South Dakota has played its best basketball of the season in its first three home games of Summit League play and will try to ride that momentum Saturday in a 1 p.m. tip against North Dakota State inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
The Coyotes (8-8, 4-1 Summit) have won 20 of 21 against the Bison (9-5, 3-1) dating back to 2013 and have won 43 consecutive home games against Summit League opponents. But the Bison are out to prove they can contend for the conference crown and are eager to atone for Thursday's clunker at South Dakota State.
 
How to watch
A free web stream is available on GoYotes.com/watch.
 
How to listen
Carter Woodiel from the Coyote Sports Network is providing a broadcast for KVTK 101.5 FM/1570 AM in Yankton/Vermillion. You can listen to the broadcast here.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota had another starter sit out Thursday in Jeniah Ugofsky, yet the Coyotes with nine healthy bodies rallied together to score a big win against North Dakota. Grace Larkins filled the stat sheet once more, but five Coyotes scored in double figures. South Dakota made 11 three-pointers and have averaged nine per game at home this season.
 
Freshman Walker Demers earned her first collegiate start in place of Ugofsky Thursday. She is the team's second-leading scorer through five Summit games. Seven Coyotes are averaging 6-10 points per game behind Larkins' 19.
 
The Bison
North Dakota featured the Summit's top scorer in Kacie Borowicz. North Dakota State is led by another talented guard in senior Heaven Hamling, a terrific three-point shooter and defender. Hamling almost single-handedly beat South Dakota two years ago when she hit eight 3-pointers and scored 30 points in an 82-81 loss in Vermillion. She is aided this season by two returners and four new players, one of which is true freshman Elle Evans, an opening day starter for the Bison and the team's second-leading scorer.
 
Coach Jory Collins is in year four at NDSU. The Bison are coming off a seemingly disappointing season for a team expected to contend last year with USD and SDSU. Six wins this November highlighted by a win at Minnesota certainly set a new tone, but the Bison opened December with four straight road defeats. They returned home for easy wins against Western Illinois and St. Thomas and had a comeback win against North Dakota last week. South Dakota State jumped out to a 23-3 lead Thursday and didn't look back.