Vermillion, S.D. -- Sophomore forward Amber Hegge scored the final nine points for the Coyotes, but the University of South Dakota women's basketball team fell short, 57-56, in Great West Conference action against Texas-Pan American on Thursday night in the DakotaDome. USD fell to 12-15 overall and 4-6 in the GWC, while the Broncs improved to 12-15 and 8-3.

With USD down by nine with three minutes left, Hegge (Crofton, Neb.) took over for the Coyotes and nearly pulled out the victory for South Dakota. Hegge started the run with a trey, added two free throws and a layup, before drawing a charge to give USD the ball back. She hit two more free throws with 27 seconds left to pull USD within one and UTPA missed four consecutive free throws, but the Coyotes were unable to get a shot off in the final 10 seconds.

Hegge led all USD scorers with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore guard Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.) contributed 11 points. Junior guard Abby Kinder (Granger, Ind.) had nine points and 11 rebounds. The Coyotes shot 37 percent (21-of-57) from the field, including 24 percent (5-of-21) behind arc, while UTPA hit 36 percent (20-of-56) and 17 percent (2-of-12).

USD hit just 9-of-23 free throw attempts in the game, while UTPA hit 15-of-23.

South Dakota missed its first eight shot attempts from the field to allow UTPA to build a 7-0 lead at the 16:54 mark, but a free throw from senior center Jasmine Mosley (Bellevue, Neb.) got the Coyotes on the board and layups from Hegge, Roche and senior forward Kara Iverson (Yankton, S.D.) tied the game at seven apiece with 12:07 left. Back-to-back treys from Kinder got USD rolling, as Roche added the next five points and Kinder hit another three to extend the Coyote advantage to 21-12 at 8:15.

Layups from Hegge and Roche kept the momentum on USD's side, but the Broncs closed the half on a 10-3 run to pull within 28-26 at halftime. Roche and Kinder posted nine points apiece in the first frame, while Hegge chipped in four. Kinder and Hegge had six rebounds apiece, while the Coyotes shot 34 percent (11-of-32) from the floor to UTPA's 35 percent (9-of-26).

A Hegge free throw and Mosley bucket put USD up five, but a quick six-point spurt from the Broncs put them ahead 32-31 at the 17:30 mark. The two squad exchanged baskets over the next three minutes, until UTPA clawed out a five-point lead at 42-37. A 5-0 USD run behind Roche and Mosley tied the contest at 42 at the midpoint of the second half. Once again the Broncs responded with a run of their own, as UTPA posted a 13-4 advantage over the next six minutes to go up by nine at 55-46. That's when Hegge took over for the Coyotes to bring them within one late.

South Dakota continues its homestand against Houston Baptist on Saturday. Tip is set for 6 p.m. in the DakotaDome.

Notes: USD's six GWC losses have come by a combined 24 points...Kinder's 11 rebounds were a season-high and one away from her career-high...it was Hegge's fifth double-double of 2009-10.