Parent's Weekend
Friday, Feb. 13 – vs. Southwest State (MN), 8 p.m., The DakotaDome
*Saturday, Feb. 14 – vs. Nebraska, 6 p.m., The DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
 
Friday, Feb. 20 – vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 6 p.m., The DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
*Saturday, Feb. 21 – vs. Minnesota, 6 p.m., The DakotaDome, Vermillion, S.D.
 
*indicates games telecast on South Dakota Public Television beginning at 9 p.m. (delayed broadcast)
 
VERMILLION, S.D.—Looking to break out of a mild slump, the University of South Dakota women's basketball team looks to regain its winning ways this weekend when it returns to the friendly confines of the DakotaDome.
 
South Dakota plays host to Southwest State of Minnesota at 8 p.m. Friday (Feb. 13) and then welcomes Region VI rival Nebraska to the Dome at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The meeting with the Cornhuskers will be telecast by South Dakota Public Television on a delayed basis, beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday evening. Additionally, parents of the Coyote players have been invited to attend both games and will be honored at halftime Saturday for this year's Parents' Weekend festivities.
 
South Dakota brings a 12-5 record into this weekend's play. USD got past St. Cloud State 59-54 before dropping a 77-68 decision to 18th-ranked Minnesota in games last week. The loss to Minnesota was much closer than the final score would indicate. USD had narrowed the margin to 68-70 before the Gophers tallied the game's last seven points in the final 1:51 of play. A USD win would have pushed the club back into first place in the North Section. Instead, the Coyotes (3-2) have slipped to third place behind Minnesota and Drake.
 
Southwest State, 12-6 on the season before a Tuesday outing at Minnesota Duluth, leads the Northern Sun Conference with a 5-1 record. Guard Nancy Trebbensee leads the Pintos with a  12.7 scoring average, while center Mary Becker adds 12.5 points and a team-leading 10.7 rebounds. USD took a 2-1 lead in the series with a 62-51 victory in Marshall two years ago.
 
Nebraska, who defeated the Coyotes 72-60 two weeks ago in Lincoln, carried a 14-7 mark into this week's action. The Huskers host Drake and Missouri before coming to Vermillion. Center Janet Smith (6-2) boasts the number six spot on the national rebounding charts with 13.4 caroms. Smith averages 14.2 points, while 6-0 forward Kathy Hagerstrom leads with 18.1 and guard Ami Beiringer adds 11.9. Nebraska ranks 18th in both scoring and rebounding. UNL has won all four meetings in the series.
 
USD counters with Division I's 16th-best rebounding club. Also, Mary Joneson ranks 12th in that category at 12.6 rpg. However, sophomore forward Deb Petersen, ranked eighth in field goal percentage (61.4%) is expected to remain sidelined for the next two weeks with a hyperextended knee.
 
Coyote starters will be: senior guards Renee Steeve (17.0 ppg, 51 assists, 31 steals) and Gloria Suntken (9.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 87 assists, 37 steals); with Joneson (9.6 ppg), also a senior, at center. Junior Jo Haase (8.7 ppg, 5.1 assists) and sophomore Pam Olerich (7.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 52% FG) are the forwards. Freshman Karrie Wallen (9.8 ppg) and sophomore Carol Finley (2.3, 3.2) will see early action.
 
Next week the Coyotes host Division II power Nebraska-Omaha on Friday and Minnesota on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. both nights.