VERMILLION, S.D. – The South Dakota women's basketball closed the 2024 portion of the schedule with a 75-31 win over South Dakota Mines Friday night inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
Grace Larkins led the Coyotes again Friday night, pouring in 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting, adding eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. Olivia Kieffer added 15 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Carley Duffney added 12 points and six rebounds. Coral Mason made a difference on the glass, grabbing seven rebounds.
 
South Dakota's defense made things tough for South Dakota Mines Friday night, holding the Hardrockers to less than 10 points in each quarter. South Dakota Mines shot 19.7% from the field and 12% from three in the game and turned the ball over 17 times. No Hardrocker scored in double figures.
 
South Dakota's longest scoring run was an 11-0 spurt in the third quarter as a 20-point halftime advantage ballooned to 40 after three quarters. South Dakota, the Summit League's leader in fewest turnovers and fouls per game finished below its average in both categories, recording just six turnovers and 10 fouls.
 
Despite 15 offensive rebounds for South Dakota Mines, the Coyotes only allowed seven second chance points, and USD outscored the Hardrockers 20-0 off turnovers and 44-14 in the paint.
 
The Coyotes (6-8) now turn their attention to conference play, starting with a pair of road games at Denver on Jan. 2 and Oral Roberts on Jan. 4.
 
NOTABLES
• The Coyotes improve to 6-8 on the season and 5-3 at home.
• South Dakota is now 2-0 against in-state foe South Dakota Mines.
• USD moves to 4-1 when scoring 70-79 points.
• Larkins scored over 20 points for the eighth time this season.
• Larkins is now tied for 9^th in USD history with 721 rebounds, matching Amy Heller's career total.
• Kieffer finished one point shy of a career-high, scoring 15 in 18 minutes.
• Duffney was back in double figures, totaling 12 points and adding six boards.
• Addison Klosterbuer played 14 minutes, making a three-pointer and grabbing three rebounds on her birthday.
• The 28 points in the third quarter is the most in a single quarter for USD this season.
• The six turnovers for the Coyotes are the fewest in a game this season.
• The seven points in the first and fourth quarters from South Dakota Mines is the fewest South Dakota has allowed in a quarter this season.