DENVER, Colo. — The Coyotes entered Denver to open the Summit League slate, and strong showings from Grace Larkins and Alexi Hempe lifted South Dakota to a 77-71 win over Denver Thursday night inside Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver, Colorado.
 
Alexi Hempe's second of a career-high eight three-pointers came with 1.5 seconds left in the first quarter, giving South Dakota a 16-14 lead after one. Hempe's eight three-pointers came up one make short of the program record of nine, set by Erin Bourne vs William Penn (Iowa) during the 2003-04 season.
 
While Hempe was on her way to a career-high 26 points, Grace Larkins was well on her way to her 20^th career double-double. Larkins paced the Coyotes with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. The Summit League's leading scorer led the game in points Thursday night.
 
The Coyotes grew their lead to eight, 34-26, at the half, but the Pioneers wouldn't go away easily. A quick start to the third quarter for the Pioneers, allowed them to get back into the game. The Coyotes had a season's best effort shooting the ball, converting 54% of their shots from the field and 54.5% from beyond the arc, and would use the hot shooting of Hempe in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.
 
Hempe hit three triples to keep the Coyotes one step ahead of Denver in the fourth quarter, but it was Carley Duffney's second three-pointer of the game with 52 seconds left that gave the Coyotes the lead for good. Duffney was the third Coyotes to reach double figures, scoring 12 points, adding three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Coral Mason added seven points, including a pair of corner three-pointers.
 
South Dakota is back in action on the road Saturday. The Coyotes face Oral Roberts at 2 p.m. inside the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
 
NOTABLES
• The Coyotes are now 7-8 on the season, 1-0 in conference play, and 1-3 in road games.
• It continues to be a career year for Alexi Hempe, who set new bests in three-pointers (8) and points (26) Thursday.
• Grace Larkins finished one point shy of her third 30-point game of the season, scoring 29 to go with 13 rebounds and seven assists.
• Larkins recorded her 20^th career double-double, and sixth this season. The 13 rebounds matches a season high.
• Larkins and Hempe combined for 55 of USD's 77 points. Thursday was the third time this season both Hempe and Larkins eclipsed 20 points in the same game.
• Carley Duffney gave the Coyotes the lead with a late three-pointer that gave her 10-plus points for the 10^th time this season. She finished with 12 in the win.
• South Dakota had their most efficient shooting game of the season Thursday, making 54% of their shots from the field and making over half of their three-pointers (12-22) in a game for the first time this season.
• Thursday was the first game this season the Coyote won despite turning the ball over more than 12 times (17).
• The Coyotes are now 6-1 when having a better field goal percentage than their opponent and are 7-2 when leading at the half.
• Thursday's game was the third time this season South Dakota has out-rebounded their opponent (31-25), and the Coyotes are now 2-1 in such instances.
• South Dakota is now 2-0 in games played on a Thursday.