MANKATO, S.D. -- The 14th-ranked South Dakota Women's Basketball Team (15-4, 2-3 NCC) placed all five starters in double figures and rallied for a 66-63 North Central Conference win over Minnesota State (13-8, 1-5 NCC) on Saturday before 3,023 in attendance at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn.

The Coyotes rebounded from a 76-71 loss to Minnesota-Duluth on Thursday with its second league win of the season. The Coyotes trailed 28-24 at halftime but outscored the homestanding Mavericks, 42-35, in the second half to grab its 15th win of the season. With the win, USD matched its victory total of a year ago (15). In the process, USD stopped a two-game losing streak to MSU which dated back to an 81-71 win over the Mavericks in 2004-05 at the DakotaDome.

USD, which had been a victim in three close games in NCC play this season, was able to secure a win in a game decided by five points or less. Tonight, USD was able to grab a lead late in the game and hold off MSU for a crucial league road win.

Junior forward Ashley Robinette (South Sioux City, Neb.) led the Coyotes as she scored 18 points while also pulling down six rebounds. She reached double digits for the ninth time this season and the 36th time of her career. Robinette, who made 6-of-11 field goals, also had two steals, a blocked shot and an assist. Lending assistance to Robinette was junior guard Shannon Daly (Groton, S.D.), who had a career-high 17 points along with six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Daly hit a career-best 13-of-14 from the foul line. Junior forward Jenna Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.) had 11 points and three rebounds. Also reaching double digits in points were Jeana Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.), who had 10 points, including a pair of three-point baskets, and Bridget Yoerger (Hinton, S.D.), who had 10 points and 11 rebounds, including six offensive boards. Yoerger had her third double double of the season and the fourth of her career. She reached double figures in scoring for the 15th time in 2006-07.

"We just hung in there," said USD head coach Chad Lavin, who improved to 408-293 in his collegiate coaching career, including 233-132 at USD. "We are pleased that we were able to pick up a big win on the road," Lavin told Kevin Culhane of the Coyote Sports Network in a post-game interview. "We had some problems shooting the ball but we fought hard and played solid defense throughout the game," he said.

South Dakota struggled shooting the ball as the Coyotes hit just 34 percent for the game on 17-of-50 shooting. However, USD improved substantially in the second half when they made 40.9 percent (9-of-22) and converted 21-of-25 free throws. In the first half, USD made 8-of-28 field goals for 28.6 percent and was just 1-of-9 from three-point range. For the game, USD hit 28-of-36 from the foul stripe for 77.8 percent. The Coyotes hit 4-of-18 for 22.2 percent from three-point range, including 3-of-9 in the second half.

MSU was led by Heather Johnson and Tiffany Moe with 10 points each. The Mavericks made 25-of-54 shots from the field for 46.3 percent, although they hit just 2-of-10 three-point shots. MSU was 11-of-15 from the foul line for 73.3 percent.

For the second straight game, the Coyotes struggled in the opening minutes of the game. MSU grabbed a 16-6 advantage at the 14:49 mark of the first half after a jumper by Teresa Parker. Keyed by a three-point field goal from Jeana Hoffman at the 13:20 mark of the first half (16-9), USD went on an 11-0 run to take a 17-16 lead with 6:19 left in the half. A lay-up by Daly provided USD with its first lead since the opening basket of the game by Robinette.

After the teams were tied 22-22 at the 2:57 mark of the half, MSU had a 6-2 run, capped by a basket by Anne Voltmer, to take a 28-24 halftime lead.

MSU extended the lead to 35-26 when Voltner scored at the 18:50 mark of the second half. Slowly but surely, USD crept back into the game as Robinette and Daly answered the offensive bell. Four consecutive free throws by Daly cut the lead to 40-37 at the 13:25 mark of the second half. However, Johnson scored on a lay-up to push MSU's lead to 48-42 with 11:15 left in the game.

From that point, Robinette, an All-NCC player a year ago, took control. Robinette made a pair of free throws to cut the margin to 48-47 at the 10:18 mark of the second half. A three-point basket by Robinette tied the game at 50-50 with 9:23 to go. Then, Robinette provided the Coyotes with its first lead of the second half when she made a three-point play the old fashioned way. She hit a jumper and converted a free throw after being fouled on the shot for a 55-52 advantage at the 7:47 mark of the second half.

USD retained a lead for the rest of the game, although the margin was precarious at times. Two foul shots by Jenna Hoffman gave USD a 59-55 lead with 4:43 to play. Then, Moe and Daly traded points. Moe's lay-up with 1:56 left cut the USD lead to 61-59 but Daly scored on a lay-up for a 63-59 lead with 1:39 left in the game. Moe again hit a basket, which was followed by a pair of free throws by Daly for a 65-61 lead with 59 seconds to play. After Alex Andrews scored inside, USD's Jenna Hoffman made 1-of-2 free throws with 26 seconds left for a 66-63 lead. MSU took a time out with 14 seconds left and set up a play for Moe, who missed a three-point shot in the closing seconds.

Now, the Coyotes return home for the four-game home stand which begins with its final nonconference game of the season. USD will host the University of Sioux Falls at 6 p.m. on Jan. 30 at the DakotaDome. Then, USD will host Nebraska-Omaha at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Dome.