VERMILLION, S.D. -- A big 21-0 run in the first half proved to be the difference as
The University of South Dakota women's basketball team beat Black Hills State, 67-49 in action Thursday night at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D.
It was the second straight win for USD (3-3), which had three players in double figures. Amber Hegge (So., Crofton, Neb.) had 16 points and eight rebounds, while Abby Kinder (Jr., Granger, Ind.) had a season-high 15 points. Annie Roche (So., Vermillion, S.D.) added 12 points for USD.
The Coyotes shot 56.5 percent (26-of-46) from the field, compared to just 38.8 percent (19-of-49) for Black Hills State, which was averaging more than 74 points per game. The Yellow Jackets came into the game ranked seventh in NAIA Division II.
USD's big first half run was keyed by its defense.
The Coyotes trailed 6-3 early before taking control with the 21-0 run over the next six minutes. USD held Black Hills State without a point for more than seven minutes and without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes during that stretch.
Meanwhile, on the offensive end, USD was led by Kinder and Teresa Case (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.), each with five points. Hegge and Jasmine Mosley (Sr., Bellevue, Neb.) had four points during that sequence.
The 21-0 run helped USD build a 24-6 lead with 11:17 to go in the first half. USD carried a 40-25 lead into halftime, thanks to 10 points each from Kinder and Hegge. Roche had seven points in the first half.
In the second half, Black Hills State cut the deficit to 10 at 42-32 after a pair of free throws with 13:49 left, but USD answered with a 14-4 run over the next 4:47 to push the lead back to 56-36 with 9:12 left. Kinder had five points during that stretch, including a big three to push the lead to 20, while Jamie Young (Jr., Great Falls, Mont.) had four.
The Yellow Jackets cut the gap to 58-46 with 5:36 left, but Roche hit a crucial three to give USD a 61-46 lead with 5:27 to go, and USD's lead never was less than 14 points the rest of the way.
Case finished with eight points for USD, while Mosley had six. Kinder had six rebounds while Mosley had five. Case had five assists while Roche and Hegge had three each. Case also had three steals.
USD returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 13 at Northern Iowa. The game tips off at 3 p.m. in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
