VERMILLION, S.D.—Four Coyotes scored in double figures as South Dakota handled Incarnate Word with a 96-43 home opening victory on Sunday in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
"Today was a fun day for Coyote fans!" said USD head coach
Dawn Plitzuweit. "The first-ever volleyball and basketball double-header with both teams playing well in front of our fans was an awesome way for us to kick off the season at home.
"We were very impressed with how well we defended and finished possessions today. It was also good to see us not only share the ball, but take care of the ball so well on the offensive end."
It was a team effort for South Dakota (2-0) with 13 players seeing action and 12 scoring at least a basket. The Coyotes had 52 points off the bench.
Redshirt-sophomore
Hannah Sjerven tallied 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting for her first double-digit game as a Coyote. She added three steals, an assist and a blocked shot.
Junior
Madison McKeever and senior
Allison Arens tallied back-to-back double figure games to start the season. McKeever finished with 12 points and a pair of assists. Arens recorded her 50th career double-digit game and sixth consecutive dating back to last season. She totaled 11 points with a pair of assists and a steal.
Sophomore
Claudia Kunzer made her season debut, narrowly missing a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. She also pitched in three assists and a pair of steals.
Incarnate Word (0-3) wrapped up its three-game road trip to open the season in Vermillion. Junior forward Lunden Henry was the lone Cardinal in double figures with 11 points.
USD led from the tip, jumping out to a 17-point lead in the first quarter and leading 56-20 at the half. The Coyotes shot an impressive 64 percent in the first half, making 21 of their first 33 shot attempts.
South Dakota's defense forced 24 UIW turnovers and the Coyotes capitalized with 33 points off turnovers in the game. The Coyotes also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Cardinals 47-23 and scoring 21 second-chance points.
Junior forward
Taylor Frederick added nine points, making all four of her basket attempts in seven minutes of action. Junior guard
Ciara Duffy scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds. Sophomore guards
Liv Korngable and
Monica Arens also pitched in eight points apiece. Korngable dished out a career high four assists as well.
The Coyotes finished at 49.3 percent (36-of-73) from the floor while holding the Cardinals to 26.1 percent (12-of-46).
"We head back on the road versus a very good opponent in Drake later this week," said Plitzuweit. "We hope to see a lot of red in Des Moines on Thursday night!"
South Dakota hits the road again to face Drake at 6 p.m. Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa.
