Official Athletic Web Site of the University of South Dakota Coyotes - Women's Basketball

Frie (15 points, 9 rebounds) and Koepp (14 points, 8 rebounds) lead the way for the Coyotes' fourth NCC victory.

Feb. 2, 2001

OMAHA, Neb. - South Dakota women's basketball team (9-10, 4-8 in the NCC) snapped a two-game losing streak and had their best performance of the North Central Conference season in a 70-54 win over Nebraska-Omaha (6-14, 4-8 in the NCC) at Sapp Fieldhouse on Friday night.

Senior point guard Kelly Gese led the way for South Dakota with 18 points, six assists and four rebounds. Gese, who had her 46th double figure scoring game of her career, moved past Jodi Beavers and into ninth place on the Coyote career scoring with 1,176 points. Gloria Suntken (1977-81) is just ahead of Gese with 1,212 points. Gese also passed the 400 mark in assists. With six assists, she now has 403 for her career. Julia Frie joined Gese in double figures with 14 points and nine rebounds, and Kelly Koepp added 15 points and eight rebounds. With the win, South Dakota head coach Chad Lavin improved his record to 109-78 (.583) at South Dakota. His overall coaching slate is 283-241 (.540).

From the get-go, the Coyotes were ready to play on Friday night. Just 20 seconds into the game, Frie knocked home three-point baskets for a 3-0 lead. Then junior forward Alissa Koronkiewicz scored consecutive baskets inside to give the Coyotes an 11-7 lead with 15:45 to play in the opening half. A jumper by sophomore Heather Nelson, a three-point basket and a lay-up by Amanda Iverson moved the Coyote lead to 20-9 with 12:15 left in the opening stanza. The Coyotes continued their offensive surge as Koepp hit consecutive three-point baskets as the Coyotes gained a 26-12 lead (9:57). After a three-point basket by UNO's Andi Sutherland, Frie scored the game's next six points as the Coyotes increased the lead to 31-15 at the 7:11 mark. A jumper by Gese gave the Coyotes a 37-17 lead at the 4:29 mark. But the Mavericks fought back, outscoring the Coyotes 13-2 during the remainder of the half to pull within 39-30 at the break. Six points by Anna Bomstad, who scored 13 points on the night, keyed the late first half run by the Mavericks.

The Coyotes, who shot over 60 percent in the opening 10 minutes, ended the half 17 of 36 from the field for 47.2 percent. They hit four of 12 three-point baskets and hit their only free throw. Significant in the half was the Coyotes' effort on the boards. South Dakota outrebounded the taller Mavericks, 21-18, including a 7-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Gese led the Coyotes with 10 points in the first half while Frie had eight and Amanda Iverson had seven.

Nebraska-Omaha, who defeated South Dakota (81-76) with a late rally at the DakotaDome on Jan. 6, continued to cut into the Coyote lead early in the second half. UNO scored consecutive baskets to pull within 39-34 at the 18:54 mark. The Coyotes kept their composure and a three-point basket by Koepp moved the lead to 42-34 with 18:00 left in the game. Koepp added a lay-up on the next possession as South Dakota increased the lead to 44-34 (17:18).

The lead stayed between eight and 10 points for the next few minutes, until Gese's lay-up gave the Coyotes a 54-42 lead at the 11:08 mark. But the Mavericks continued to fight back into the game. They received consecutive three-point baskets from Kara Paul and Mitchell to draw within 54-48 with 6:54 left in the game. Again, the Coyotes retained their composure and gradually built the lead. A lay-up by Koepp gave the Coyotes a 59-49 lead with 3:17 left. After a UNO basket by Bomstad, Krista Orsack hit a three-point basket for a 62-51 Coyotes' lead at the 1:57 mark. In the final 1:11, the Coyotes hit eight of 10 free throws to salt away the victory.

While South Dakota did not sustain their shooting in the second half (10-30-33.3 percent), they were able to score at critical times. During the game, the Coyotes hit 27 of 66 field goals for 40.9 percent. Led by Koepp's three, three-point baskets, South Dakota hit seven of 24 three-point baskets for 29.2 percent. They were nine of 12 from the free throw line, including six of six from Gese. Koronkiewicz had a solid game for South Dakota with eight points, four rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal. South Dakota won the rebound battle, 42-40.

UNO had a difficult night shooting from the field. They hit just 21 of 59 field goals for 35.6 percent, including just six of 30 from three-point range. They were six of 10 from the free throw line. Mitchell led the Mavericks with 14 points while Rachel Volnek had nine rebounds.