GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Seattle University fended off a second-half rally by The University of South Dakota women's basketball team in a 66-61 win over the Coyotes during the first round of the Spring Thaw Tournament Saturday in Grand Forks, N.D.

The Coyotes will play in the consolation championship of the Spring Thaw Tournament at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 8. USD will Houston Baptist in the consolation final Sunday.

USD (17-10) had five players in double figures, led by Bridget Yoerger (Sr., Hinton, Iowa) with 15 points. Annie Roche (RFr., Vermillion, S.D.) added 12 points, while Maggie Youngberg (Sr., Yankton, S.D.) collected 11. Jasmine Mosley (Jr., Bellevue, Neb.) and Kara Iverson (Jr., Yankton, S.D.) had 10 each for USD.

Seattle (20-8), which beat USD for a third time this season, was led by Mercedes Alexander with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

USD trailed by 14 points, 58-44 with 6:30 left before mounting a comeback. A 9-0 run helped USD close to within 58-53 with 3:22 left. Youngberg scored five points during that run, including hitting a big three-pointer.

Youngberg, who scored all of her 11 points in the second half, drained another three-pointer with 1:07 left to bring USD to within 64-61, the closest the Coyotes had been since the first half.

The Coyotes defense forced a stop and had a chance to tie the game in the final minute but turned the ball over on a shot clock violation. Seconds later, Alexander hit two free throws with 14 seconds left to push the Seattle lead back to 66-61, which was the final score.

USD led 2-0 after a basket by Mosley 35 seconds into the game but would not lead again. The Coyotes were within 19-17 with 11:08 in the first half but Seattle used a 14-5 run to build a 33-22 lead with 4:21 left in the first half.

Seattle led 39-29 at halftime. USD shot 46.5 percent in the first half, compared to 51.4 percent for Seattle. Iverson's eight points led USD in the opening half, while Yoerger had seven and Mosley six.

In the second half, the Coyotes opened the second half quickly and cut the Redhawk lead to 43-38 with 15:26 left after a three-pointer by Annie Roche.

Seattle stretched the lead back to 58-44 with 6:30 left before USD mounted its comeback. The Coyotes shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49) for the game, compared to 39.3 percent (24-of-61) for Seattle.

Mosley led USD with six rebounds and a tied a career-high with eight assists. Iverson led USD with two steals.