MACOMB, Ill.—South Dakota senior guard Kelly Stewart scored a career high 19 points with four teammates in double figures as the Coyotes defeated Western Illinois 102-77 Wednesday night inside Western Hall.
 
South Dakota (16-5, 7-1 Summit) reached triple-digits inside Western Hall for the second consecutive season. With Oral Roberts' loss to South Dakota State in Tulsa tonight, the Coyotes and the Jackrabbits are the two remaining teams tied for first in Summit League standings.
 
"One reason why Western Illinois is tough to guard and why they have a high-powered offense is how their tremendous shooters on the floor truly space out the defense," head coach Amy Williams commented. "They have great penetration that defenders have to contain on their own because the usual help defense is locked up to shooters."
 
Western Illinois (11-10, 4-4 Summit) had four players reach double digits in the high-scoring contest. The Leathernecks were paced by guard Michelle Maher's 18 points and seven assists. Maher scored nine on Western Illinois' 16-5 run closing the Coyotes' lead to one at the beginning of the second quarter.
 
The Coyotes answered the Leathernecks' run with a 26-8 run of their own to take a 50-34 halftime lead. Seven Coyotes scored during the run led by six points from Stewart. Stewart's career high night came on 5-of-12 shooting from the field with 7-of-7 on the free-throw line. Stewart added seven rebounds and three assists.
 
Senior guard Nicole Seekamp recorded her eighth career double-double with 18 points and 10 assists, while also grabbing five rebounds. She made 4-of-4 from the free throw line for 18 straight.
 
Junior guard Caitlin Duffy scored 12 points in the second half to finish with 14, while also grabbing six boards. Senior guard Tia Hemiller and sophomore center Kate Liveringhouse each finished with 12 points. It was a season-best for Liveringhouse, who shot 5-of-7 from the field.
 
Continuing to improve in league play, junior guard Abigail Fogg scored a career high nine points and grabbed a career high four rebounds. Fogg also had one of the Coyotes' two blocks.
 
"I'm incredibly proud of how hard Abi has been playing," Williams said. "She's been playing well and affecting the game on both ends of the court. We have seen her confidence climb up the ladder and having that added depth inside will be beneficial for us down the stretch here."
 
The Leathernecks' leading scorer at 14.4 points per game, forward Sophie Reichelt was held scoreless in the first half. Reichelt's first field goal came with 3:20 remaining in the third quarter. She would finish with 10 points and seven rebounds. Leatherneck guard Taylor McClintock had a career night with 17 points, while guard Taylor Higginbotham added 12.
 
South Dakota shot 50.7 percent (37-of-73) from the field after a stellar 60 percent (18-of-30) start in the first half. Western Illinois was 38.6 percent (22-of-57) from the field.
 
The Coyotes dominated the boards, outrebounding the Leathernecks 51-25. South Dakota also had 42 points in the paint and 25 second-chance points.
 
South Dakota returns to the DakotaDome Saturday to host North Dakota State at 4:30 p.m. for the second-half of Summit League play.