South Dakota travels to South Dakota State for another South Dakota Showdown Series meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Frost Arena in Brookings.
The Game
It's the battle for the top spot in the Summit League standings on Thursday as the league's only two remaining undefeated teams face off.
The Coyotes
South Dakota (15-5, 6-0 Summit) completes its first half of the league slate on Thursday. The Coyotes enter the game with a nine-game winning streak (seventh nationally) and four-game road winning streak. This season's defensive mentality has the Coyotes allowing opponents a league-best 58 points per game. South Dakota's frontcourt includes a well-rounded offense that averages 73 points per game while shooting at a league-best 46 percent clip. USD's trio of returning starters in junior guard
Allison Arens, sophomore guard
Ciara Duffy and junior guard
Jaycee Bradley pace the team in double figures again this year.
The Jackrabbits
South Dakota State (16-4, 5-0 Summit) was the favorite in the Summit League Preseason Poll and the only team with three players on the Summit's preseason first team. Those players include junior guard Macy Miller (18.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.9 apg), junior guard Madison Guebert (15 ppg, 2.4 apg) and senior forward Ellie Thompson (6.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg). The Jackrabbits' biggest loss from last season was the graduation of two-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Clarissa Ober who anchored the Jacks inside. Miller has been the center of the Jackrabbit offense, taking a fifth of the team's shots and making them at a 50.2 percent clip. In nonconference action, the Jackrabbits only fell to No. 4 Louisville by four points, 68-64, in Frost.
The Series
It's the 83rd meeting between the Coyotes and the Jackrabbits in women's basketball history. South Dakota has taken three of the last five meetings, while South Dakota State leads the series 55-27.
One Last Thing
The key for the Coyotes of late has been their ability to score both inside and out. Through the first six games of league play, the Coyotes have averaged nearly 10 made 3-pointers while also outscoring opponents 194-118 in the paint.
