The SeriesTuesday is the first meeting between the two programs.
The GameThe Coyotes will take on the Fighting Illini inside the newly renovated State Farm Center on Tuesday. Illinois has yet to lose at home this season, while the Coyotes are 3-3 on the road. Both programs have an RPI in the top-100 with Illinois at 30 and South Dakota at 83.
A 6-foot-3 sophomore center for the Illini, Chatrice White leads the way at 18.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Behind her is freshman guard Cierra Rice (No. 1 recruit out of Michigan) at 13.7 ppg and senior guard Kyley Simmons at 12.7 ppg. Simmons has made 26 triples this season, two less than Coyote junior
Caitlin Duffy, to rank 62nd nationally. The Fighting Illini have the 42nd-best scoring offense at 76.4 points per game.
South Dakota ranks in the nation's top-30 for assists, triples, steals, rebounds, and scoring offense. Senior guard
Nicole Seekamp is averaging 14.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.7 steals per game. Senior guard
Tia Hemiller has scored in double figures for nine consecutive games with an average of 11.7 points and team-high 5.6 rebounds per game.
Last Time OutIt took a team effort as Sotuh Dakota defeated former NCC/Great West rival North Dakota 73-70. Five Coyotes (
Nicole Seekamp,
Margaret McCloud,
Kate Liveringhouse,
Kelly Stewart, and
Tia Hemiller) reached double figures, eight grabbed rebounds and nine different players combined for 12 steals to force 23 UND turnovers.
Climbing the Record BooksSenior guard
Nicole Seekamp continues to climb the program record books in several categories. She ranks third for career points (1,624), fourth in assists (461), and is tied for fourth in steals (213). She needs four more steals to tie Ann Pancoast (217) for third.
Senior guard
Tia Hemiller also made her mark on the program Saturday. She became the 20th player in program history to reach 750 points and 500 rebounds. Senior center
Margaret McCloud is the only other active Coyote to have achieved this feat.
Power Five FoesSouth Dakota has won eight of its last nine games. Of the Coyotes four losses this season, three have come against Power Five opponents (Pac-12's Utah and Washington, Big 12's Kansas State). Illinois is the final Power Five foe this season and final opponent before opening Summit League play.
