GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The 22nd-ranked South Dakota Women's Basketball Team (22-9) saw its season end in a flurry of three-point baskets by Concordia St. Paul (22-9) in a 82-74 setback in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at the Betty Engelstadt Center in Grand Forks, N.D.

The Coyotes, which fell to 3-7 all-time in NCAA Division II playoff games, received a career- high 30 points and 10 rebounds from Bridget Yoerger, a sophomore from Hinton, Iowa. It was Yoeerger's sixth career double double.

On this night, it was CSP's hot hand from the perimeter that proved the difference. The Golden Bears hit 14-of-28 from three-point range, including 6-of-11 from reserve Kali Olstad. Point guard Katie LaViolette had 21 points and 17 assists for CSP.

Yoerger hit 11-of-18 field goals, including her only three-point attempt, and also made 7-of-10 free throws. Along with 10 boards, she had two assists, two blocks and three steals. USD also received 14 points and seven rebounds from junior guard Jenna Hoffman of Mitchell, S.D., as well as 12 points from junior guard Shannon Daly of Groton, S.D.

For the game, USD made 25-of-56 field goals for 44.6 percent, but just 6-of-23 from beyond the three-point arc for 26.1 percent. USD was 18-of-24 from the foul line for 75 percent. Aside from its perimeter game, CSP hit 29-of-61 field goals for 47.5 percent and 10-of-11 shots from the foul stripe. The Golden Bears also won the rebound battle by a 36-34 margin.

"They (CSP) are a very talented team offensively," said South Dakota Head Women's Basketball Coach Chad Lavin in a post-game interview with the media. "We got out to a fast start but then foul trouble caught up with us. When you get down to it, they simply made more shots that we did," said Lavin. "We had our chances but the difference was a freshman reserve who came in and knocked down shots," he said.

South Dakota jumped off to a quick start behind the inside work of Yoerger mixed with the sharpshooting of Hoffman and Daly. When Daly hit a three-pointer at the 17:45 mark, USD led 9-2. A short while later, Yoerger scored on a drive for a 14-5 advantage at the 16:25 mark of the first half. Hoffman followed with a three-point shot at the 12:03 mark of the first half to help USD to a 24-10 lead.

However, CSP, the NSIC champions, fought back and used a 17-6 run from the 12:03 to 2:21 of the first half to take their first lead at 33-31. The Golden Bears' largest lead, 36-31, followed a three-pointer by Abby Nielsen with about 1:40 left in the opening half. USD's Hoffman converted a three-point play (drive and conversion of a foul) to pull within two points at 36-34 with 52 seconds left in the half. Jasmine Mosley of Bellevue, Neb., tied the game at 36-36 for the Coyotes with a pair of free throws, with 25 seconds left in the half. Mosley finished with eight points and four rebounds. However, the Bears were able to grab the lead back (38-36) when Amanda Behnke, who scored 14 points, scored inside with two seconds left in the opening stanza.

In the first half, USD hit 42.9 percent from the field on 12-of-28 shooting. The Coyotes were able to connect on just 4-of-14 shots from three-point range for 28.6 percent and 8-of-13 from the free throw line for 61.5 percent. Yoerger scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead USD. Hoffman added 10 points and Daly, eight, for the Coyotes. For the Golden Bears, Candace Olstad had nine points and Behnke, eight points. LaViolette had 10 assists and five points at the break. CSP hit 14-of-29 field goals for 48.3 percent, including a torrid 8-of-14 from three-point range. They made 2-of-3 free throws.

In a tightly contested second half, USD was able to grab a 43-42 lead with 16:58 left in the game. Two foul shots at the 15:13 mark of the half by Hoffman provided USD with a 47-44 advantage. Each time, the Coyotes grabbed a lead, CSP seemed to have the answer. With the score tied at 53-53, Kali Olstad knocked down a pair of three-point baskets with the second shot giving CSP a 59-53 lead with 10:30 left on the game clock. The Coyotes quickly responded with Ashley Bjorkman (Vermillion, S.D.) hitting a three for USD on the ensuing possession.

With 6:56 left on the game clock, Mosley scored on a driving lay-up as USD took a 60-59 lead. Once again, Olstad came to the rescue of the Golden Bears. She again hit consecutive three-point field goals as the Golden Bears took a 65-60 lead with 4:39 left in the game. The Coyotes pulled within two points of CSP three times but could not get any closer. When LaViolette hit two free throws with 28 seconds left, CSP had a 82-72 lead and its first win over the Coyotes in postseason play. The last time the two teams met, USD picked up an 83-68 victory.

Coyote Notes ~ South Dakota broke a school-record for three-point field goals attempted in a season with 758 (270 made).

~ Bridget Yoerger, who earlier was named All-NCC, recorded her first-ever 30-point game as a Coyote and registered the team's highest point total of the season. She is also the 37th player in school history to score 30 points in a game. She also scored in double digits for the 40th time in her career and now has eight 20-point or better outings.

~ The 22 wins (22-9 record) is the sixth 20th-win season by a women's basketball team at USD and head coach Chad Lavin has coached five of those squads.