WNIT and the PostseasonThe Coyotes are in their sixth consecutive postseason tournament, while this is the Gopher's fifth-straight postseason trip. South Dakota earned the auotmatic berth to the WNIT with a 15-1 Summit League record. The Coyotes advanced to the second round of the tournament after defeating Creighton for the second straight year. Minnesota, one of three Big Ten teams remaining after six qualified for the tournament, knocked off Milwaukee.
The SeriesSouth Dakota and Minnesota have met six times. The Gophers have won all six meetings with five coming prior to the NCAA's recognition of women's basketball in 1981-82. Minnesota won three meetings in 1979-80, including knocking the Coyotes out of the postseason AIAW Region Six Tournament in Lincoln, Neb. The teams have not met since 1986, three decades ago.
Scouting South DakotaSouth Dakota is led by the Summit League Player of the Year
Nicole Seekamp with 16.2 points, 6.1 assists and 2.7 steals per game. She's the only player in the nation to average 16 points, six assists and 2.5 steals per game. All-League Second Team honoree
Tia Hemiller averages 10.7 pionts and a team-high 5.1 rebounds per game. All-League Honorable Mention awardee
Kelly Stewart averages 9.4 points and 4.3 boards per game. Summit League Transfer of the Year
Caitlin Duffy averages 8.4 points per game, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists a game. South Dakota's scoring and rebounding are well-rounded with a deep bench.
Scouting MinnesotaMinnesota is led by Big Ten Player of the Year Rachel Banham, who became the 11th NCAA Division I women's player to score 3,000 career points in the Big Ten Tournament. Banham is averaging 28.3 points per game this season, but scored a WNIT and Williams Arena record 48 points to push the Gophers past Milwaukee. Banham has had three 40-point games this season, tying the NCAA record with 60 points at Northwestern. All-Big Ten Second Team honoree Carlie Wagner has also scored in double figures for all 31 games, averaging 19.0 points per game. The duo combine for more than half of Minnesota's nationally fifth-ranked 83.5 points per game.
A record-setting seasonSouth Dakota broke single-season team records for assists and field goals made in the win over Creighton Wednesday. The Coyotes 587 assists, which ranks seventh nationally, bettered the 564 assists from 2003-04. South Dakota has also made 945 field goals, 12 more than the school record set last season. The Coyotes need 58 points Sunday for a school record points in a season. The NCAA Division II Runner-Up squad from 2007-08 holds that record with 2,650. Additionally,
Nicole Seekamp continues to improve the school record for career starts with 125. TIa Hemiller and
Margaret McCloud have the school record for career games played with 130.
2,000 Point WatchSenior guard
Nicole Seekamp needs 13 points and eight rebounds to be the second player in school history with 2,000 points and 500 rebounds. USD all-time leading scorer and two-time NCAA DII Player of the Year Mandy Koupal (2,142 points, 1,027 rebounds) is the other.
1,000 Point WatchSenior guard
Tia Hemiller needs 19 points to reach 1,000 for her career. WIth 601 rebounds, she would become the 13th player in program history with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. Senior center
Margaret McCloud and junior guard
Jasmine Trimboli both reached 1,000 points at Fort Wayne on Feb. 25.
Down the RoadShould the Coyotes advance past Minnesota, a third-round matchup would be a rematch from the regular season with a game against Northern Iowa. Northern Iowa defeated Nebraska and then Drake to reach the third reound. The Coyotes lost to UNI 64-43 on the road in the second game of the season without Summit League Player of the Year
Nicole Seekamp.
