VERMILLION, S.D. -- The University of South Dakota women's basketball team earned its 15th win of 2008-09 with a 62-46 victory over Houston Baptist University at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D.

USD (15-8) improved to 12-3 at home this season, and avenged a loss from earlier this season to Houston Baptist (7-19) with Monday's win.

Bridget Yoerger (Sr., Hinton, Iowa) had 15 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Coyotes. Annie Roche (RFr., Vermillion, S.D.) added 13 points, while Kara Iverson (Jr., Yankton, S.D.) added 10 points.

USD started the game quickly on a 12-0 run in the opening 3:54, keyed by five points by Roche. Houston Baptist took advantage of a USD cold spell to cut the lead to 20-17 with 7:10 left in the half after a three-pointer by Sharde Little.

But USD's defense stepped up late in the half, as Little's basket with 7:10 left marked the final HBU points of the opening frame.

USD ended the half like it started it - with a 12-0 run. Ashley Wiemann (Sr., Vermillion, S.D.) hit two 3-pointers during that stretch which helped the Coyotes take a 32-17 lead into the break.

Roche and Wiemann each led USD with nine points in the first half. Jasmine Mosley (Jr., Bellevue, Neb.) added six rebounds, while Roche had three assists. The Coyote defense held HBU to just 30.8 percent shooting (8-of-26) in the first half. USD shot 37.9 percent in the first half.

USD maintained a double-digit lead to begin the second half and extended its lead to 43-26 with 12 minutes left when Maggie Youngberg (Sr., Yankton, S.D.) drained a three-pointer from the corner.

HBU was within 53-39 with five minutes left, but the Coyotes pulled away from there to stretch their lead to 23 points with 3:33 left in the game.

Wiemann finished with nine points for USD, while Mosley ended with eight points and seven rebounds. Youngberg added six points. Roche and Yoerger had three assists each for USD, with Wiemann leading with two steals.

USD resumes action at home on Saturday, Feb. 21 against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Game time is 6 p.m. at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D.

Notes: USD coaches wore pink shirts in honor of the Pink Zone celebration. The Pink Zone is the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's promotion which raises awareness in the fight against breast cancer. Coyote players also wore pink warm-up shirts as well...Houston Baptist and USD are members of the Great West Conference, which will begin play in basketball in 2009-10...the two teams split the 2008-09 series, with each team winning at home.