South Dakota and North Dakota tip-off in the semifinals of the Summit League Tournament at 2:30 p.m. Monday inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Game
The Coyotes are repeating the final week of the regular season, facing the North Dakota schools back-to-back for the second-straight week. The Fighting Hawks won their first Summit League Tournament game on Sunday in their first year after moving from the Big Sky. The Coyotes advance to the semifinals for the sixth time in seven years of eligibility. The first two meetings were choppy and physical, with 121 combined fouls and 111 free-throw attempts. Both of these teams rank in the nation's top-25 for free-throws made.

The Coyotes
No. 25 South Dakota (27-4, 14-2 Summit) looks continue one of its most successful seasons in program history, as the Coyotes tied the program record 26 regular season victories. The Coyotes ran past seventh-seeded North Dakota State 74-51 in their tournament opening round matchup. The quartet of sophomore center Hannah Sjerven (20), senior guard Allison Arens (18), junior guard Ciara Duffy (11) and sophomore guard Chloe Lamb (10) each reached double-figures in the victory. All four earned recognition from the Summit League last week, with Arens taking home Defensive Player of the Year and first team honors. Duffy joined her on the first team, while Sjerven and Lamb were honorable mention. Also recognized was USD head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, who was named the Summit League Coach of the Year for the second-straight season. She's one win shy of 80 at South Dakota. As they have done throughout the season, the Coyotes forced 24 Bison turnovers to take an advantage of 20 more field-goal attempts in Saturday's quarterfinal.

The Fighting Hawks
North Dakota (12-18, 6-10 Summit) upset third-seeded Denver 80-67, holding the Pioneers to six points in the final quarter, to advance to the Summit League Tournament semifinals in their first try. The Fighting Hawks had a balanced attack with five players in double-figures, highlighted by senior Faith Dooley's first career double-double. Senior Lexi Klabo, the league's top scorer and rebounder, notched her 29th double-double of the season against the Pioneers. With Klabo, a two-time all-Big Sky forward and now first-team all-Summit League player, UND attacks the rim and the boards, forgoing the 3 to try to get to the line.

The Series
North Dakota leads the all-time series 49-28, although the Coyotes have won the last six straight. South Dakota swept the regular season series, winning 80-50 in Grand Forks and 87-54 at home in Vermillion. South Dakota put four players in double-figures for both meetings.

One Last Thing
Defensive rebounds will be key to Monday's match-up with the Fighting Hawks. The Coyotes pull in nearly 79 percent of opponents' missed shots, good for sixth in the nation (Her Hoops Stats). UND has pulled in 15.5 offensive boards when averaging the first two meetings, nearly doubling the eight per game USD gives up on average.

Mick and John: Summit League Tournament Preview
John Thayer of the Coyote Sports Network and Mick Garry, a special contributor to GoYotes.com, sat down to discuss the Coyote men's and women's basketball teams at the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls. Check out their takes on what to watch for as you head to the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.