VERMILLION, S.D.—One of the toughest Division I women's basketball schedules in the nation has done almost nothing but flatter the University of South Dakota this season.
 
The Coyotes (5-1) knew coming into the season that they were headed for a November that was going to test them.
 
While admirable to seek out severe non-conference challenges as a good way to get ready for a Summit League season, it remains a reality that any coaching staff equipped with cell phones and email addresses can pile up a gauntlet of impressive opponents in November and December.
 
The real trick, as any coach can tell you, is to schedule those kinds of games and then win most of them.
 
That's where the Coyotes are at so far this year. The 5-1 record includes a recent loss to Missouri State, the No. 22 team in the nation, but it also includes wins over Power 5 programs Utah and Missouri and wins over perennial mid-major titans Green Bay and Drake. Green Bay was picked to win the Horizon League and Drake was picked to win the Missouri Valley.
 
The Coyotes made too many shots in a 72-56 win against Missouri last week to continue a streak of incredibly close games. They then missed a few too many in a 74-66 loss to No. 22 Missouri State.
 
Excelling in tight spots remains an unmistakable theme, however, with consecutive single-digit wins over Northeastern and Green Bay followed by overtime wins over Drake and Utah.
 
"I think the coaches do a very good job of preparing our schedule with some harder games earlier in the season," said Monica Arens, whose final-minute contributions amount to another of the season's themes. "Hopefully in March if we get into a situation like that we can have the composure to say 'Yea, we've been here several times.'"
 
As the squad moves into the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout in Las Vegas at the end of this week, USD will be facing Ohio State and Northern Illinois. It's safe to say that, just like the rest of their games so far, the Coyotes will need to put together a strong effort to win either of those contests.
 
With a veteran team with talented players, the Coyotes have the luxury of not worrying too much about developing confidence, as might be the case with a younger team. And apparently, they don't need "breather" games either.
 
"There are a lot of benefits from the (close-game) scenario," said USD coach Dawn Plitzuweit, whose Coyotes were the preseason pick to win a Summit League title. "They know they can play good basketball, play tough, make big plays. We've been in situations where we've been behind and we've been in situations where we've been ahead. I tell the kids it's nice to win a game in regulation. It's a good situation, it takes away some stress."
 
Plitzuweit was alluding to that 14-point win over Missouri. During a normal season it would have been considered memorable history. To get an SEC team to show up in Vermillion was big news to begin with, but then to defeat that team handily?
 
 In 2019-20 it's more a case of been there, done that.
 
The Coyotes will continue to be measured by expectations they themselves created. To date, they've done little to lower anyone's view of the potential for 2019-20, least of all themselves.
 
Ciara Duffy is a senior and officially one of the school's all-time greats as one of only five players in program history to score 1,000 points, grab 500 rebounds and collect 300 assists, but there are six players averaging 8.8 points a game or more. Duffy (17.7) and Arens (15.3) are followed by Chloe Lamb (10.7), Hannah Sjerven (10.7), Madison McKeever (9.8) and Taylor Frederick (8.8) in an attack that makes it difficult to focus on one or two players, even at the end of games.
 
"Their understanding has been great, their poise has been great," Plitzuweit said. "The desire is there and the trust and love for each other has been incredible. It's something we have to continue to build upon."