MANKATO, MINN. (Feb. 9, 2006)--The South Dakota women's basketball team (14-9, 2-6) dropped a 78-63 North Central Conference decision to the Minnesota State Mavericks (11-12, 2-6 NCC) at Bresnan Arena in the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn., Thursday night.

After jumping out to a quick 8-0 lead at 15:46 on a jumper in the paint by freshman Bridget Yoerger (Hinton, Iowa), MSU rattled off a 24-6 run over the next 10 minutes, down to the 5:47 mark, when sophomore Janielle Bryan (Bellevue, Neb.) hit a pair of free throws to cut the Mavericks lead to 24-14.

Senior Meghan Woster (Sioux Falls, S.D.) hit a runner in the lane at 3:48 to cut the lead to 12 points, 33-20. However, USD managed just four points the rest of the way, including a jumper and a pair of free throws by Bryan.

At intermission, Minnesota State led, 42-24, after Heather Johnson hit her third three-pointer of the half with 32 seconds remaining.

In the second half, MSU went up by 21 points, its largest lead, for the final time at 16:33, when Stacie Johnson hit a pair of free throws to put the Mavericks ahead, 52-31.

The Coyotes then went on 7-0 run capped by a Woster lay-up at 12:32 to cut the deficit to 14 points, 53-38.

The MSU lead was down to 12 points, 57-45, on an old fashioned three-point play by Woster at 8:27. Then, at the 4:05 mark, freshman Anne Doshier (Rapid City, S.D.) scored her first points in NCC play when she knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead to 11 points, 67-56.

In the final four minutes, the teams traded baskets, misses and turnovers as the game ended.

For the contest, USD shot 39.3% (22-of-56) from the field and was only 2-of-15 (13.3%) from three-point range, its lowest output from behind the arc this season. However, the Coyotes were solid at the free throw line by knocking down 85% (17-of-20). USD committed 15 turnovers in the game that led to 19 MSU points.

Bryan finished with a career-high 16 points to lead the Coyotes, while Yoerger scored 15 points. Sophomore Ashley Robinette (South Sioux City, Neb.) added 10 points and tied Woster with seven rebounds to lead USD.

Minnesota State shot 43.5% (27-of-62) from the field, including 40.9% (9-of-22) from three-point range. At the charity stripe, the Mavericks were 15-of-19 for 78.9%. MSU also won the rebounding battle, 41-32.

Arin Andrews led all players, finishing with 17 points and 14 rebounds after having the double double by halftime (12 points, 10 rebounds). Heather Johnson came of the bench for MSU to finish with a career-high 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point land. Stacie Johnson chipped in 11 points for the Mavericks.

USD will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m., when they finish their Minnesota road trip against fifth-ranked St. Cloud State at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, Minn.