Brookings, S.D. - Despite leading for much of the first half, the University of South Dakota women's basketball team fell short against rival South Dakota State Monday, suffering a 67-48 defeat in front of 5,246 fans at Frost Arena in Brookings, S.D. In the first meeting between the two in-state rivals in six years, USD (10-12) fought hard but was unable to overcome a double-digit second-half deficit against the Jackrabbits (16-9).

Sophomore Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.) paced USD with 12 points, while junior Abby Kinder (Granger, Ind.) added nine. Kara Iverson (Sr., Yankton, S.D.) and Jasmine Mosley (Sr., Bellevue, Neb,) added eight points each. The Coyotes shot 41 percent (17-of-42) from the field compared to 45 percent (23-of-51) for SDSU.

The Coyotes scored the first points of the game on a layup by Jasmine Mosley, and held a 10-8 lead after Abby Kinder drained her second 3-pointer of the contest with 13:12 left. Kinder added her third three moments later as USD built a 13-8 lead, and the lead grew to 17-11 on a jumper by Teresa Case with 9:15 left in the first half.

USD held SDSU to just 2-of-11 shooting (18.2 percent) to start the game. The Coyotes maintained the lead for much of the half before SDSU closed the gap to 21-20 on a basket by Ketty Cornemann with 4:37 left. A three-pointer by Kara Iverson pushed the USD back to 24-20 with 4:16 left, but the Jackrabbits responded with a 13-0 run to close the half to take a 33-24 lead into halftime.

Kinder had nine first-half points to pace USD, while Mosley and Roche and four each. USD shot 45 percent in the first half, compared to 50 percent for the Jackrabbits, who hit 10 of their final 13 shots to close the half.

In the second half, SDSU got a three-point play from Maria Boever and Kristin Rotert to stretch the lead to 44-29 with 14:57 left. USD scored the next six points, capped off by an Iverson jumper, to close back within 45-35. The Coyotes fought hard defensively and were within 12 late before SDSU extended its lead. Roche finished with six rebounds, while Case had four. Mosley ahd three assists while Iverson had two steals. SDSU had just nine turnovers, compared to 20 for USD.

The Coyotes return home for a contest Thursday against Great West foe Utah Valley. Game time is 6 p.m. at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, followed by the men at 8 p.m.