VERMILLION, S.D.-- Host South Dakota shrugged off a nine-point halftime deficit in a 86-81 defeat of visiting North Dakota Sunday afternoon at the DakotaDome in non-conference action. USD's Raeshel Contreras scored a game-high 29 points for the Coyotes.

Each team held leads of at least nine in a matchup of defending conference champions from their respective leagues. South Dakota (9-2) took the early advantage, running off 10 straight points to take a quick 10-2 edge.

That lead grew to nine and North Dakota (8-4) muscled it back to two on several different occasions in the first half. It finally regained the lead on a triple from Makailah Dyer, one of five threes that UND made in the opening period in as many attempts. USD answered with another bucket but a Mia Loyd layup and another Dyer three swung the momentum right back to the visitors.

The key stretch before halftime was a trip that saw a pair of fouls and a technical on the same play, giving UND four free throws. North Dakota would make three of the four and Megan Lauck would hit two more on the ensuing possession to make it essentially a five-point trip. Dyer scored the final basket of the half, driving with a scoop shot and scoring while falling for a 46-37 advantage at the break.

In the second stanza, South Dakota scored the first six points of the frame but UND immediately had an answer. Emily Evers, playing in her first contest after an injury in the Dec. 10 game against Minnesota, scored eight of UND's first 10 points of the half to put the lead back at nine.

Another 10-0 Coyote run briefly gave the hosts the lead back to set the stage for a thrilling finish. Loyd followed up a Kate Liveringhouse layup for a 58-57 lead, but it would prove to be UND's final lead of the ballgame. Tia Hemiller and Kelly Stewart scored fastbreak buckets for a four-point lead midway through the second period.

North Dakota got it within two on a handful of different occasions, including a pair of free throw makes by Dyer for a 79-77 score with 1:50 remaining. Later, with the lead at five, Dyer hit huge three to make it 82-80 with just under a minute to go.

Hemiller missed a jumper early in the shot clock on the next trip and Loyd grabbed a rebound and was promptly fouled. She split the pair from the line and Contreras broke free for a transition basket to help give South Dakota the win to preserve its flawless mark at home this season (6-0).

Dyer finished with 23 points, part of four UND players in double figures. Loyd charted her fifth straight double-double with Megan Lauck adding 15 and Emily Evers 10 for North Dakota (8-4).

North Dakota will open Big Sky Conference play next Thursday, Jan. 1 with a home tilt against Montana State.