Fri.-Sun., March 13-15 – at Region VI Tournament, Williams Arena, Minneapolis, Minn.
Region VI First Round:
1 p.m. #8 South Dakota vs. #1 Kansas
3 p.m. #5 Kansas State vs. #4 Drake
7 p.m. #6 Nebraska vs. #3 Missouri
9 p.m. #7 Wichita State vs. #2 Minnesota
 
VERMILLION, S.D.—When the University of South Dakota women's basketball team takes the floor against top-seeded Kansas (at 1 p.m. this Friday, March 13), in the opening round of the AIAW Region Six Basketball Tournament in Minneapolis, Minn., the Coyotes will, without question, face the stiffest challenge in the history of the USD program.
 
Not only are the Jayhawks heavy favored to win the tourney, they are rated fourth nationally in the most recent Associated Press poll, boasting a 24-4 mark. Of those four losses, one was a narrow upset at Detroit. Another was a 75-72 decision to top-ranked Louisiana Tech at a tournament in New York. In that same tourney, Kansas suffered a 73-72 setback to Long Beach State, the nation's number two club. Long Beach also dealth the only other KU defeat, a 90-77 verdict in California. KU ranks 10th in scoring (82.4 ppg) and eighth in field-goal shooting (50.5%).
 
Additionally, Kansas features Lynette Woodard – acclaimed by many as the finest player in the history of the game. The 6-0 senior plays both guard and forward. She leads her club in scoring (24.9 ppg, ranking eighth in the nation), assists (5.5, seventh nationally), and steals (5.1, second nationally) and averages 9.5 rebounds. She has won national titles in all of these categories at various times in her career.
 
As if that wasn't enough, Kansas presents a balanced attach that is long on speed on height. Shebra Legrant, a 5-11 senior with a 29-inch vertical jump, contributes 17.5 points, while connecting on 57 percent of her field goals – the nation's 17th best accuracy mark. At the other forward, 6-0 freshman Tracy Claxton battles for 11.7 rebounds and averages 13.8 points. Amidst all this talent 6-2 sophomore pivot Megan Scott almost goes unnoticed. Yet she averages a solid 10.2 points and 5.2 boards. Coach Marian Washington rotates several quick, unselfish players at the point guard.
 
Two years ago, after playing a predominantly small school schedule, South Dakota gained a berth in the then large college region six meet, but lost to Missouri in the first round. In the ensuing two years, coach Mary Zimmerman has beefed up the schedule considerably. And, despite the rapid transition, the Coyotes have fared quite well. This season, for example, better than three-fourths of USD's foes were Division I schools. The Coyotes were 12-7 versus that competition for a fine 63.2 winning percentage.
 
USD enters the contest with an overall record of 16-9 (just one victory shy of the school record). In recent weeks the Coyotes have been led by "something new" and "something old".
 
The "old" is 5-8 senior guard Gloria Suntken (10.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg) recognized as USD's most talented player ever since her first game as a freshman. Although she played in the offense court in Iowa's 3-on-3 half-court game in high school, she quickly gained a reputation as an outstanding defender at the collegiate level. Suntken has enhanced that reputation in each successive campaign.
 
She is no slouch on offense either. Earlier this season she quietly etched her name in the Coyote record book as USD's career scoring leader (1,202 points to date). Suntken has led USD in scoring in three of the last six outings. And, despite playing guard, she ranks second in the career rebounding charts (653) and has led the Coyotes in that department the last two games. Additionally, she owns virtually all of USD's assist records. At last report, she ranked 13th in the nation with a 5.3 assist average.
 
The "new" is 5-9 freshman Karrie Wallen. A tremendously versatile athlete (she has played wing guard, wing forward, and low post this year), Wallen appears to be South Dakota's player of the future. Recognized as one of the finest all-around talents in the Midwest last year, Wallen was recruited by well over 100 institutions (including the likes of Old Dominion).
 
She has led her teammates in scoring in four of the past seven games, and in three of the last five outings, has been the top rebounder. She is the team's second-leading scorer (11.3) and rebounder (5.5) despite starting in only the most recent four games.
 
Others expected to join Suntken and Wallen in the starting lineup this weekend include: Jo Haase, Mary Joneson, Renee Steeve.
 
A 6-0 senior center, Joneson leads the club in rebounding (10.4) and blocked shots (21) while averaging 9.8 points. The owner of virtually every USD rebounding record, Joneson has been ranked among the nation's top rebounders all season (17th at last report).
 
Steeve is the Coyotes point guard and has been the leading scorer since the opening game of the season. She is now averaging 14.4 points and has 66 assists and 43 steals. Although listed as a senior, she will return next year to complete her eligibility.
 
Haase, a 5-8 junior forward, averages 9.2 points and 5.0 boards. She is second on the team in assists with 75 and 37 steals. Both she and Steeve have shown marked improvement on defense this year.
 
"We have to regroup after our loss at Kansas State Friday night and hopefully we'll be able to come up with a better performance in the first round of the Regional Tournament against Kansas University," states USD coach Mary Zimmerman. "KU is presently ranked fourth in the nation and they will undoubtedly be the best team we have faced yet. In our opinion, they have the best female basketball player in the nation in Lynette Woodard.
 
"We're just so very excited to be participating in the regionals this year and I'm just so hopeful that we'll peak during this tournament."
 
In other first-round action Friday: fourth-seeded Drake meets Kansas State at 3 p.m.; Missouri, seeded third, faces Nebraska in a 7 p.m. battle between the co-champions of the Central Section; and Minnesota, seeded second and ranked 15th in the nation, squares off against Wichita State at 9 p.m.
 
Winners in the opening round play two more games, while teams suffering a loss are eliminated. Action continues at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.