VERMILLION, S.D.—After extending its record to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the AIAW Region VI North Section with a 78-68 win over Iowa last Saturday (Jan. 17), the University of South Dakota women's basketball team takes a break from section play traveling to Omaha this weekend. South Dakota meets Division II power Nebraska-Omaha at 5:45 p.m. Friday in the UNO Fieldhouse and then faces Creighton in the Omaha Civic Auditorium at noon Saturday.
UNO dropped from fourth to sixth in the latest Division II poll after losing narrow decisions on the road to Division I schools Nebraska and Kansas State. The Lady Mavs currently stand at 13-4. The Lady Mavs rely heavily on the inside game provided by 5-11 senior Barb Hart (21.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg) and 6-6 sophomore (15.1, 10.1). Kriss Edwards, a 5-4 senior guard from Watertown, S.D., quarterbacks the offense and leads in assists (51) and steals (58).
USD will resume sectional activity next Tuesday (Jan. 27), hosting Drake in a key matchup at 8 p.m. Drake stands 13-3 and is a game behind the Coyotes in the section, posting a 2-1 record.
The Bulldogs will enter the contest with ranked among the nation's best in several areas. The Blue and White are third in field goal shooting (52.9 percent), 10th in free throw shooting (72.5%) and sixth in team scoring (86.5 ppg). Individually, 6-3 freshman sensation Lorri Baumann ranks fourth in scoring (25.9) sixth in shooting (63.2%) and 17th at the charity stripe (80.3%). Juniors Jan Krieger (6-0) and Connie Newlin (5-10) are also impressive. Newlin rates second in the nation, dealing 10.8 assists per game; while Krieger is 20
th in rebounding (11.3).
The ladies from Vermillion boast some impressive numbers themselves. The Coyotes are 12th in shooting (49%) and are tied with South Florida for the number 14 rebounding slot (47.9).
Mary Joneson's 12.1 rebound average matches Oregon's Deb Smith for the 13th position. Sophomores
Deb Petersen (61.4%) and
Pam Olerich (59.5%) are seventh and 14th in field goal shooting.
And the Coyotes demonstrate balance. Although
Renee Steeve (17.8) and Petersen (15.0) are the only double-figure scorers, USD boasts seven players averaging eight points or better. And Olerich, given the starting nod the past two weeks, has averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds in those two contests (while connecting 14-19 field goals, 73.7%).
"These are big games for us," notes USD coach Mary Zimmerman. "We're looking forward to them. We've never played well in Omaha and have never beaten Drake. If we maintain our intensity and be aggressive we should be okay. We need to execute what we do best and not change what's been successful."
