VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota senior guard
Tia Hemiller put away a career high 22 points as the Coyotes cruised past Dakota Wesleyan 94-54 inside the DakotaDome Thursday night.
South Dakota improves to 7-4 on the season. It was an exhibition game for Dakota Wesleyan (11-1).
Hemiller reached double digit scoring for her eighth straight game and topped her previous career best of 20. She also grabbed a team-high seven boards and had three assists on the night. Hemiller is two rebounds away from becoming the 20th player in program history to record 750 points and 500 rebounds for her career.
Dakota Wesleyan was led by 19 from sophomore forward Ashley Bray. Bray also grabbed seven rebounds for the Tigers. Junior forward Erica Herrold added six buckets for 12 points.
South Dakota went unanswered on an 18-0 run in the first quarter to get up early. Hemiller had seven on the run and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field in the first half.
All 12 Coyotes on the court scored at least a bucket to spread the scoring. Senior center
Margaret McCloud also reached double figures with a season-high 13 points. Junior guard
Jasmine Trimboli added nine more.
Senior guard
Nicole Seekamp scored nine points, stole the ball a career-high seven times, and dished out six assists. Seekamp improves to third in program history with 1,609 career points.
The Coyotes forced 30 Tiger turnovers. South Dakota scored a total 30 points off turnovers with 22 of those in the first half.
South Dakota's bench outscored Dakota Wesleyan's 36-22. The Coyote bench was led by eight from junior forward
Bridget Arens and six from junior center
Abigail Fogg. Arens added six rebounds.
Freshman guard
Allison Arens scored five points and dished out five assists. Senior guard
Heidi Hoff and freshman guard
Jaycee Bradley each had five apiece off the bench as well.
South Dakota also outrebounded Dakota Wesleyan 38-31. The Coyotes scored 11 second-chance points off 11 offensive rebounds.
The Coyotes are on the road for two games to close out the calendar year. South Dakota travels to North Dakota Saturday at 2 p.m. before playing at Illinois next Tuesday at 7 p.m.
