ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- The University of South Dakota women's basketball team made a season-high 24 free throws and defeated St. Cloud State, 67-62, on Saturday afternoon at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, Minn. The Coyotes, ranked fourth in NCAA Division II, won for the 20th straight time this season.

South Dakota improved to 22-1 on the season and lead the North Central Conference with an 8-0 record. The U's league mark is the best eight-game mark in school history. St. Cloud State had a two-game winning streak snapped by the Coyotes as the Huskies dropped to 11-14 overall and 3-7 in the NCC.

USD's win sets up a showdown with third-ranked North Dakota (23-1, 8-1 NCC) on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the DakotaDome. The Coyotes defeated UND, 70-67, on January 19 in Grand Forks, N.D.

With the win against the Huskies, South Dakota improved to 9-0 in road games this season, including 5-0 in league play.

Jenna Hoffman (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.) scored 14 points to lead four players in double figures for the Coyotes. Bridget Yoerger (Jr., Hinton, Iowa) had 12 points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists. She hit 8-of-10 free throws as the Coyotes made 24-of-34 for 70.6 percent from the foul line. USD was just 5-of-12 from the free throw line in the opening half but converted 19-of-22 from the charity stripe in the second half.

Jeana Hoffman (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.) added 11 points, including three baskets from three-point range. Hoffman reached double digits for the 53rd time of her career and made three baskets from three-point range for the 13th time this season. Jasmine Mosley (So., Bellevue, Neb.) added 10 points and three rebounds. Ashley Robinette (Sr., South Sioux City, Neb.) had a season-high eight rebounds to go with six points.

The Huskies, which made 22-of-22 free throws, were led by Katie Tacheny with 18 points, six rebounds and five steals. She made all 10 of her foul shots. Kayla Rengel had 17 points while Rachel Booth scored 15. St. Cloud State failed to make a three-point shot in seven attempts while hitting 40.8 percent from the field on 20-of-49 shooting.

The Coyotes were 19-of-43 for 44.2 percent from the field. The U, which leads the nation with 10.18 three-point shots per game, tied a season-low by making just 5-of-15 for 33.3 percent from long distance against the Huskies.

The Huskies jumped to a quick 6-0 lead just 1:31 into the game before Robinette converted a three-point play for USD. A jumper by Talisha Barlow provided SCSU with a 12-7 lead at the 13:34 mark. SCSU increased the lead to 17-10 at the 12:25 mark as Booth scored inside. The Coyotes responded with a 6-0 run to close the gap to 17-16 after Jeana Hoffman hit a jump shot at the 10:15 mark of the first half.

SCSU outscored the Coyotes, 9-3, to forge a 26-19 advantage with 5:07 to play. The U put together a rally and grabbed a 27-26 lead after Shannon Daly (Sr., Groton, S.D.) hit a jumper in the paint at the 2:16 mark. Daly finished the game with eight points.

Both teams were unable to score again until SCSU's Krystal Scott made a jumper with one second left to give SCSU a 28-27 halftime advantage.

After SCSU built a three-point lead early in the second half, USD went on a 7-0 run, including a three-point basket from Robinette. Two free throws by Yoerger gave the Coyotes a 34-30 lead at the 17:32 mark. USD took a 41-34 lead when Jenna Hoffman converted a three-point play at the 14:59 mark.

Down 43-34, the Huskies scored the next four points of the game to close the gap to six points with 12:53 to play. Jeana Hoffman hit her third three-point shot of the game to help USD to a 49-42 lead. However, St. Cloud State had a 5-1 run to trim the lead to 50-47 at the 8:03 mark.

Nearly every time the Huskies rallied, the Coyotes had an answer. The U responded to the Huskies' charge by scoring five straight points, including a three-point play from Mosley on a drive to the basket at the 6:28 mark. At the 4:22 mark, Mosley hit a free throw to give USD a 59-51 lead.

In the final five minutes, both teams struggled to make a field goal but were successful at the foul line. USD made 7-of-8 while SCSU was 5-of-5 from the line.

The Huskies fought back from the eight-point deficit and cut the lead to 61-58 after Booth scored inside with one minute to play . Daly's two foul shots gave USD a 63-58 advantage with 46 seconds left in the game. Tacheny made two foul shots with 19 seconds left as St. Cloud State trailed by three (65-62). After USD committed a turnover on the ensuing possession, the Huskies gave the ball right back to the Coyotes. Amber Hegge's (Fr., Crofton, Neb.) jumper with nine seconds to play provided USD with its final margin of victory.