KEARNEY, Neb. - The University of South Dakota women's basketball team, led by two key baskets down the stretch from freshman Amber Hegge, advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship game with a 68-58 victory over number one ranked Delta State on Thursday night before 1,604 in attendance at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney, Neb.

South Dakota, which won for the 31st consecutive time, will play Northern Kentucky in the championship game at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be carried live by ESPN2.

The appearance in the title game will be the first in school history for the women's team. Interestingly, it was 50 years ago that the Coyote men's team won a national title.

USD improved to 33-1 on the season and ended Delta State's 33-game winning streak with the win in the semifinals of the Elite Eight Championship. The Coyotes are now 7-0 against ranked opponents this season, including 2-0 against teams ranked first in the nation (North Dakota, Delta State). South Dakota improved to 8-6 overall in NCAA Division II tournament games.

Hegge's (Fr., Crofton, Neb.), basket with 3:21 to play gave the Coyotes the lead for good at 59-58. Then, she scored inside with 1:45 to go as USD grabbed a 61-58 advantage.

From that point, the Coyotes turned up the defense and made 7-of-8 free throws to put the game away. Counting the overtime sessions against Washburn, the Coyotes have converted on 30 of 33 free throws.

When Jeana Hoffman (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.) made two free throws with 20 seconds left in the game for a 68-58 lead, USD head coach Chad Lavin cleared the bench and the team and a large contingent of Coyotes fans began celebrating.

"It was an amazing defensive performance to hold a team like Delta State to 20 points in the second half," head coach Chad Lavin told Kevin Culhane of the Coyote Sports Network after the game. "I am very pleased with the effort that this team put forward tonight," he said. "I am also proud of the fan support. They have made a big difference in this tournament," he said.

Hegge had 15 points by making 4-of-6 field goals and 7-of-7 shots from the foul line. She also added three rebounds and three blocked shots, which tied her with Mandy Koupal (2003-04) for the school record for blocked shots in a season with 53.

All American Jeana Hoffman led the Coyotes in scoring with 19 points as she made 6-of-9 shots from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range. Hoffman, who also had five rebounds and two assists, tied Koupal (2001-02) for third in points in a season with 596. Led by Hegge, the Coyotes' bench totaled 24 points, which proved pivotal in the hard fought contest.

South Dakota made 21-of-48 shots from the field for 43.8 percent, including 8-of-23 from three-point range for 34.8 percent. However, it was at the foul line that made the difference for the Coyotes. They converted 18-of-19 free throws for 94.7 percent, which was crucial for a team that averaged 68.5 percent from the charity stripe this season.

USD's Chad Lavin improved his overall record against DSU's Sandra Rushing to 10-5 although this is the first time they have faced each other as Division II coaches. Lavin coached against Rushing while he was at Wyoming and she was the head coach of Texas El-Paso.

Delta State, which fell to 33-1, was led in scoring by Jessica Boyd, who had 12 points and made 4-of-5 shots from three-point range. Overall, the Lady Statesmen hit 22-of-60 field goals for 36.7 percent and 5-of-9 from three-point range. They were 9-of-10 from the foul stripe.

Delta State jumped to a quick 6-0 lead after Sarita Cooper scored at the 17:59 mark. The Lady Statesmen built the lead to 11-4 on a Jessica Boyd three-pointer at the 11:32 mark. Then, the Coyotes responded with a 6-0 run as Hegge's layup at the 13:25 mark cut the lead to 11-10. Ashley Robinette's (Sr., South Sioux City, Iowa) three-pointer at the 11:53 mark tied the game at 13-13. On the ensuing possession, Maggie Youngberg (Jr., Yankton, S.D.) knocked down a three-pointer to give USD the lead for the first time at 16-13. Youngberg's basket culminated a 12-2 run. Of USD's first 16 points, 11 came from bench players (Hegge, Mosley and Youngberg).

From there, the lead bounced back and forth in the first half. Jennifer Rushing made a jumper at the 8:03 mark to give Delta State a 23-21 lead. USD answered with four straight points as Jenna Hoffman's (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.) basket gave USD a 27-25 lead.

With 3:55 left in the half, Bridget Yoerger (Jr., Hinton, Iowa) knocked down a three-pointer as the Coyotes took a 30-27 advantage. Then, Delta State outscored the Coyotes, 8-2, to take a 35-32 lead. USD regained the lead at 36-35 on a basket by Jenna Hoffman. After Delta State hit a three-pointer, the Coyotes worked the clocked down and Jeana Hoffman hit a three-point shot at the buzzer for a 39-38 lead. It was the first time all season that Delta State trailed at halftime this season.

Hoffman's basket also proved beneficial to the Coyotes. USD has now won 42 consecutive games when leading at the halftime break.

After the Lady Statesmen scored the first basket of the second half, the Coyotes took off on a 13-3 run to take a nine-point lead at 52-43 with 12:16 to play in the game. The USD surge was keyed by a three, 3-point baskets from Robinette (16:48), Jeana Hoffman (16:47) and Shannon Daly (12:40).

DSU answered with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 52-51 with 8:42 to play in the game. At the 6:47 mark, Hegge went to work. She ended USD's five-minute scoring drought by scoring off an offensive rebound and then making the free throw for a 55-51 lead. The Lady Statesmen, who trailed in the second half just once all season (Christian Brothers, 27-26, 14:35), took off on an 8-2 run to grab a 59-58 lead when Lakira Boyd scored inside with 4:23 left in the game.

Then, it was Hegge who took over by scoring the crucial baskets down the stretch that enabled USD to re-take the lead and earn a spot in the national title game.