mark of the first half. Jeana Hoffman's three-point basket gave USD the 12-point lead. USD continued to apply the pressure, using the three-point shot to build the lead to 33-17 at the 6:16 mark. Reserve guard Anne Doshier (6:59) and Robinette (6:16) had three-point field goals during a 6-2 run. Two free throws by Robinette (4:07) and a three-point field goal by Natalie Carda (Beresford, S.D.) at the 3:34 mark of the first half provided USD with a 42-21 lead. After NSU cut the lead to 42-25 (2:35), Ashley Bjorkman (Vermillion, S.D.) hit a jumper to give USD a 44-25 halftime lead. During the first half, USD had a 19-2 advantage in points off turnovers.
NSU hit consecutive three point baskets to open the second half as the Wolves cut USD's lead to 44-31 at the 18:58 mark. USD did not score in the second half until the 16:44 mark when Jeana Hoffman's jumper built the Coyotes' lead back to 46-31. Then, USD received three point field goals from Jenna Hoffman (16:25), Jeana Hoffman (15:31) and Maggie Youngberg (Yankton, S.D.) at the 14:26 mark to gain a 55-31 lead. A minute later, Bjorkman made a pair of free throws to give USD its largest lead of the game at 57-31 with 13:26 to play in the game. From that point, both teams traded baskets with a lay-up by Ashley Bessert (Fort Collins, Colo.) closing out the scoring with seven seconds left in the game.
Next for the Coyotes is a game with Northwest Missouri State (8-1) on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. at the DakotaDome.
