South Dakota takes on Omaha at noon Saturday inside Baxter Arena in Omaha, Nebraska. It marks the Coyotes' first game in a week after a snowstorm rearranged the schedule by moving Thursday's contest at Denver to Monday.
 
South Dakota boasts a 10-game win streak against Omaha and has won 25 of 27 contests against the Mavericks dating back to the Division II era. But these teams enter play with near identical records and with South Dakota down to possibly nine healthy bodies. Senior leader Jeniah Ugofsky missed her second game last week with a nagging injury, adding to a list of ailments that have plagued the squad all season.
 
How to Watch
Omaha offers a free stream on its website: omavs.com/watch.
 
How to Listen
Carter Woodiel from the Coyote Sports Network is providing a radio broadcast that will be carried on KVTK 101.5 FM and 1570 AM in Yankton/Vermillion. A link to that broadcast is here.
 
The Coyotes
This will be South Dakota's first appearance following a tough loss at rival-South Dakota State last weekend in Brookings and it comes as Omaha played that same Jackrabbit team to a seven-point decision Thursday.
 
True freshman Walker Demers is expected to make her third start if Ugofsky can't go and her task is a tall one, literally. Fifth-year senior Elena Pilakouta stands 6-foot-3 for Omaha and is the reigning Summit League Player of the Week. She is also shooting a remarkable 60 percent from the field this season. USD is down three post players, making a team defensive effort essential.
 
Grace Larkins missed much of the last game due to foul trouble and USD wasn't able to replace her production. She leads the Coyotes in nearly every statistical category and ranks in the top five of the Summit in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Alexi Hempe is the team's second-leading scorer behind Larkins at 8.5 points per game.
 
The Mavericks
Omaha advanced to the Summit League title game as an eight seed in coach Carrie Banks' first season two years ago. That team ultimately lost to USD in the final. The Mavericks missed the tournament last year and Banks is working to get her team back to Sioux Falls and, at 4-4, is well on her way.
 
Pilakouta is having a wonderful season. Sophomores Kennedi Grant, Grace Cave and Morgann Gardner are working to change the trajectory at UNO and Florida Gulf Coast transfer Aaliyah Stanley has made an instant impact.
 
UNO has been up and down in terms of wins and losses. A 64-point loss to Nebraska in the season opener followed by an impressive win against Wichita State is a prime example. They led SDSU at the half Thursday before falling 68-61. The Mavericks are one of the top free-throw shooting teams at 78 percent.