CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Three South Dakota players scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough as the Coyote women's basketball team fell to Northern Iowa, 53-43, in nonconference action Wednesday night in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Coyotes fell to 5-2 on the year with the loss, while UNI improved to 6-2.

Senior center Jodie Boss (Columbus, Neb.) and senior forward Amber Hegge (Crofton, Neb.) led the Coyotes with 12 points and eight rebounds apiece. Hegge had four blocks while Boss, who is closing in on the school's career record, had three. Senior guard Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.) had 11 points and two assists, while junior guard Alexis Yackley (Onida, S.D.) had five points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The game was closer than the final score would indicate as the Coyote defense kept things close. South Dakota led 35-34 with 12 minutes remaining and held UNI without a field goal over the final 6:45 - but the Panthers were able to outscore the Coyotes 19-8 over the final 12:41 to earn the win.

South Dakota's defense was solid all night, holding the Panthers to just 31.1 percent shooting, including 25.9 percent from three-point range. However, the Coyote offense cooled off in the second half, shooting just 30.8 percent in the second half, including just 8.3 percent (1-of-12) from three-point range.

"This group will compete. It's not a lack of toughness," South Dakota head coach Ryun Williams said. "We guarded well enough to put ourselves in a position to win. It's frustrating we didn't execute the way we could offensively. We created a lot of offense for them and we didn't create a whole lot for us."

The Coyotes led by three at halftime, and pushed the lead to 25-20 with 18:54 left when Roche scored. However, UNI went on a 10-1 run over the next three minutes to take a 30-26 lead.

South Dakota came back to take a 35-34 lead with 12:41 left after a basket by Hegge, but that would prove to be the final Coyote lead of the night. UNI went on a 9-0 run over the next 4:20 to take a 43-35 lead. The Coyotes got no closer than six the rest of the way, although UNI didn't extend the lead to double digits until Mercedees Morgan hit a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to make it 53-43, which was the final score.

Turnovers were costly in the second half for South Dakota, which committed 13 of its 20 in the second half. UNI scored 22 points off of turnovers in the game.

"I thought our turnovers were totally uncharacteristic of us," Williams said. "That's a little frustrating. That's where some poise has to come into play. It was a just a team thing tonight. They stepped up their pressure the last seven or eight minutes and caused us to turn the ball over."

The first 10:39 of the game was dominated by defense - with the two teams combining for just 17 points. South Dakota was down 3-0 but scored 10 of the next 14 points - keyed by a three-point play by junior forward Pam January (Richfield, Minn.) and three points from Boss - to take a 10-7 lead.

UNI tied the game at 10-10, but the Coyotes went on an 11-3 run over the next 6:20 to build a 21-13 lead with 2:51 left in the opening half. Yackley sparked the run with five points, including a three, while Boss had four points. South Dakota took a 23-20 lead into halftime.

Boss led the Coyote offense in the first half, scoring nine points on 4-of-5 shooting Yackley had five points while Hegge had four. Yackley also had five rebounds and three assists. South Dakota shot 40 percent (10-of-25) in the first half, compared to 30.8 (8-of-26) for the Panthers. The Coyotes also forced 10 UNI turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.

South Dakota finished the game shooting 35.3 percent (18-of-51), including just 11.1 percent (2-of-18) from three-point range.

The Coyotes' next action is Saturday at home against Northern Colorado. Game time is 7 p.m. at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D. Fans can order tickets for the game or all upcoming South Dakota basketball games by calling the Coyote Ticket Office at (605) 677-5959.