South Dakota travels to Denver to conclude a month-long road trip at 8 p.m. (CT) Thursday inside Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver, Colo.

The Game
The Summit League's top defense in South Dakota clashes with the Summit League's top offense in Denver in the Mile High City. Denver's fast-paced offense ranks 15th nationally at 83 points per game. Meanwhile, South Dakota's defense holds opponents to 55 points per game, good for 22nd in the nation.

The Coyotes
South Dakota (13-2, 1-0 Summit) completed the program's best nonconference since the transition to NCAA Division I, including the program's first two wins over AP Top 25 teams. The Coyote offense is incredibly balanced with only junior guard Ciara Duffy averaging double-digits at 13.3 points per game. Six more players average between seven and nine points per game. All seven have been the Coyotes' leading scorer for at least a game during nonconference action. In addition, South Dakota leads the league defensively by giving up just 55 points per game. Although shy of the program record 52 points per game allowed in 2011-12, it marks the third-best scoring defense in program history.

The Pioneers
Denver (8-7, 1-1 Summit) got off to a hot start at 6-1 on the year, but have played seven of their last eight games on the road. The Pioneers make quick use of the court, averaging 83 points per game, while draining the third-most threes in the nation with 151. Denver junior Lauren Loven leads the nation outside the arc having drained 60 3-pointers this year. Her 15.5 points per game pace a balanced Pioneer offense with four players in double figures. The Pioneers are shooting 42.8 percent on the season, but also average 13.3 offensive boards per game. Defensively, the Pioneers have two players (Samantha Romanowski, Madison Nelson) averaging more than a block per game while the team ranks eighth nationally in the category. 

The Series
South Dakota leads the series 11-2. The Coyotes have won the last 11 straight against the Pioneers. The last meeting between the two teams came at Denver on Jan. 27 last season with the Coyotes taking home an 82-60 advantage.

One Last Thing
What a year 2018 was for the Coyote women! South Dakota went 33-4 in the calendar year with a perfect Summit slate, a deep run in the Women's National Invitation Tournament and a solid nonconference record to start this season. Here's to 2019...