VERMILLION, S.D. - The University of South Dakota women's basketball team, featuring a balanced scoring attack, won for the 21st straight time with a 76-65 decision over third-ranked North Dakota on Thursday night at the DakotaDome.

The Coyotes, who are ranked fourth in NCAA Division II, improved to 23-1 overall and lead the North Central Conference with a 9-0 record. South Dakota, which won for the 14th consecutive time at the DakotaDome, swept the regular season series from North Dakota for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

For the Coyotes, the win gives them a two-game lead over second-place North Dakota with three league games left to play this season. It was also an important region win for USD, which entered play as the number one ranked team in the North Central Region. South Dakota will now have a chance to clinch the title when they travel to play Minnesota-Duluth at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 23 in Duluth, Minn. The last time USD won the NCC title was in 2002-03 when they had a 14-2 record.

Coyote freshman forward Amber Hegge (Crofton, Neb.) played a key role in the win by setting a career-high with 14 points and tying her career-best with five blocked shots. She made 4-of-6 field goals, including her only three-point shot. In addition, Hegge made all five of her free throw attempts while also collecting three rebounds.

In all, the Coyotes had five players score in double digits. Senior guard Jeana Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.) had 15 points while forward Bridget Yoerger (Jr., Hinton, Iowa) added 12 points. Hoffman also had six rebounds and a steal as she recorded double digits in points for the 54th time of her career. Yoerger also had seven boards, three steals and two blocked shots. Also reaching double digits in points was senior guard Shannon Daly (Sr., Groton, S.D.) and sophomore Jasmine Mosley (So., Bellevue, Neb.) who both scored 10 points. Mosley made 6-of-8 free throws and had a team-high six assists.

Overall, the Coyotes hit 46.3 percent from the field on 25-of-54 shooting. They were also 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) from three-point range and 19-of-26 for 73.1 percent from the foul line.

North Dakota, which fell to 23-2 overall and 8-2 in league play, was led by Ashley Langen with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Kierah Kimbrough added 16 points. UND made 28-of-65 shots from the field for 43.1 percent, including 5-of-17 from three-point range. They were 4-of-4 from the foul line.

The Sioux opened up a quick 3-0 lead when Karla Beck hit a shot from three-point range at the 19:17 mark. Trailing 11-8, the Coyotes rallied with a 7-3 run as Maggie Youngberg(So., Yankton, S.D.) hit a three-point field goal at the 11:45 mark for a 15-13 lead. Hegge made a lay-up at the 6:32 mark to give USD a 23-17 advantage. UND cut the lead to 23-22 when Langen scored inside at the 5:08 mark. Once again, USD utilized the perimeter to build the lead to seven points at 32-24 with just 2:06 to play. During the 9-2 run both Youngberg and Ashley Robinette (South Sioux City, Neb.) connected from three-point range.

North Dakota closed the half on a 5-0 run as the Coyotes led just 32-29 at the break. However, the Coyotes are tough to beat when they lead at halftime. Coming into the game, USD had won 34 straight when leading at the break. They extended the streak to 35 on Thursday night. Key to the Coyotes' first-half lead was an ability to score inside on the bigger North Dakota team. USD held a 16-10 advantage on points in the paint. In addition, the Coyotes owned a 12-6 advantage in points off turnovers.

However, things did not look promising early in the second half when the Fighting Sioux built a 42-38 lead after Danye Guinn made a three-point shot at the 14:41 mark. In the final minute of the first half and opening 5:19 of the second half, North Dakota outscored the Coyotes, 18-6.

South Dakota responded with a 14-6 run to take a 54-48 advantage at the 9:13 mark when Mosley connected on a pair of free throws. Once again, North Dakota fought back to tie the game at 54-54 on a lay-up by Alys Seay.

The Coyotes answered the UND charge by scoring the next five points for a 59-54 lead at the seven minute mark as Hegge connected on a three-point shot.

A basket by Daly and a free throw from Mosley provided USD with a 65-56 lead with 4:31 left in the game. Then, Jenna Hoffman (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.) made a three-point shot and two free throws as USD built a 70-56 lead with 2:13 left to play.

Beck's lay-up with 45 seconds left in the game cut the lead to 72-65. After that, Hegge and Mosley combined to make four straight free throws as the Coyotes put the game away.