VERMILLION, S.D. -- Senior forward Amber Hegge scored 30 points, and junior guard Alexis Yackley dished out a career-high 12 assists to lead the South Dakota women's basketball team to a 73-56 win over Northern Arizona in nonconference action Friday night in Vermillion, S.D. The Coyotes improved to 1-0 on the year with their win in their season opener, while Northern Arizona fell to 2-2.

Hegge (Crofton, Neb.) missed her career-high by two points, and finished 11-of-17 from the field. She added eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. Yackley (Onida, S.D.) added six points, four rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. Senior guard Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.) added 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while junior guard Tempestt Wilson (Elk River, Minn.) added 13 points. Senior center Jodie Boss (Columbus, Neb.) added 10 rebounds, four blocks, two steals and four points.

The Coyotes shot 52.9 percent (27-of-51) from the field, including 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from three-point range. They held a slight 35-34 edge in rebounds.

South Dakota set the tone early offensively, hitting its first five shots, including threes from Roche, Wilson and Hegge, on its way to a 15-6 lead. The Coyotes, who never trailed, maintained that lead for much of the half, although Northern Arizona cut the lead to 30-26. The Coyotes answered with a key 7-0 run - sparked by five points from Roche and a layup by Hegge - to push the lead to 37-26 with 4:48 left in the half.

South Dakota held a 42-30 lead - its largest of the first half - after Hegge drained a three with 2:09 left. The Coyotes took a 43-34 lead into halftime. The Coyotes shot 63 percent (17-of-27) from the field in the opening half, including 7-of-9 from three-point range.

Northern Arizona's Caty Huntington to hit a three 1:02 into the second half to bring Northern Arizona within 43-37, but the Coyotes took control from there. They scored 11 straight points - while holding the Lumberjacks without a point - over a span of 5:23 to build a commanding 54-37 lead. Hegge scored seven points during that stretch.

South Dakota was never threatened from the point, leading by as many as 21 on its way to the 17-point win.

Junior forward Pam January (Richfield, Minn.) added two points and four rebounds off the bench.

The Coyotes resume action Tuesday at Creighton. The nonconference game begins at 7 p.m. in Omaha, Neb.

Notes: South Dakota is 26-9 in season openers since 1976...the Coyotes have won their last two season openers under Head Coach Ryun Williams...the game marked the debut of four Coyote freshmen: Lisa Loeffler (Maplewood, Minn.), Taylor Moore (Milford, Neb.), Ashley Olson (Blue Earth, Minn.) and Kelly Stewart (Amery, Wis.).