VERMILLION, S.D. -- The 23rd-ranked South Dakota Women's Basketball Team (10-1) won its sixth straight game with a 75-48 win over Northwest Missouri State (8-2) in nonconference play before 1,198 at the DakotaDome on Wednesday night. After opening the season with a 4-1 record on the road, USD has returned home and put together a six-game winning streak.

For the third straight game, the Coyotes put together a stifling defensive effort that has helped USD build solid first half leads en route to victories. USD has limited each of its past three opponents to less than 60 points (USD 71 Wayne State, 55, 12/16; USD 71 #13 Northern State 50, 12/18; USD 75 Northwest Missouri State, 48, 12/20). In each of those games, the Coyotes have forced opponents into nearly 20 turnovers a game. Against Northwest Missouri State, USD forced 22 turnovers. On the season, the Coyotes have held seven opponents to 55 points or less.

Sophomore forward Bridget Yoerger (Hinton, Iowa) led USD with a game-high 18 points and also had four rebounds. Yoerger, who recorded her eighth double digit scoring game of the season, was 8-of-11 from the field. Jeana Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.) also reached double figures with 11 points and had six rebounds, three assists and three steals. She hit 3-of-6 shots from three-point range. Her sister Jenna had nine points, eight rebounds and two assists. Point guard Shannon Daly (Groton, S.D.) had eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Freshman reserve forward Jasmine Mosley (Bellevue, Neb.) contributed a career-high seven points and also had five rebounds and three assists in 13 minutes of action.

Overall, South Dakota hit 30-of-65 field goals for 46.2 percent, including 9-of-22 from three point range for 40.9 percent. The Coyotes made 6-of-9 free throws for 66.7 percent and won the rebound battle, 45-32.

Northwest Missouri State, which had its four-game winning streak halted by USD, hit 16-of-54 field goals for just 29.6 percent. The Bearcats made just 2-of-19 three-point field goals for 10.5 percent but converted 14-of-16 free throws for 87.5 percent. The Bearcats, which last played on Dec. 9, was led in scoring by Meghan Brue with 10 points and six rebounds. Mandi Schumacher contributed eight points.

The Coyotes, which now lead the series with the Bearcats, 5-4, are off to its best start since the 2003-04 USD team opened 15-1. USD is now 9-0 this season when scoring at least 71 points.

USD jumped to a quick 8-4 lead on a jumper by Daly at the 17:53 mark. After the Bearcats closed to 10-8 (16:19), the Coyotes took off on a 15-2 run which resulted in a 25-10 lead with 11:46 to play in the first half. USD continued to apply the pressure and extended the advantage to 20-12 at the 9:04 mark of the first half after Yoerger scored inside. After a three-point field goal by the Bearcats' Jessica Burton (8:44), the Coyotes ended the half on a 15-6 burst which resulted in a 44-19 lead at the 2:17 mark of the half after Yoerger made a free throw. Two foul shots by Lauren Williams (1:57) of Northwest Missouri State closed the gap to 44-21 at halftime. In the first half, USD had a 20-6 advantage in points off turnovers and also outscored the Bearcats, 10-2, in second chance points. Yoerger led the Coyotes with 10 first half points while Brue had eight for the Bearcats. South Dakota shot a blistering 58.6 percent in the first half on 17-of-29 shooting from the field. The Coyotes also made 8-of-16 three-point shots in the opening 20 minutes of play.

South Dakota continued to build on the lead by opening a 55-23 advantage at the 16:18 mark of the second half after Jeana Hoffman knocked down a three-point shot. Jenna Hoffman's jumper with 7:51 left in the game provided USD with a 61-33 lead. From that point, USD and Northwest Missouri State traded baskets as the Bearcats could only claw within 25 points at 69-44 with 1:51 left in the game. USD's final score of the game was by Natalie Carda (Beresford, S.D.), whose basket gave USD a 75-46 lead with 40 seconds to play. April Miller of NWMS closed out the scoring on a pair of free throws with 19 seconds to play.

Next for South Dakota is the Sioux Valley Clinic Basketball Classic in Sioux Falls on Dec. 27-28. USD will play Upper Iowa at 2 p.m. on Dec. 27 and Dakota State at 2 p.m. on Dec. 28 with both games being played at the Elmen Center on the Augustana campus.