VERMILLION, S.D.—The University of South Dakota women's basketball team faces an important early-season road trip this weekend (Fri. and Sat., Nov. 21-22) when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa, to face the Hawkeyes at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Coyotes then head to South Bend, Ind., to meet the Fighting Irish on Saturday at 4 p.m. South Dakota time.
 
"Even though these games are so early in the season, they are very important to us," explains USD coach Mary Zimmerman. "In order for us to be successful, we must demonstrate the ability to win on the road."
 
South Dakota, fielding its most experienced ballclub ever, will encounter a pair of young, but talented, teams this weekend.
 
Iowa, 15-14 a year ago, will start just one senior, along with two juniors and a pair of freshmen. Guard Robin Anderson (Clear Lake, S.D.) got her career off to a big start, leading the Hawks with 21 points and nine rebounds in Iowa's 82-62 opening loss to Texas. The Coyotes will see double in the backcourt as another hot-shooting rookie, Lisa Anderson (eleven points) is the likely starter.
 
Melinda Hippen (6-0) provides the frontcourt scoring punch. Hippen, who earned junior college All-America recognition last season, poured in 14 points against Texas. Kim Howard (5-11, 11 points, 8 rebounds) is another rugged frontliner. A fine shooting team, Iowa connected on 22 of 26 free throws against last year's seventh-ranked Longhorns.
 
Iowa won the only previous meeting between the two schools, taking a 70-48 decision last year in Vermillion. In that meeting, Pam Olerich came off the bench to net 18 points and seven rebounds for the Coyotes.
 
USD notched a 76-61 victory over Notre Dame a year ago. The Irish posted a 20-10 campaign, en route to a berth in the Division II National Tourney. With five letterwinners returning, UND should be even stronger this year.
 
Shari Matvey, a 6-1 sophomore, led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 17.6 and 10.2, respectively. Other key returnees include Tricia McManus (8.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Melissa Conboy (6.5, 3.8) and team captain Maggie Lally (6.2 ppg), a 5-1 guard.
 
The Irish will compete at the Division I level this season. The arrival of new head coach Mary DiStanislao brings additional optimism to their camp. DiStanislao guided Northwestern (Ill.) through a 24-5 season last year and the Big Ten title the last two seasons.
 
South Dakota will rely heavily on veteran guards Renee Steeve (5-4) and Gloria Suntken (5-8). Steeve led the club in scoring a year ago with a 13.7 average. Suntken, (9.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg), an All-America candidate, needs just 15 points to become the school's all-time scoring leader. Additionally, both are standout performers on defense.
 
USD also features 6-0 senior Mary Joneson (8.6, 9.6), the Coyotes' all-time leading rebounder at center and sophomore forward Deb Petersen – at 6-4, the tallest Coyote ever. Petersen experienced a sensational rookie season, averaging 10.4 points and 7.0 rebounds last year. Junior Jo Haase (5-8, 7.0, 5.3) provides experience and outside scoring punch at the other forward.
 
Sophomores Pam Olerich (6-3) and Carol Finley (6-2) provide USD tremendous frontline depth and should see considerable action. And 5-9 freshman Karrie Wallen, the Coyotes' top recruit, will also get playing time at either guard or forward. Wallen, who scored 209 points in four games at the Iowa State Tournament last year, was recruited by over 100 schools, including defending national champion Old Dominion.
 
"I'm looking forward to this road trip," said coach Zimmerman. "These early tests will give an indication of what kind of season we can expect. Our height and experience should prove to be definite advantages against both Iowa and Notre Dame.
 
"Again, we must play well. If we can maintain our intensity throughout these games we can get off to a fast start, providing us momentum going into the Thanksgiving tournament."
 
The Coyotes next action will be against Northwest Missouri State in the first round of the Capital City Invitational in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 28.
 
KBCM radio (95.5 FM) in Sioux City, Iowa, the station that originates Coyote football broadcasts, will air the Iowa and Notre Dame contests.
 
 
Probable Starters (1979-80 stats)
South Dakota
Forward – 44 – Jo Haase, 7.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg
Forward – 54 – Deb Petersen, 10.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Center – 50 – Mary Joneson, 8.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg
Guard – 32 – Gloria Suntken, 9.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg
Guard – 24 – Renee Steeve, 13.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg
 
Iowa
Forward – 32 – Kim Howard, 11.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg
Forward – 40 – Melinda Hippen, 14.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Center – 33 – Jame Heilskov, 2.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Guard – 22 – Lisa Anderson, 11.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Guard – 23 – Robin Anderson, 21.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg
 
Notre Dame
Forward – 11 – Tricia McManus, 8.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Forward – 13 – Melissa Conboy, 6.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Center – 25 – Shari Matvey, 17.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg
Guard – 14 – Sheila Liescher, 3.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg
Guard – 10 – Maggie Lally, 6.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg
 
Friday, Nov. 21 – at Iowa, 7:30 p.m., Iowa Field House, Iowa City, Iowa
Saturday, Nov. 22 – at Notre Dame, 4 p.m. (CST), Atheltic Convocation Center, South Bend, Ind.