VERMILLION, S.D. -- The South Dakota women's basketball team (15-12) will look to rekindle its success of a year ago in the conference post-season tournament when the fifth-seeded Coyotes face fourth-seeded Nebraska-Omaha (19-10) in a Wells Fargo quarterfinal game at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1 at the Lee and Helene Sapp Fieldhouse on the UNO campus in Omaha, Neb. A year ago, USD was the seventh-seed in the league tournament and advanced to the finals before falling to NCC champion North Dakota, 84-69, at Grand Forks, N.D. Along the way, the Coyotes upset the second-seeded Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, 77-69, in Duluth, Minn., and then upset third-seeded Augustana, 84-83 in the semifinals at Grand Forks, N.D. On Wednesday, South Dakota will try and correct some failings against UNO this season. The Coyotes have lost to UNO four straight times, including both games this season. UNO defeated USD, 74-60, in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 19 before recording a 85-83 overtime win at the DakotaDome on Feb. 2, 2006. In the two games this season, UNO has outscored the Coyotes, 79.5 to 71.5, and owned advantages in all the shooting categories. The Mavericks has won the field goal shooting battle with a 44.9 (53-of-118) percent to 42.9 (48-of-112) percent advantage. UNO also outshot USD, 44.1 percent (15-of-34) to 36.5 percent (19-of-52), from three-point range and owned the edge at the free throw line, 82.6 percent (38-of-46) to 66.7 percent (28-of-42).

USD Has 5-5 Mark in Wells Fargo Tourney Games Since the start of the Wells Fargo Finals, USD has a 5-5 record with head coach Chad Lavin. A year ago, USD was 2-1, losing in the finals to North Dakota (84-69). As the seventh-seed, USD defeated second-seeded Minnesota-Duluth, 77-69, in Duluth, Minn., before upending third-seeded Augustana, 84-83, in the semifinals. USD will try and win its first-ever post-season tourney, which would send the Coyotes to the NCAA Division II national playoffs.

Broadcast Info The radio broadcast will be carried on AM 1570 "The Ticket" (KVTK), Vermillion/Yankton, S.D., with Jeff Culhane providing play-by-play. The game is 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.

About South Dakota Currently, USD is averaging 68.8 points and 35.4 rebounds per game, while allowing 63.4 points and 38.6 rebounds per contest. The Coyotes are shooting 42.8% (643-of-1502) from the field and 36% (230-of-639) from three-point range. At the foul line, USD has made 72.2% (341-of-472) of its attempts. They are averaging 16.5 assists, 14.1 turnovers, 7.4 steals and 3.2 blocks per game. Against USD, opponents are shooting 39.2% from the field and 31.8% beyond the three-point arc. The Coyotes average 8.5 three-point baskets per game, which ranks sixth in the nation. Individually, freshman Bridget Yoerger (Hinton, Iowa) leads the team with 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Ashley Robinette, second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game, leads USD in steals with 32. She leads USD with an 19.2 points per game average in league play, which ranks fourth in the league. Robinette also owns a team-best 43.2% shooting percentage from three-point range (34--of-79), which also ranks fourth in the NCC. Junior Vanessa Yanez (Wagner, S.D.) is averaging 10.6 points per game and leads the team and the NCC with 70 three-point baskets. Senior Meghan Woster (Sioux Falls, S.D.) leads the league with 187 assists (6.93/gm), which is fourth in the nation.

About Nebraska-Omaha UNO has compiled a 19-10 overall record, including a 5-7 mark in NCC play for fourth-place in the league.

The Mavericks are led in scoring by senior forward J.J. Smith at 14.2 points per game. Guard Karen Thies is averaging 12.2 points per game and 13.3 per contest in league play. Thies also leads the Mavericks in rebounding at 6.1 per game.

Overall, UNO is averaging 75 points while allowing 64.8 points per game. They have made 44.2 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent from three-point range. At the foul line, UNO leads the NCC by making 75.9 percent. UNO outrebounds its opponents by a 40.7 to 34.4 advantage.

Patty Patton Shearer is in her second season at Nebraska-Omaha. In her first season at Nebraska-Omaha she went 14-14, leading the Mavs to their first non-losing season in five years. She led UNO to a 19-10 mark this season. The 38-year-old Tucscon, Ariz., native is a 1990 graduate of Rocky Mountain College. She also earned a master's degree from the University of Arizona in 1992. Overall, she is now 33-24 at UNO. Schroeder and Woster Both Earn Second-Straight Academic All-NCC Honor Meghan Woster and Erica Schroeder, members of the South Dakota women's basketball team have both been selected to the 2005-06 North Central Conference All-Academic team, as voted upon by the league's sports information directors and released by the league office, Tuesday, Feb. 21. The 11-member NCC squad features six-two time selections with a combined grade point average of 3.82. Schroeder, who earned her second-straight Academic All-NCC honor, holds a 4.0 GPA in psychology and criminal justice major. A Miller, S.D. native, Schroeder was one of only two players in the league with a 4.0 GPA. This season, Schroeder, who has started 16-of-25 games, is averaging 4.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Schroeder has recorded 39 assists, 23 blocks and 17 steals on the season.

Woster, who was also tabbed to the Academic All-NCC team for the second consecutive season, leads the NCC in assists with 187 (6.93/gm). A Sioux Falls, S.D. native and O'Gorman High School graduate, Woster holds a 3.813 GPA in communications and English. This season, Woster is averaging 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Woster has registered 31 steals and holds an assist/turnover ratio of 2.3.

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.

The Series UNO leads the overall series, 30-26, and has won four consecutive games over the last two years against USD. This season, UNO has a 74-60 win in Omaha and a 85-83 OT win at the DakotaDome. USD head coach Chad Lavin owns a 13-11 overall mark vs. UNO, including a 7-5 mark at UNO. Robinette on a Roll After working through some injuries, sophomore forward Ashley Robinette has become one of the league's top players. Robinette ranks fourth in the NCC in scoring at 19.2 points per game in league games. She has recorded six, 20-point-plus games in her last eight games. Earlier this month, she established career highs in three consecutive games, including 26 points and 11 rebounds against MSU on Jan. 28 and then followed that performance with 29 points against UNO on Feb. 2. She scored 30 points in the win over Minnesota-Duluth on Feb. 4. Robinette also scored 23 points vs. North Dakota on Feb. 16; 21 points in the win over Augustana on Feb. 23; and 24 points vs. St. Cloud State on Feb. 25. In her last 11 games, she has hit 58.3 percent on 28-of-48 from three-point range. She has made 62-of-122 for 50.8 percent from the field as well as 59-of-76 for 77.6 percent from the charity stripe. Robinette has scored in double figures in nine of her last 11 games and brought up her scoring average overall to 11.8 per game. This season she has 12 double digit scoring games.

Robinette has made 42.6 percent from the field on 84-of-197 shooting. She is fourth in the NCC with her 43 percent shooting (34-of-79) from three-point range. She is also 105-of-137 for 76.6 percent from the foul line. Robinette averages 4.0 rebounds and has 25 assists and 32 steals.

Robinette Breaks NCC Sophomore Record Ashley Robinette's fantastic finish to the regular season includes breaking the North Central Conference record for three-point shooting. Robinette, who has averaged 19.2 points per game in league play, has hit 28-of-48 in league play for 58.3 percent, which shatters the previous mark of Jessica Klein of Augustana, who hit 14-of-25 for 46 percent. Since Jan. 14, Robinette has made four three-pointers in a game six times. She made 4-of-9 against UND on Jan. 14; 4-of-6 against MSU on Jan. 28; 4-of-9 against UNO on Feb. 2; 4-of-4 against UMD on Feb. 4; 4-of-5 vs. UND on Feb. 16; and 4-of-4 vs. Augustana on Feb. 23. Woster Moves to Second on Career Assists Chart and Fourth in All-time Blocked Shots Senior point guard Meghan Woster is leading the league and ranks fourth in the nation with 6.93 assists per game. With 187 assists this season, Woster, now has 526 assists and sits second on USD's career assists chart. Katie Dailey (1981-85) is USD's all-time leader with 665 assists. Her 187 assists is fourth on the single season assist chart at USD surpassing Katie Dailey, 185, 1983-84. A year ago, Woster put together the third-best single season mark of 196. Dailey owns the two-top assist marks in a single season with 212 in both 1982 and 1983. Woster has 13 blocked shots this season and has moved into fourth-place on USD's blocked shots chart with 74. 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 4.3 rebounds and 7.3 points per game, has six double-digit assists games, including a career-best 15 in the win over William Penn on Dec. 11, 2005. She has a season-high of 16 points vs. Augustana on Feb. 23. She has scored double digits in seven of her last 12 games.

Yanez Sits Fourth on Career 3-Point Chart Junior forward Vanessa Yanez of Wagner, S.D., has moved into fourth-place on USD's career three-point shots list with 160 made three-pointers. She currently trails Jenni Flynn (161), who is third on the career list. This season, Yanez has knocked down a team and NCC-high 70 three-pointers. She has hit an NCC-best 2.58 three-point shots per game. Her total of 70 three-point field goals this season ranks fifth on the career season list at USD (tied with Renae Luecke, 2002-03). Yanez has the opportunity to move into third-place on the season chart by making two, three-point baskets. Heather Nelson (2002-03) and Krista Orsack (2001-02) both made 72 three-point shots in a single season while starring at USD. Jenni Flynn ranks second with 77 three-pointers in 2003-04 while Shelby Petersen is the season leader with 89 while at USD in 1991-92. Yanez, who is averaging 10.6 points per game for the Coyotes, has made 160-of-423 (38.2 percent) three-point shots in her career. This season, she has made 70-of-184 three-point shots for 38.0 percent, which is eighth in the NCC. Yanez has 13 double digit scoring games this season, including a season-high of 23 in the win over Minnesota-Duluth on Jan. 21, 2006. She has a season-high of six (11 attempts) three-point field goals in a win over Chadron State on Dec. 31, 2005 and a loss at North Dakota on Feb. 16, 2006. She has scored 20 points twice this season. Yanez has made 100-of-232 field goals for 43.1 percent and 17-of-23 free throws. She has scored 287 points and is averaging 3.9 rebounds per contest. Yanez has started in 23 of the 27 games this season. In her career, Yanez now has 37 double digit scoring games and two double doubles.

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 averaging a team-high 12.2 points (14th in the NCC) and 5.6 rebounds per game. Yoerger has recorded 23 starts in 27 games and averaged 22.2 minutes per game. Until she was limited to eight points against UND (Jan. 14), Yoerger had a string of 13-straight (17 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 130-of-272 field goals for 47.8 percent and 55-of-77 free throws for 71.4 percent. Of her 146 rebounds, she has 58 offensive boards. She has recorded 31 steals and 18 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.

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 15-12, 3-9 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 218-129 (.628) record at South Dakota. He sports a 393-289 (.576) overall record. In NCC play, he owns a 93-81 (.534) mark. At the DakotaDome, Lavin owns a 123-42 record (.745). Since his return to USD in 1998, the Coyotes own a 135-93 record (.592), including a 57-69 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 Pancoast, 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 mark. That season, 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 ninth 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. On Jan. 11, 2002, Lavin won his 300th game with an 89-77 win over then top-ranked North Dakota. 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. 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. 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 was 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.