VERMILLION, S.D.—By virtue of a 73-66 victory last Saturday (Jan. 10 over Iowa State, the University of South Dakota women's basketball team retained sole possession of first place in the North Section of the AIAW Region Six.
 
USD's 2-0 record in section play (8-1 overall) keeps the Coyotes a half-game ahead of Drake and Minnesota (both 2-1), while Iowa and Iowa State (each 1-3) are two games back. The race will no tbe decided until season's end, as the Coyotes play four of the section's final six ballgames.
 
South Dakota will try to hold onto its lead this Saturday, Jan. 19, when it hosts Iowa at 6 p.m. in the DakotaDome. USD defeated the Hawkeyes earlier this year, 75-72, in Iowa City. However, Iowa (6-10 this season) has shown steady improvement throughout recent weeks. And the Hawks are deadly at the free throw line, ranking first in the nation with a 78.4 percent mark.
 
Iowa boasts four starters in double figures. Freshman guard Robin Anderson (Clear Lake, SD) leads the way with 17.4 per game. She led the club in scoring in seven consecutive games this year. Lisa Anderson, another freshman guard, averages 12.2 each game and was an all-tournament choice at the Lady Griz Insurance Classic in Missoula, MT. Juniors Kim Howard and Melinda Hippen average 15.4 and 14.2, respectively. Howard is Iowa's leading rebounder with 6.4 per game. Hippen is fourth in the nation in free throw shooting, connecting on 87.1 percent of her attempts.
 
USD will counter the Iowa attack with the nation's fourth-leading field goal shooting team (50.2% as of the last rankings). Additionally, sophomore forwards Deb Petersen and Pam Olerich have the fifth and ninth best floor percentages in the land (61.4% and 59.5%, respectively). Petersen averages 15 points and 8.3 rebounds. Olerich, who got the starting nod over the ailing Petersen last week, totaled 14 points and eight boards against the Cyclones. Last year she led USD with 18 points vs. Iowa.
 
Senior center Mary Joneson was ranked 10th in rebounding and figures to move up after improving her average to 12.1 (from 11.6). She is adding 9.6 points per game and has totaled 13 blocked shots. Guard Gloria Suntken is in the top 12 in assists, dishing out 5.4 per game. She adds 9.7 points, 4.7 caroms and 20 steals. Renee Steeve leads the club with a 17.7 scoring average and 21 steals.
 
Next week the Coyotes take to the road. USD meets Nebraska-Omaha on Friday and faces Creighton Saturday. Both contests are in Omaha.
 
 
Probable Starters
South Dakota (8-1)
44 – Jo Haase, 8.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg
54 – Deb Petersen, 15.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg
50 – Mary Joneson, 9.6 ppg, 12.1 rpg
32 – Gloria Suntken, 9.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg
24 – Renee Steeve, 17.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg
 
Iowa (6-10)
40 – Jane Heilskov, 8.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg
33 – Melinda Hippen, 14.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg
32 – Kim Howard, 15.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg
23 – Robin Anderson, 17.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg
22 – Lisa Anderson, 12.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg
 
Saturday, Jan. 17 – vs. Iowa, 6 p.m., The DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
Friday, Jan. 23 – at Nebraska-Omaha, 5:45 p.m., UNO Fieldhouse, Omaha, Neb.
Saturday, Jan. 24 – at Creighton, 12:00 p.m., Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Neb.