SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The 23rd-ranked South Dakota Women's Basketball Team moved to 11-1 with a convincing 92-47 win over Upper Iowa (5-5) in nonconference basketball action on Wednesday, Dec. 27 at the Sioux Valley Clinic Basketball Classic at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls.
South Dakota, which won its seventh straight game, used hot shooting and tough defense to build a 44-24 halftime lead and cruise to the win. The Coyotes broke the 90-point mark for the third time this year (all wins) and held its fourth straight opponent to 55 points or less. USD forced Upper Iowa into 19 turnovers and recorded 12 steals while blocking a season-high seven shots. The Coyotes owned a 26-8 advantage in points off turnovers and a 46-22 margin in points in the paint.
The Coyotes improved to 11-0 in games in which they have scored at least 70 points. The last USD team to win seven straight games was the 2003-04 squad. USD's 11-1 start is the best since the Coyotes opened 15-1 in 2003-04.
Junior guard Jeana Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.) and sophomore forward Bridget Yoerger (Hinton, Iowa) led USD with 17 points each. Hoffman, who reached double digits for the seventh time this season, made 6-of-9 field goals and was 3-of-5 from three-point range while dishing out five assists. Yoerger, who reached double figures in scoring for the ninth time (fifth in a row) was 8-of-15 from the field and also had a game-high seven rebounds. USD's Ashley Robinette (South Sioux City, Neb.) also hit double digits in scoring with 10 points. Natalie Carda (Beresford, S.D.) had nine points and a season high three-blocked shots.
Overall, the Coyotes hit 33-of-57 field goals for 57.9 percent, including 8-of-19 from three-point range for 42.1 percent. USD was 18-of-24 from the foul line for 75 percent. The Coyotes also won the rebound battle, 37-32. Upper Iowa, which was led in scoring by Chelsea Peterson with 12 points and six rebounds, hit 31.5 percent from the field on 17-of-54 shooting. The Peacocks made 5-of-16 three-point field goals for 31.3 percent and also hit 8-of-11 from the foul line.
The Coyotes opened up a 13-6 lead at the 14:45 mark of the first half after Maggie Youngberg (Yankton, S.D.) hit a three-point field goal. Later the Coyotes increased the lead to 25-8 after Bjorkman hit a three-point shot at the 11:19 point. Later, Yoerger scored inside for a 29-9 lead the 9:07 mark of the first half. USD's lead grew to 40-16 on consecutive scores by Carda whose inside move gave USD a 24-point lead. The Coyotes led 42-16 when Jenna Hoffman scored at the 4:44 mark of the opening half.
South Dakota's shooting, including from three-point range, was the key to their first-half surge. The Coyotes hit 18-of-30 shots from the field for 60 percent. They also hit 6-of-10 from three-point range for 60 percent. USD was just 2-of-4 four the foul line. Jeana Hoffman had 15 points to lead USD. She made 6-of-7 field goals in the first half and 3-of-4 from three point range. Yoerger had 10 points for USD. Upper Iowa made 9-of-22 field goals for 40.9 percent and were 3-of-5 from three-point range. They also hit 3-of-4 tosses from the charity stripe.
USD continued to build on its half-time lead by taking a 49-24 lead at the 19:09 mark of the second half when Shannon Daly (Groton, S.D.) made a pair of free throws. USD extended the margin to 64-34 when Jenna Hoffman hit a jumper at the 3:41 mark of the second half. USD took a 72-38 lead at the 6:56 mark when Yoerger knocked home a three-point shot. Later, USD extended the lead to 42 points when Kara Iverson (Yankton, S.D.) made a free throw. USD's Anne Doshier (Rapid City, S.D.) hit a three-point shot at the buzzer to close out the scoring and give USD its largest lead of the game at 92-47 (45 points).
Next for the Coyotes is a 1 p.m. game with Dakota State on Thursday, Dec. 28 in the final day of the Sioux Valley Basketball Classic at the Elmen Center.
