BOZEMAN, Mont. –  In the first ever meeting between South Dakota and Montana State in women's basketball, it was the Bobcats who prevailed in their home court with a 77-46 victory.
 
The Coyotes were led by Grace Larkins and Alexi Hempe. Hempe totaled 14 points, her sixth straight game in double figures. Larkins added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Yotes (3-6). She has now scored in double figures in 11 straight games, including all nine games this season.
 
Carley Duffney added six points and tied her career-high with nine rebounds for South Dakota. Olivia Kieffer scored seven points off the bench. Gabby Wilke scored a new career-high with six points.
 
Both sides started the game slow, going a combined 6-31 from the field as the Bobcats led 10-5 after 10 minutes.
 
The Montana State pressure on the defensive end of the floor wore down on the Coyotes, who continued to struggle to find a way to score in the second quarter. Montana State, meanwhile, caught fire from the field, sinking 10-of-19 shots, including four shots from beyond the arc to open up a 22-point halftime lead.
 
The Bobcats continued to turn defense into offense in the second half to earn their seventh win of the season. The win for the Bobcats was a check in the win column for the Big Sky Conference in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge. The Coyotes are now 1-2 in games that are a part of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge that started last season.
 
The Coyotes are back in action on the home floor Saturday at 11 a.m. South Dakota plays host to Northern Arizona as a part of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge. The game, originally scheduled for 1 p.m., is now at 11 a.m. to allow for the South Dakota football game at 2 p.m. inside the DakotaDome. Fans can show their ticket to the football game to receive a $5 ticket to the women's basketball game.
 
NOTABLES
• South Dakota falls to 3-6 on the season and 0-2 in road games.
• Alexi Hempe led the Coyotes in scoring with 14 points, including the only two made three-pointers for South Dakota.
• It is just the third time in Hempe's career that she's led USD in scoring and the first time this season.
• Larkins extended her streak of 10+ point scoring games to 11 by scoring 11 points.
• She has scored in double figures in all nine games to start the season.
• Gabby Wilke scored a new career high, totaling six points.
• Carley Duffney matched a career best with nine rebounds to go with six points.
• Coral Mason grabbed seven rebounds and matched a career best with three assists.