Vermillion, S.D. -- The South Dakota women's basketball team held Idaho to just 30.6 percent shooting in a 62-47 win over the Vandals in the opening round of the Women's Basketball Invitational Thursday night in Vermillion, S.D. With the win, the Coyotes (20-11) advanced to the second round where they will face Cal-State Bakersfield at 9 p.m. CT Sunday night in Bakersfield, Calif.
The Coyotes were victorious in Thursday's game thanks to their defense - they held Idaho (15-16) to 16 points under its season average - and thanks to balance, as four players scored in double figures. Junior forward Amber Hegge (Crofton, Neb.) led the Coyotes with 16 points, while sophomore guard Tempestt Wilson (Elk River, Minn.) added 13 points and five assists. Junior center Jodie Boss (Columbus, Neb.) had an excellent all-around game with 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks, which tied a South Dakota single-game record she has set twice this season. Freshman forward Stacia Robertson (Grand Island, Neb.) added 10 points, all in the first half, while sophomore guard Alexis Yackley (Onida, S.D.) added five points, a career-high nine rebounds and four assists.
The Coyotes shot 37.7 percent (20-of-53) for the game, compared to holding Idaho to just 30.6 percent (19-of-62) shooting. South Dakota held the Vandals to just 4-of-24 (16.7 percent) shooting on threes.
"It was a great win," South Dakota head coach Ryun Williams said. "Postseason play -- this is unchartered waters for these kids. Making this transition and having a game at the Dome and winning it -- that's a big thing for us."
South Dakota got off to a miserable start from the field, going 0-of-9 to open the game, but a basket by Robertson finally ended a drought that lasted more than five minutes from the outset. From there, South Dakota went on an 11-2 run - keyed five points from Robertson and threes from Yackley and junior guard Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.) - to take an 11-10 lead.
The game was tied at 14-14 when the Coyotes were able to build a lead. They held Idaho without a field goal for more than six minutes, building a 22-15 lead in the process. A three-point play by Robertson put the Coyotes up 22-15 with 3:41 left in the half.
South Dakota took a 24-19 lead into halftime, thanks to 10 points from Robertson. The Coyotes held Idaho to 28.8 percent shooting in the first half while shooting 31 percent (9-of-29) themselves.
In the second half, Idaho closed the gap to 34-30 with 13:17 left, but it was at that point where the Coyotes took control.
Hegge drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it 38-30 with 12:19 left. After Idaho cut the lead to 41-34, the Coyotes rattled off six straight points - on back-to-back threes from Wilson - to push the lead to 47-34 with 8:51 left. Idaho never got closer than 11 the rest of the way.
South Dakota will play Cal-State Bakersfield on Sunday night in Bakersfield, with a 9 p.m. tipoff. Cal-State Bakersfield beat Northern Colorado, 83-74 in the opening round on Wednesday. It will be the first meeting between the two schools in women's basketball.
