VERMILLION, S.D. -- The University of South Dakota women's basketball team, led by a career-high 21 points from Shannon Daly, captured the NCAA Division II Women's North Central Region Championship with a 61-49 win over Minnesota State on Monday night before 3,120 in attendance at the DakotaDome.

With the victory, the Coyotes will advance to the Elite Eight National Championship in Kearney Neb., on March 26, 27 and 29. It will be the USD women team's first appearance at the Elite Eight Championships. The Coyotes, ranked third in NCAA Division II, will face 24th-ranked Washburn of the South Central Region in the first game of the tournament. Washburn advanced with a 73-58 decision over Emporia State in Canyon, Texas.

The Coyotes improved to 31-1 on the season by winning for the 29th straight time this season. The Mavericks, which lost to the Coyotes for the fourth straight time this year, ended the season with a 23-9 record.

South Dakota, which won the North Central Conference regular season and tournament titles, won for the 22nd consecutive time at the DakotaDome. The Coyotes broke a three-game losing streak in region finals (1983-84, 1984-85 and 2002-03) with the victory against the Mavericks.

Daly (Sr., Groton, S.D.) was named the tournament MOP (Most Outstanding Player) and was joined on the all-region team by USD's Jeana Hoffman (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.). Other members of the all-tournament team included Tiffany Moe and Heather Johnson of Minnesota State as well as Kierah Kimbrough of North Dakota.

Daly, who had 15 points in the first half, made 9-of-13 field goals, including six layups. She scored 37 points in the regional tournament and saved the best performance of her career for the most important night in the program's history. Daly's offensive explosion kept a cold-shooting USD team within one point (28-27) of Minnesota State at the halftime break. She was joined in double figures by senior guard Jenna Hoffman (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.) with 14 points and nine rebounds. Jeana Hoffman (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.) had 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.

The Coyotes shot 40 percent from the field (22-of-55) while Minnesota State hit 39.1 percent (18-of-46). The Mavericks made just 1-of-11 shots from three-point range while USD converted 6-of-19 (31.6 percent). Another key statistic was the Coyotes' success at the free throw line. USD, which ranked at the bottom of the conference in free throw shooting percentage (68.1 percent), made 11-of-15 free throws for 73.3 percent.

Minnesota State was led in scoring by three players with 11 points, including Alex Andrews, Heather Johnson and Tiffany Moe.

In the victory, the Coyotes broke a school record for points in a season with 2,437 (old record, 2003-04, 2,395).

During the North Central Regional, the Coyotes defeated all three of their regional opponents by double digits (Colorado State-Pueblo, 66-55; Nebraska-Kearney, 59-48; and Minnesota State, 61-49). Defense was the Coyotes' calling card in the regional as they held two opponents to less than 50 points and the third to 55 points.

While the Coyotes were outrebounded by the Mavericks, 38-29, they committed just eight turnovers while MSU had 17. The Coyotes also had five steals and three blocked shots.

MSU jumped to a quick 4-0 lead (18:34, first half) after Moe hit a jumper from the right side of the lane. South Dakota quickly answered as Bridget Yoerger's (Jr., Hinton, Iowa) layup provided the Coyotes with a 6-4 advantage at the 16:43 mark.

In a half that featured six tie scores, the momentum shifted back and forth to both teams. A three-pointer by Jenna Hoffman gave USD a 13-10 lead. Then, Daly knocked down a three-point field goal with 6:01 on the clock to give the Coyotes a 24-17 lead. The Mavericks answered the Coyote surge with an 11-2 run to take a 28-26 lead at the 2:13 mark. USD's Jasmine Mosley (So., Bellevue, Neb.) hit 1-of-2 free throws to cut MSU's lead to 28-27 at the halftime break.

The Coyotes, who are now 6-1 when trailing at halftime, opened the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 34-28 lead at the 17:03 mark. During that opening run of the second half, Jeana Hoffman had a three-point basket while Ashley Robinette (Sr., South Sioux City, Neb.) and Daly also made baskets.

With 13:26 remaining in the game, the Coyotes took an eight-point lead (38-30) on a jumper by Jeana Hoffman. The Mavericks responded with four straight points to cut the lead to 38-34. However, that was as close as MSU would get to the Coyotes.

Jenna Hoffman's second three-point field goal of the game provided the Coyotes with a 46-37 lead at the 7:02 mark. With 4:53 to go, Jeana Hoffman hit a three-pointer for a 52-38 lead. Then, Yoerger ended any comeback hopes by the Mavericks by knocking down a three-point shot with 3:30 left as the Coyotes opened up a commanding 57-40 lead. When Jenna Hoffman hit a pair of free throws at the 2:53 mark, USD owned a 59-40 lead and the celebration began for the Coyote fans and the team.