KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A cold-shooting night from the field proved costly for the South Dakota women's basketball team in a 61-49 loss at Missouri-Kansas City in Summit League action Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. The Coyotes fell to 9-4 overall and 2-3 in the Summit League with the setback, while UMKC improved to 11-5 overall and 3-2 in league play.

South Dakota shot a season-low 24.1 percent (14-of-58) from the field, including only 20 percent (6-of-30) in the first half. The Coyote defense did hold UMKC, the No. 1-ranked scoring offense in the Summit League, to 14 points under its season average.

Junior guard Tempestt Wilson (Elk River, Minn.) led the Coyotes with 13 points, while senior Jodie Boss (Columbus, Neb.) had a strong all-around game with 10 points, seven rebounds and six blocks. Senior Amber Hegge (Crofton, Neb.) was held to a season-low nine points, ending a streak of 21 straight games of which she had scored in double figures. Hegge, who was limited to just 26 minutes of action because of foul trouble, had a team-high five assists.

"The 61 points is 15 points below their average, which is a good outing. If you would have told me we'd hold them to 61 points, I would have thought we would have been right there," South Dakota head coach Ryun Williams said. "We have to get more production from other kids. They are doubling on Amber and we are getting kick-outs, but we need more consistent performance levels offensively."

The Coyotes got off to a promising start in the game, opening the contest on a 16-6 run over the first 5:44. Wilson had seven points during that run, including a three-pointer, while senior guard Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.) had five points, including a three-pointer.

South Dakota opened the game 5-of-13 from the field but managed to go just 1-of-17 over the final 14 minutes of the half. The Coyotes' last field goal of the half was a basket by junior Pam January (Richfield, Minn.) at the 12:11 mark. Despite managing just one field goal for the final 14 minutes of the first half, the Coyotes led much of the way. A pair of free throws by Boss gave them a 22-15 lead with 7:19 left in the half. However, South Dakota went cold from there, managing just one point over the final seven minutes, and UMKC capitalized, outscoring the Coyotes 12-1 the rest of the half to take a 27-23 lead into halftime.

"I thought we got off to a good start. That was about the best basketball we have played in the first five or six minutes," Williams said. "Then we shot poorly the rest of the game."

South Dakota faced a six-point deficit (33-28) with 17:29 left but answered with an 11-2 run over the next 3:27 to take a 39-35 lead. Wilson and Roche each drained threes during that run, while Hegge converted a three-point play.

However, once again the Coyotes went cold from the field after starting out the second half 5-of-9 from the field. After Wilson's three with 14:07 left, South Dakota managed only 10 points the rest of the way, hitting 3-of-19 field goal attempts.

And while the Coyotes overcame their first-half cold spell to regain the lead, they couldn't weather the second tough offensive stretch. UMKC went on a 19-2 run over the next 10 minutes to secure a 54-41 lead with 4:12 left. South Dakota cut the gap to 54-46, thanks to a three by Boss - the first of her Coyote career - and a jumper by Hegge, but got no closer the rest of the way.

Junior guard Alexis Yackley (Onida, S.D.) had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Coyotes. Roche finished with eight points.

South Dakota makes a brief swing into nonconference action Monday at home against Ivy League foe Cornell. Game time is 7 p.m. at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D.