VERMILLION, S.D. - Led by 21 points from senior guard Jeana Hoffman, The University of South Dakota women's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2007-08 season with a 91-73 win over Mount Marty in non-conference action before 1,578 at the DakotaDome.

The win was number 498 in the history of the USD program which leaves the Coyotes just two wins shy of 500 victories all-time. The Coyotes won its sixth straight season-opening game.

Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.) recorded her sixth 20-point performance as a member of the Coyote program. Hoffman hit 8-of-14 field goals, including 5-of-10 from three-point range, for 21 points. Hoffman, who earned All-NCC honors a year ago, also had four rebounds and two steals. Her sister, Jenna Hoffman, added 15 points, five rebounds and six assists in 30 minutes of action. In her first game as a Coyote, Amber Hegge (Fr., Crofton, Neb.) scored 13 points while hitting 6-of-8 shots from the field. She also recorded five rebounds and had an assist, block and a steal. Sophomore Jasmine Mosley (Bellevue, Neb.) made her first career start and contributed seven points, six rebounds and six assists.

On the night, USD hit 32-of-71 shots from the field for 45.1 percent, including 13-of-37 from three point range for 35.1 percent. USD was 14-of-22 from the foul line for 63.6 percent.

Mount Marty, ranked 17th in a preseason NAIA poll, was led by Amber Marsden with 24 points. The Lancers, now 3-2 on the season, hit 25-of-53 field goals for 47.2 percent. They also made 3-of-9 from three-point range and converted 20-of-26 for 76.9 percent from the foul line.

The Coyotes began their home opener on fire. USD jumped to a 20-2 lead after Jeana Hoffman hit her third three-pointer of the first half at the 15:06 mark. Mount Marty cut the lead to 23-7 when Tevan Wenbourne hit a foul shot (11:59). The Coyotes responded with an 8-4 run to go ahead 31-11 at the 8:45 mark of the opening half.

Gradually, the Lancers crawled back into the game, cutting the deficit to 39-27 at the 2:59 mark when Stacey Lickteig hit a pair of free throws. The Coyotes took a 44-34 lead into halftime. After the hot start, the Coyotes cooled down to 42.9 percent shooting (15-of-35) in the first half. A big difference in opening half was USD's ability to convert three-point shots as the Coyotes hit 9-of-21 while Mt. Marty connected on just 1-of-3. The Lancers hit 11-of-26 field goals overall for 42.3 percent.

In a manner similar to the start of the game, the Coyotes jumped out fast in the second half. A three-pointer by Jenna Hoffman provided USD with a 54-36 lead at 17:34 mark of the second half. The Coyotes built a 23-point advantage at the 10:37 mark on another three-pointer by Jeana Hoffman. USD twice led by 27 points in the second half (78-51, 7:05; and 87-60, 4:10).

In the second half, USD hit 17-of-36 field goals for 47.2 percent, including 4-of-16 from three point range. USD made 9-of-15 free throws for 60 percent during the second half. Mt. Marty hit 14-of-27 shots from the field in the second half for 51.9 percent. They also made 2-of-6 from three-point land and 9-of-12 from the charity stripe.

Next for the USD women's basketball team is a home game against Colorado Christian at 6 p.m. on Monday night at the DakotaDome.