March 15, 2008

Women's Basketball Loses Defensive Struggle to South Dakota

Lopers Season Ends at 27-7

     Kearney, Neb. – The South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball team out shot Nebraska-Kearney 31 to 25 percent to win a second round NCAA Tournament game, 59-48, Saturday night in Vermillion, S.D.

      The top-seed in the North Central Region, USD (30-1) advances to Monday night's championship game where they'll face sixth-seed Minnesota State. The Mavericks beat 7^th-seed Wayne State, 64-62, in tonight's early game.

      UNK finishes 2008 with a 27-7 record. The 27 wins are the second most in school history, coming only behind a 28-3 effort by the 1996-97 team.

      The Lopers averaged well over 70 points on the season but scored 59 or less in three of its last four games. The 48 points tonight is a season low and the fewest since a 70-39 loss at Colorado Mines during the 2006-07 year.

      Making only 15 of 60 shots for the game, UNK was even colder in the second half when it sunk just 6 of 31 shots (19.4 percent). However, South Dakota wasn't much better, making 17 of 53 shots on the night, including a 8 of 26 mark (30.8 percent) after the break. Four of the eight makes were for three points.

      The 'Yotes, as expected, won the three point battle, making seven triples to UNK's one. USD also sunk 18 of 30 free shots compared to the Lopers' 17 of 25 effort at the line. South Dakota also had seven fewer turnovers then Kearney.

      In a rare occurrence against a North Central Conference team, UNK had an advantage in side and out rebounded the home team 55-39. The Lopers grabbed 19 offensive rebounds but they only led to six second chance points.  Mean while, USD scored nine second chance points on 11 offensive caroms.

      Leading from start to finish, but by never more then 14 points, South Dakota held a 40-27 advantage with 16:11 to play. Four straight UNK points narrowed the gap, by the 13:55 mark, but then both teams went cold.

      Over the next seven minutes, only three points were scored between the clubs. The drought ended with two Bridget Yoerger free throws and a three point play from senior Melissa Hinkley (Lincoln East).            

      USD then got three pointers from Jeana Hoffman, Amber Hegge and Shannon Daly in a two minute span to lead 53-40 with 4:18 showing on the clock. UNK wouldn't get closer then eight points the rest of the way.

      In her final game as a Loper, senior forward Amy Mathis had her 11^th double double of the year, scoring 17 points and grabbing 16 rebounds, tying a career-high.

      Her 284 rebounds set a new season record, breaking the mark of 276 by Heather Steffen in 2002-03. Mathis also fell just one point shy of 600 for the season.

      Hinkley also had a double double, her third of the year, by scoring 10 points and grabbing 12 boards. Fittingly for a two-sport star, she played all 40 minutes.

      Also, junior Jade Meads had seven points and seven rebounds (four offensive) and sophomore Megan Becker had nine points and eight rebounds before fouling out.

      South Dakota was led by Hoffman, who scored 17 points thanks to 4 of 8 three point shooting. Daly and Hegge, a reserve, each reached the 12 point mark. Finally, Yoerger had nine points and a team-best nine rebounds.