HOUSTON, Texas -- Despite battling back from a 12-point deficit in regulation, The University of South Dakota women's basketball team came up short Thursday, suffering a tough 74-70 overtime loss to Houston Baptist in Great West Conference action in Houston, Texas.

USD (8-9, 2-2 GWC) was led by Amber Hegge (So., Crofton, Neb.), who had 22 points. Jasmine Mosley (Sr., Bellevue, Neb.) recorded her first double-double of the season and second of her career with 17 points and 12 rebounds (tying a career-high), while Abby Kinder (Jr., Granger, Ind.) added 17 points and nine rebounds.

USD was down eight at halftime after trailing by 12 at one point in the first half but started its comeback in the first five minutes of the second frame. USD opened the half on a 15-5 spurt, keyed by six points from Hegge, four from Mosley and a three from Kara Iverson (Sr., Yankton, S.D.), to take the lead at 40-38 with 13:08 left.

While USD warmed up offensively after going through a six-minute cold spell in the first half, it was the Coyotes' defense that sparked the run, holding HBU to just five points over the first 8:28 of the second half

Hegge converted a three-point play to push the Coyote lead to 43-40 with 11:03 left. Houston Baptist answered with an 11-2 run to regain the lead at 51-45 with 7:28 left.

USD fought back in the ensuing minutes, and two Hegge free throws tied the game at 54-54 with three minutes left; however, on the next possession, Hegge fouled out, leaving the game with 22 points.

After Houston Baptist hit a free throw, USD answered with a Mosley layup to go up 56-55 with three minutes left. Moments later, Jamie Spriggs hit a jumper to put Houston Baptist up 57-56 with 1:39 left.

The teams exchanged the lead again before Spriggs hit two free throws to put the Huskies up 60-59 with 42 seconds left.

Kinder hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game at 60-60 with 27 seconds left. HBU had a three-pointer to win the game at the end of regulation but the shot didn't fall.

Houston Baptist scored the first two points of overtime, but USD answered with four straight points on baskets by Mosley and Kinder to put the Coyotes up 64-62.

HBU tied the game at 64-64 with two free throws, but Kinder hit a basket and later hit 1-of-2 free throws to put USD up 67-64 with 1:46 left.

Houston Baptist scored the next seven points, however, to take a 71-67 lead in the final minute. USD was within 73-70 with 11 seconds left after a Mosley putback. But the Coyotes got no closer, as HBU hit a free throw, and a Coyote shot in the final seconds wouldn't fall.

Annie Roche (So., Vermillion, S.D.) finished with seven points, while Iverson had five. Roche and Kinder had four assists each, while Kinder had three steals.

USD led 16-13 early as Hegge and Kinder combined for all 16 points.

However, USD hit a cold spell offensively midway through the half, going without a point for nearly six minutes as Houston Baptist built a 22-16 lead.

A three-point play by Kinder with 4:38 broke USD's scoreless streak and brought the Coyotes within 22-19. The HBU lead was 12 points at one point, but USD scored the final four points of the half as Mosley and Iverson each hit a basket to cut the lead to 33-25 at the break.

USD shot 45.5 percent (10-of-22) in the first half, compared to 39.8 percent from Houston Baptist. Hegge had 10 points in the first half while Kinder had nine.

The Coyotes continue Great West Conference action Saturday at Texas-Pan American. Game time is 2:15 p.m. in Edinburg, Texas.

Note: With the Sioux Falls game postponed, USD is now in the midst of five straight road games...the Coyotes play at nonconference foe Seattle Feb. 6 to wrap up the trip.