Vermillion, S.D. -- Junior forward Amber Hegge recorded her seventh double-double of the season as
the South Dakota women's basketball team defeated Great West Conference foe the New Jersey Institute of Technology 72-28, Thursday night at the DakotaDome. The 28 points surrendered by the Coyotes was a season-low, and the second lowest total allowed by the Coyotes since
Coach Ryun Williams took over in 2008-09.
Hegge (Crofton, Neb.) led all players with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.) followed with 15 and freshman forward Stacia Robertson (Grand Island, Neb.) contributed 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Junior center Jodie Boss (Columbus, Neb.) pulled down seven rebounds and added four blocks for the Coyotes. Sophomore Alexis Yackley (Onida, S.D.) posted a career-high nine assists for the Coyotes.
USD (16-10, 7-2 GWC) outscored NJIT (7-17, 3-6 GWC) 37-11 in the second half and had 21 assists as a team on the night. The Coyotes shot 40 percent (26-of-64) from the field in the game held the Highlanders to just 23 percent (12-of-51). The Coyote bench outscored the Highlanders' 19-4.
"We did a nice job defensively," South Dakota head coach Ryun Williams said. "We play a really good team defense. There are not many gaps to penetrate."
The Coyotes started hot as Roche and sophomore guard Tempestt Wilson (Elk River, Minn.) hit back-to-back threes to build an early 6-0 lead. Roche hit another trey after a basket by Hegge to push the lead to 11-2 after just three minutes of play. Robertson scored the next four points for the Coyotes and freshman forward Katelyn Edwards (Crete, Neb.) hit the fourth three-pointer of the game as USD led 18-6 at the halfway mark of the first half.
Hegge and Robertson scored back-to-back baskets to keep the Coyotes rolling. Roche hit two treys and Hegge scored another basket to push the USD lead to 17 with just over two minutes to play before halftime. The Coyotes went into the locker room leading 35-17 after NJIT made a last-second half-court shot.
Roche led all first-half scorers with 12, all coming from treys, and Hegge followed with 11 points and four rebounds. USD shot 41 percent (13-of 31) from the field and 37 percent (6-of-16) from behind the arc, while holding NJIT to 28 percent (8-of-28) and 14 percent (1-of-7) in the first period. The Coyotes outrebounded the Highlanders 22-19 and forced nine turnovers.
USD continued to go to work in the second half, as Hegge scored the first seven points, which started a dominating 32-8 run that ended the half. out the half.
South Dakota continues its season by hosting first-place Chicago State Saturday at 6 p.m. at the DakotaDome. Fans can purchase tickets in advance at the USD Ticket Office or by calling (605) 677-5959.
