The Game
No. 21 South Dakota hosts Montana at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion. Sunday will be "Coyote Holiday Hoopla" with Santa in the house, presents, holiday-themed games and Christmas carolers!
 
The Coyotes
No. 21 South Dakota is on pace to match last season's nonconference success with a 10-1 start. The Coyotes have been sharp shooters this season, ranking in the top-10 for both field-goal and 3-point field-goal percentage. Wednesday night the Coyotes shot 66.2 percent from the floor to break the program record. All 13 players made a basket and saw more than a quarter of action on the court. In the last five games, South Dakota has shot better than 52 percent from the field, averaged 21 assists per game and held opponents to an average under 50 points per game. This marks the end of USD's four-game home stand on Abbott Court. The Coyotes boast a 48-4 record inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
The Grizzlies
Montana won its last two games on the road to move to 4-3 on the season. The Grizzlies closed out their last contest, a 63-52 win at Utah Valley, with a 29-9 run. Montana, like the Coyotes, lost just one player to graduation last season. The Griz were picked in the middle of the pack of the Big Sky Preseason Media and Coaches polls, one of four teams to receive a first-place vote in both polls. This season was meant to be a family affair with both of Montana head coach Shannon Schweyen's daughters on the roster. Unfortunately, freshman Shelby Schweyen tore her ACL for the second time in October. The Grizzlies have been hammered with injuries this season, only taking eight healthy players to Utah Valley last week.
 
The Series
This marks the second half of a home-and-home with Montana. The Coyotes won 64-41 in Missoula last November behind 26 points from Ciara Duffy. Madison McKeever joined her in double-figures with 10 points in the game. It was the lone meeting in program history between the two teams.
 
One Last Thing
South Dakota scored an impressive 55 points off turnovers in Wednesday night's win over Mount Marty. The Coyotes jumped more than 100 spots in the national rankings in both steals and turnovers forced after the game.