PHOENIX, Ariz. - The University of South Dakota (3-2) received double figure scoring from five players in an 81-56 win over host Grand Canyon (0-2) at the Grand Canyon Tournament Saturday night.
Senior Kelly Koepp and sophomore Julia Frie each scored 13 points as the Coyotes rebounded from a loss Friday night to Central Oklahoma. Also hitting double figures for the Coyotes were freshman Krista Orsack with 12 points, senior guard Kelly Gese and freshman center Jodi Schroeder with 10 points. Gese had a season-high 11 assists. Alissa Koronkiewicz had her best game of the season by scoring nine points and grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. Koronkiewicz had five offensive rebounds as the Coyotes had 18 as a team.
USD fell behind early when Grand Canyon jumped to a 7-2 lead, following a three-pointer by Erin Epley. But, the Coyotes answered with solid offense and strong defense, going on a 13-2 run to take a 15-9 lead at the 11:54 mark of the first half. USD extended the lead to 22-13 at the 6:18 mark of the opening half when Koepp knocked home a jumper off an assist by Gese. A jumper by sophomore Amanda Iverson gave the Coyotes a 28-15 lead with 4:13 to play in the half. A three-pointer by Epley closed the Coyotes' lead to 39-28 at halftime. The Coyotes shot just 41 percent (16-of-39) in the first half and made just 2-of-12 three-point shots, but held a 26-13 rebound advantage. Gese and Iverson had eight points in the opening half.
A 12-4 run to open the second half gave USD a 51-34 lead with 12:55 to play. LeAnn Rodriques hit a three-point basket to cut the lead to 56-45 at the 9:57 mark but that was as close as Grand Canyon would get for the remainder of the game. The Coyotes opened up a 71-49 lead on a pair of free throws by Frie with 4:53 to play. A jumper and a pair of free throws by Gese and a jumper by Frie moved the Coyotes' advantage to 81-54 with 34 seconds to play.
Overall, USD made 31-of-73 (.425) field goals and hit 14-of-20 (.700) free throws. The Coyotes made 5-of-19 (.260) three-point field goals. Heather Nelson had eight rebounds as USD won the rebound battle 54-32.
Grand Canyon, who received 16 points from Erin Epley, made just 17-of-50 (.340) field goals and was 9-of-19 (.470) from the three-point arc. They made 13-of-22 (.590) free throws.
