VERMILLION, S.D.—Freezing rain forced postponement of Sunday's (Dec. 7) University of South Dakota – Creighton women's basketball matchup in Vermillion. The icy rain, which made travel hazardous, caused the Lady Jays' van to slide off the highway and into the ditch. No members of the team were injured. The contest has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, March 3.
 
The postponement means that South Dakota, 5-1 on the year, will have gone 12 days without playing a game when the Coyotes host arch-rival South Dakota State at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. USD's last outing was Nov. 30 when the Coyotes took fifth place in the Capital City Invitational (Des Moines, Iowa) with an 87-72 win over Wisconsin.
 
SDSU will bring a 5-3 record into the contest. The Jackrabbits posted three consecutive victories before suffering an 86-60 setback to powerful Nebraska-Omaha last Saturday.
 
USD has claimed victory in the last five times that they've faced the Jacks. The Coyotes posted a 70-48 win at home one year ago and then added a 74-60 triumph in Brookings.
 
Balance has been the hallmark of Coyote play this season. Senior guard Renee Steeve leads the club in scoring, averaging 19.8 points per game. Additionally, Steeve is connecting on 54.4 percent of her field goal attempts, has 16 assists and 13 steals.
 
At the other guard, senior Gloria Suntken is adding 11.2 points per contest (hitting 52% from the floor), 36 assists and 18 steals. Suntken, USD's all-time scoring leader, became the first Coyote to score 1,000 career points. Her 19 vs. Wisconsin gave her a total of 1,005.
 
Deb Petersen, a 6-4 sophomore forward, totals 12.7 ppg (53% fg, 77.8% ft) and 7.0 rebounds per game. Senior center Mary Joneson adds 8.3 ppg while dominating the boards with a 12.3 average. And junior forward Jo Haase (19 assists) and sophomore Karrie Wallen (57% fg) each contribute 9.3 points.
 
When asked if the layoff would affect the team's play, USD coach Mary Zimmerman answers, "We are bound to be a little rusty. Anytime that you go nearly two weeks without a game you tend to lose some of your sharpness. But, by the same token, we've been able to concentrate on some areas that we need to work on. We're ready to play a game. I think that fact, coupled with the excitement that always surrounds a 'State-U' game will show in our play this weekend."
 
USD will next face Northwest Missouri State in the DakotaDome at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19. The Bearkittens handed the Coyotes their only loss (73-71) earlier this year.
 
Probable Starters
South Dakota
44 – Jo Haase, 9.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg
54 – Deb Petersen, 12.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg
50 – Mary Joneson, 8.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg
32 – Gloria Suntken, 11.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg
24 – Renee Steeve, 19.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg
 
South Dakota State
40 – Tamara Wiedenfeld
24 – Mary Korbel
42 – Cindy Dimmel
14 – Jeanine Retting
32 – Mary LeGrand
 
Friday, Dec. 12 – vs. South Dakota State, 6 p.m., The DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
Friday, Dec. 19 – vs. Northwest Missouri State, 6 p.m., The DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.