OMAHA, NEB. -- The South Dakota Women's Basketball Team (15-13) dropped another heartbreaking decision to Nebraska-Omaha (20-10) when the Mavericks' J.J. Smith hit three free throws with one second to play at Sapp Fieldhouse in Omaha, Neb. The loss ended the Coyotes' 2005-06 season.
The Coyotes had a 56-51 lead with 34 seconds to play but UNO scored six unanswered points to overcome the deficit. It was USD's fifth straight loss to UNO, dating back to the 2003-04 season. Earlier this season at the DakotaDome, USD lost a 85-83 OT decision to UNO.
USD's Ashley Bjorkman, a sophomore from Vermillion, S.D., made four three-point baskets and scored 12 points to lead USD. Janielle Bryan, a sophomore from Bellevue, Neb., had 10 points and seven rebounds, including five offensive rebounds. Bridget Yoerger, a freshman from Hinton, Iowa, scored 10 points for the Coyotes.
Overall, USD made 21-of-57 field goals for 41.1 percent, including a hot 9-of-17 from three-point range for 52.9 percent. USD was 5-of-8 from the foul line.
Nebraska-Omaha has hit 57.7 percent from the field and grabbed a 36-31 halftime lead over South Dakota.
UNO, led by Karen Thies' eight points and four rebounds, hit 15-of-26 field goals, including 1-of-3 from three-point range, during first half play. The Coyotes hit 11-of-32 field goals for 34.4 percent. USD was better from three-point range (6-of-13) than inside the arc. USD had three players score six points, including Ashley Bjorkman (sophomore, Vermillion, S.D.), Vanessa Yanez (junior, Wagner, S.D.) and Brittany Bessert (senior, Fort Collins, Colo.).
USD jumped to a quick 5-0 start at the 18:14 mark on a steal and lay-up by Bryan. A three-pointer by Vanessa Yanez (junior, Wagner, S.D.) at the 16:43 mark provided the Coyotes with an 8-2 lead. LaCheryl Prince of UNO hit a jumper to give UNO its first lead at 14-13 with 11:40 to play in the first half. A free throw by Thies provided UNO with a 28-22 lead with 5:13 left in the half. Bessert then made a four-point play (three pointer plus free throw) at the 5:00 mark to help USD draw within, 28-26.
From there, UNO outscored the Coyotes, 8-5, over the final five minutes to build a 36-31 halftime lead.
After falling behind 47-42 at the 10:05 mark, USD took a stand and rallied. A three-pointer by Bjorkman tied the game at 47-47 at the 7:50 mark.
USD, which limited UNO to 21 points in the second half, gained a 54-51 lead at the 2:05 mark after a Bryan offensive rebound and basket. Two free throws by Ashley Robinette (sophomore, South Sioux City, Neb.) gave USD a 56-51 lead at the 34 second mark.
Freerksen, who had 11 points for UNO, hit a three-pointer with 24 seconds left. USD's Woster missed a free throw with 18 seconds left and then Smith knocked down her winning free throws.
UNO was led by Smith with 14 points while Prince and Thies had 10 points. UNO hit 23-of-56 shots from the field for 41 percent.
UNO advances to play No. 1 seed and second-ranked North Dakota (30-0) on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Betty Engelstad Center on the UND campus in Grand Forks. Augustana will face seventh-ranked St. Cloud State in the other semifinal which will start at 1 p.m.
