VERMILLION, S.D.—Coming off South Dakota's third-straight NCAA Tournament berth, Dawn Plitzuweit's women's basketball team will face another challenging nonconference slate in the 2021-22 season.
 
South Dakota will face foes from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, American, Big East and Missouri Valley. Six of the 10 nonconference foes advanced to the postseason in 2021 – four in the NCAA Tournament and two in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

"Each year we work to compile a nonconference schedule that will prepare our team for Summit League play," said Plitzuweit. "Our goal is to face different styles of play and opponents from multiple conferences. With this year's schedule, we will not only have some tough challenges but tremendous opportunities to grow and improve as a team! We are excited to welcome back our fans with the Sanford Coyote Sports Center operating at full capacity this season and look forward to having a great crowd on November 9th."
 
Several of the marquee nonconference games were previously announced during the summer months – the Paradise Jam tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands with games against Texas A&M, Northwestern and Pitt during Thanksgiving weekend; a Pentagon showcase versus South Carolina on Nov. 12 in Sioux Falls; and hosting Oklahoma in a home opener on Nov. 9.
 
In addition to Oklahoma, the Coyotes' home slate includes Wichita State (Dec. 4), Bradley (Dec. 6), Valparaiso (Dec. 10) and a regional NAIA game against Briar Cliff (Nov. 18).
 
South Dakota took a 4-3 edge in the series against Wichita State after the Coyotes' third straight win last season under Plitzuweit. Bradley is making a return trip from a year ago, with the Coyotes taking the first meeting in the series behind Hannah Sjerven's 31-point, 21-rebound performance. South Dakota owns a 2-0 series lead with Valparaiso after a pair of home-and-home games in 2013 and 2014.
 
The series against regional foes Drake and Creighton resume this season. The Coyotes will make road trips to Drake in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 15 and Creighton in Omaha, Nebraska, on Dec. 16. Under Plitzuweit's tutelage, the Coyotes are 3-0 against Creighton and 1-1 versus Drake.
 
The Summit League slate begins Dec. 20 with a road trip to Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Rivalry match-ups with South Dakota State are slated for Jan. 8 in Vermillion and Feb. 5 in Brookings. The regular season will conclude with senior day against Oral Roberts on Feb. 26.
 
Season tickets for Coyote basketball are on sale now. Fans can purchase a combined men's and women's basketball season ticket for $300 or a women's season ticket for $200. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling (605) 677-5959.