The Game

South Dakota women's basketball hosts UC Riverside for a first-round game in the Women's National Invitation Tournament at 7 p.m. Friday inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
 
The game will be live streamed on the Summit League Network available via the Midco Sports Plus app. Fans can also tune into the game on the Coyote Sports Network with Jerry Palleschi on KVHT 106.3 in Yankton/Vermillion or by using the Varsity Network app.
 

The Coyotes

South Dakota (21-12) finished fourth in the Summit League standings in head coach Kayla Karius' second season at the helm. Junior guard Grace Larkins, a two-time all-Summit League first team selection, leads the Coyotes in scoring, rebounding and assists. She's averaging 16.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
 
South Dakota is making its 13th postseason appearance in the last 14 years. This is USD's sixth trip to the Women's National Invitation Tournament, winning it all in 2016. The Coyotes own a 12-4 overall record in the tournament.
 

The Highlanders

UC Riverside (18-13) finished third in the Big West Conference this season after being picked 10th in the preseason poll. The Highlanders are led by two-time all-Big West guard Jordan Webster's 17 points per game. Senior forward Mateyah Bryant joins her in double-figures with 12 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. In the postseason awards, Bryant was recognized with all-Big West second team, all-defensive team and the conference's Best Hustle Player.
 

The Series

The Coyotes and the Highlanders played in a home-and-home series during the 2016-17 and the 2017-18 seasons with South Dakota winning both meetings. Karius was an assistant on the Coyote bench for both games.
 

Up Next

The winner of Friday's game advances to play Northern Arizona in round two of the Women's National Invitation Tournament with date and site to be determined.