VERMILLION, S.D. -- Three Coyotes scored in double figures to help the South Dakota women's basketball team craft a 16-4 run to open the second half en route to a 71-47 win over Upper Iowa on Tuesday night in the DakotaDome. USD outscored the Peacocks 44-24 in the second half to turn a four-point halftime lead into a blowout.

"I thought in the second half the urgency level really picked up," South Dakota head coach Ryun Williams said. "Our 20 assists on the night really got us going in the second half. The urgency was there, but we played together and had a fun second half."

Sophomore guard Alexis Yackley (Onida, S.D.) led the charge with 11 points, including knocking down 3-of-4 treys, and a career-high seven assists, while freshman forward Stacia Robertson (Grand Island, Neb.) posted a career-high 11 points and four blocks. Junior guard Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.) added 10 points and junior center Jodie Boss (Columbus, Neb.) had seven rebounds and three blocks.

South Dakota's second-half domination included shooting a scorching 61 percent (16-of-26) from the field and 53 percent (7-of-13) from deep in the half. The Coyotes shot 45 percent (27-of-60) for the game while holding the Peacocks to 30 percent (17-of-55). USD forced 15 turnovers, collected nine blocks and eight steals.

It looked like it would be all Coyotes early, as South Dakota (3-3) zoomed out to a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes. Roche started with a three and added a jumper while the USD defense forced early turnovers and held the Peacocks (0-4) without a basket until the 16:35 mark. Both teams hit a cold streak, though, and Upper Iowa hung within seven points. Case sunk two free throws and followed with a three to push USD's advantage to 14-4, as once again it looked like the Coyotes would take control, but a 9-1 run through the middle minutes put UIU right back in the game at 15-13 with 8:36 left.

Wilson and Yackley responded with jumpers for South Dakota, but the Peacocks battle back with two-straight threes to pull within two again at 21-19 with 4:30 to go in the half. The Coyotes stepped up the defensive pressure and worked inside on the offensive side with layups from Robertson, Hiebert and Edwards to extend the lead again and enter halftime up 27-23.

"I thought defensively we were really good early," Williams said. "The first eight minutes or so we were pretty disruptive, but then we relaxed. We miscommunicated and gave them some threes. They had the tempo where they wanted it."

Roche collected seven points before the break and Case had five, while Roche, Boss and Wilson all had four rebounds. Both squads shot 32 percent in the first half, while USD held a 25-19 advantage in rebounding. The Coyotes hit 22 percent (2-of-9) from deep and the Peacocks connected on 30 percent (4-of-13).

The second half started much the same as the first, as South Dakota dominated the first four minutes but this time the Coyotes kept it going. USD clicked on all cylinders to quickly turn a four-point halftime lead into double digits at 43-27 with a 16-4 run. Boss converted an old-fashion three-point play with a bucket and free throw, before Wilson and Roche hit back-to-back treys. Boss added another layup and Yackley connect from deep twice in a row, while layups from Robertson pushed the lead to 20 with 12:54 left.

The Coyotes didn't let off the gas through the middle minutes either, as a Mehr three and Case free throws put USD up 24 at 60-36 with 8:18 to go. The squads exchanged buckets down the stretch, but the Coyotes maintained at least a 20-point advantage.

South Dakota continues its homestand by hosting Santa Clara on Nov. 30 and Creighton on Dec. 2. Both games are set to tip at 7 p.m. in the DakotaDome.