VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota sophomore center
Hannah Sjerven recorded her third career double-double, pacing a balanced Coyote attack in South Dakota's 92-49 win over Western Illinois inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Coyotes (19-3, 7-1 Summit) held the Leathernecks (8-13, 4-4 Summit) below 50 points for the first time this season.
"Our young ladies showed incredible toughness and togetherness over this tough four-game stretch and that really showed with the energy we played with today," said USD head coach
Dawn Plitzuweit. "It was really good to see us take quality shots and not only take care of the ball, but share the ball really well!"
USD put five players into double-figures for the fourth time this season. Sjerven led the way with 22 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks off the bench.
Sophomore guard
Chloe Lamb got off to a hot start by knocking down all four field-goal attempts, with three from downtown, in the opening five minutes. She led a Coyote offense that knocked down seven of its first nine shots. Lamb finished with 15 points for the game.
Senior guard
Allison Arens tallied a balanced stat line of 13 points, five assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals. Junior guard
Ciara Duffy added 12 points, a career high eight assists and three rebounds. Junior forward
Taylor Frederick rounded out the group in double figures with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
The Coyotes' balance included nine points from junior guard
Madison McKeever and eight points by sophomore guard
Liv Korngable.
Western Illinois guard Danni Nichols paced the Leathernecks with 16 points, while SDSU transfer Annabel Graettinger joined her in double-figures with 10. The Coyotes held two-time all-Summit pick senior Taylor Higginbotham scoreless for the first time since the middle of her freshman campaign.
South Dakota held Western Illinois scoreless for a seven-minute stretch in the first half by forcing four Leatherneck turnovers and not giving up a second-chance opportunity. The Coyotes jumped out to a 34-11 lead by that point and extended it to 48-18 by the half with a 3-pointer from Arens.
Western Illinois used a quick eight-point run at the start of the third quarter, but after a timeout by Plitzuweit the Coyotes went on their own 11-0 run to lead 59-26 midway through the third quarter.
The Coyotes had 18 unanswered points from the end of the third into the beginning of the fourth that gave USD an 84-38 advantage.
South Dakota's defense held its third-straight opponent at 50 or fewer points. The Leathernecks shot 27.9 percent (17-of-61) for the game, while the Coyotes scored at a 51.4 percent (36-of-70) clip.
Led by Duffy's eight, the Coyotes had 24 assists on 36 made baskets. It marks a season-high for assists in a game versus a Division I opponent.
South Dakota returns to the road next weekend for its sixth Summit road game of the season at Purdue Fort Wayne. Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. (CT) on Saturday in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
