VERMILLION, S.D. -- Sophomore
Janielle Bryan recorded her first career double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the South Dakota Women's Basketball Team (9-2) to a 87-59 win over Sioux Falls (7-6) in nonconference action on Wednesday at the DakotaDome.
Bryan of Bellevue, Neb., made 6-of-8 field goals and scored a career-best 14 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds and picking up three steals to lead USD to its' sixth straight win. For the third straight game, USD held an opponent to 60 points or less. USD improved to 8-1 in its' overall series against Sioux Falls. For the second straight game, USD scored 87 points.
Several Coyotes had strong performances against Sioux Falls, including freshman forward Bridget Yoerger of Hinton, Iowa. Yoerger made 8-of-15 field goals and scored 16 points while hauling down six rebounds in 23 minutes of work. Junior forward Vanessa Yanez of Wagner, S.D., also had 16 points for South Dakota. Yanez hit 4-of-10 shots from three-point range and now has 119 career three-point field goals. Senior point guard Meghan Woster of Sioux Falls, S.D., had 10 assists, eight points and four rebounds in a solid all-around game. Woster reached double digits in assists for the third straight game and fifth overall time this season.
Overall, South Dakota hit 35-of-72 field goals for 48.6 percent, but made just 7-of-27 three-point shots for 25.9 percent. The Coyotes converted 10-of-14 free throws for 71.4 percent.
Early on, both teams traded baskets before a lay-up by Ashley Robinette (South Sioux City, Neb.) provided USD with a 13-9 advantage at the 13:09 mark of the first-half. Later, Bryan knocked down a pair of foul shots to give USD a 28-20 lead at the 7:31 mark. A three-pointer by Ashley Bjorkman (Vermillion, S.D.) built USD's lead to 33-20 at the 5:32 mark of the first half. USF cut the lead to 42-34 with 48 seconds left, before Yoerger scored on a lay-up off an assist from Bryan just before halftime. The Coyotes led USF, 44-34, at the break. Both Yoerger and Bryan had 12 first-half points for the Coyotes.
Robinette, who scored 11 points and had five rebounds, hit a jump shot to help USD build a 58-41 lead with 12:52 to play in the game. Later, junior forward Erica Schroeder (Miller, S.D.) hit a jumper to give the Coyotes a 70-49 lead at the 7:06 mark of the second-half. At the 1:41 mark, Yanez hit a three-point basket to give the Coyotes an 84-54 advantage and its' biggest lead of the game.
USF was led by Morgan Campbell, who scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds. Kristen Klaasen also reached double figures with 11 points. Overall, the Cougars made 20-of-58 field goals for 34.5 percent and hit 9-of-29 three-point field goals for 31 percent. USF made 10-of-14 free throws for 71.4 percent. The Cougars also won the rebound battle with a 43-39 advantage over USD.
Next for the Coyotes will be a home game with Mount Marty at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18 at the DakotaDome.