VERMILLION, S.D.—An "old" nemesis, Northwest Missouri State, will invade the DakotaDome this Friday evening as the University of South Dakota women's basketball team makes its final appearance prior to a long holiday break. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the Coyote men facing Yankton College at 8 p.m.
The Coyotes and Bearkittens have already met once this year. The Kittens came away with a 73-71 decision at the Capital City Invitational (Des Moines, Iowa) thanks to a Jodi Giles' basket with nine seconds remaining on the game clock. In fact NWMSU (6-3 on the year) has won all three of the meetings in the two-year series. A perennial Region VI power, Northwest has won 71 percent of its games over the past 10 years.
A 91-55 shellacking of South Dakota State last Friday (Dec. 12) raises the Coyotes' record to 6-1. It was also USD's sixth in a row vs. the Jackrabbits.
Deb Petersen led the Coyotes with 25 points and nine rebounds, while playing just 27 minutes.
Karrie Wallen added 14 points (in 17 minutes),
Renee Steeve 13,
Mary Joneson 12 and nine rebounds, and
Jo Haase had 10 points. And senior guard
Gloria Suntken was awarded the game ball during halftime ceremonies in honor of her having become the first Coyote to score 1,000 career points.
South Dakota enters the contest with the Bearkittens as the nation's 18th-best field goal shooting club. The Coyotes are currently hitting 51.5 percent of their floor attempts, as compared to Northwest's 41.4% showing. Individually, Petersen leads the way with a 59.2% mark, followed by Wallen's 58.5;
Pam Olerich, 56.5; Suntken, 53.3; and Steeve, 52.9.
However, Northwest is dangerous at the free throw line, rating 10th in the nation. Additionally, Patty Painter is ranked 20th at the charity stripe and is presently connecting on 90% of her gift tosses.
The matchup promises to be an interesting one. USD's high-powered offense features four double-figure scorers: guards STeeve (18.9 ppg) and Suntken (10.7), 6-4 forward Petersen (14.4) and reserve Wallen (10.3). Junior forward
Jo Haase is close behind with 9.7, followed by
Mary Joneson (8.9). The Coyotes sport an 81.4 scoring average, while Northwest checks in at 74.8 ppg.
Both clubs are pretty much even on the boards (USD at 47.0, NWMS at 46.7). However, the Coyotes have owned an edge the last two times the teams have met. And USD's senior center
Mary Joneson (11.9 rpg) is at her best vs. the Kittens. Joneson snared 20 boards in the last meeting and outrebounded Northwest 28-25 a year ago (when the Kittens were ranked fifth in the nation in rebounding).
"We played a very good all-around game versus State," notes USD coach Mary Zimmerman. "We blocked out well, played well, defensively, and worked the offense. With Northwest we're going to have to play that well to stay with them. We've been waiting for this game since the Thanksgiving Tournament. If we play well and keep them off the boards, we should win.
"We're now at the point where we have eight players that can receive about equal playing time; so we're developing greater bench strength. This should enable us to play a very tough, aggressive defense. But we don't want to commit fouls as Northwest is strong at the line. And we must concentrate on cutting down our turnovers.
"I felt we looked very sharp against State – especially after a 12-day layoff. But that's the type of game you want to have in those circumstances – it's easy to get motivated to play the Jackrabbits. I just hope that the mental strain of finals week won't be a problem for us this Friday."
Friday, Dec. 19 – vs. Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m., The DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
Saturday, Jan. 10 – vs. Iowa State, 6 p.m., The DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
