FARGO, N.D. - Senior forward Amber Hegge recorded her fourth double-double of the season, but the South Dakota women's basketball team fell to North Dakota State, 64-50, in Summit League action Saturday night in Fargo, N.D. South Dakota fell to 10-5 overall and 2-4 in the Summit League, while NDSU improved to 7-12 overall and 4-3 in the conference.

Once again, cold shooting was the Coyotes' demise. South Dakota shot just 25.4 percent (16-of-63) from the field, including 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from three-point range. NDSU shot 42.9 percent (24-of-56), including 60 percent (6-of-10) from three-point range. The Bison had a 51-31 edge in the first meeting between the former North Central Conference rivals since 2004.

Hegge (Crofton, Neb.) had 16 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and two steals for the Coyotes. Junior guard Sam Mehr (Apple Valley, Minn.) had a solid game off the bench with nine points, hitting three 3-pointers. Junior guard Alexis Yackley (Onida, S.D.) added eight points and a team-high three steals. Senior center Jodie Boss (Columbus, Neb.) had six points, nine rebounds, a game-high five blocks and two steals.

The Coyotes got off to a good start, taking a 14-9 lead in the first 11:17 of the contest. A bucket by Hegge and a hoop-and-harm foul converted by Yackley gave the Coyotes a 14-9 lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half. Both teams started cold as they were a combined 10 of 36 from the field during the early going. The Coyotes had a stretch of over four minutes without a score prior the Hegge layup.

Following the slow start, the teams began to pick it up as they traded buckets over the next few minutes as Janae Burich tied the game at 17 for the Bison with 6:34 remaining in the half. A triple from NDSU broke a 17-17 tie, but a big triple on the other end by Mehr tied the game at 20 with five minutes left in the half.

A triple from Abby Plucker extended the Bison lead to its largest of the game at 25-20 with 2:25 remaining in the half.

A big block by Boss, followed two free throws from Boss cut the deficit to 25-22, which was the halftime score. The first half saw poor shooting by both teams as the Coyotes were 7-of-32 (21.9 percent). They were 1 of 9 from beyond the arc and were 7 of 8 from the line. Hegge led the way for the Coyotes with nine points. NDSU didn't shoot much better at 35.5 percent on 11 of 31 from the field. It was 3 of 6 from beyond the arc and didn't attempt a free throw.

The game was tied six times and there were two lead changes in the first half.

The Bison pushed the lead to 30-24 early in the second half and led 38-32 with 12:14 left in the first half. The Coyotes battled back with a 9-4 run - sparked by a three-pointer by Mehr and baskets from senior Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.) and sophomore McKayla Knudson (South Sioux City, Neb.) - to climb within 42-41 with 8:04 left.

However, the Coyotes went cold, going without a point for nearly the next four minutes, and the Bison went on an 8-0 run in the meantime to push the lead to 50-41 with 4:33 left. A jumper by Yackley cut the lead to 50-43 moments later, but the Bison outscored South Dakota 14-7 the rest of the way to secure a 64-50 win.

Roche led the Coyotes with three assists to go with four points.

South Dakota caps off the road trip with a game at in-state rival South Dakota State Monday. Game time is 7 p.m. at Frost Arena in Brookings, S.D.