VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota women's basketball is back on the road, taking on the Bradley Braves Wednesday morning in Peoria, Illinois.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
• South Dakota women's basketball against Bradley will be available to watch on ESPN+.
• Fans can listen to the Coyotes on KVHT 106.3 FM on the Coyote Sports Network with Carter Woodiel filling in for Jerry Palleschi on the broadcast.
 
KEY STORYLINES
• South Dakota hits the road for the first of three straight away from the Sanford Coyote Sports Center Wednesday morning when it faces Bradley in Peoria.
• USD is 3-1 in road games this season, including a 75-51 win at Portland State last Wednesday night and a pair of last second wins on the road in the month of November.
• Eleven different Coyotes have scored in double figures so far this season despite using the same starting five in every game.
• The Coyotes have lost two of their last three games by a combined 11 points, but in their eight wins, they've won by 20+ points six times.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Coyotes dropped their first home game of the season Saturday against Eastern Washington, losing 67-63.
• Three Coyotes scored in double figures in the loss: Angelina Robles (13 points), Elise Turrubiates (13), and Molly Joyce (10).
• The Coyotes struggled offensively, converting a season-low 27% of their field goals, but converted 5-of-14 from three.
• The Eagles outscored USD 20-13 in the fourth quarter to steal the win after the Coyotes led at the half and after three quarters of play.

INSIDE THE BRADLEY SERIES
• The Coyotes and Braves meet for the 5th time in series history.
• South Dakota and Bradley are playing for the fifth time in six years after taking a year off last season.
• USD defeated Bradley four straight seasons from 2020-2024, winning by an average 17 points per game at Bradley and an average 22 points per game at home.
• In the last meeting between USD and Bradley, Olivia Kieffer scored six points off the bench in a 68-47 win in Vermillion.
SCOUTING THE BRAVES
• Bradley is off to a 5-4 start this season and have alternated wins and losses over their last six games.
• The Braves are 3-0 at home so far this season, most recently picking up a 85-57 win over Chicago State Sunday.
• Two Braves are scoring in double figures so far this season, led by Kaylen Nelson's 19 points per game, shooting 45% from three.
• Three-point shooting has been a key for the Braves, who are shooting 33.9% (80th in the NCAA) and holding opponents to 25.7% shooting from three (43rd in the NCAA).
 
RECORD VS THE MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE
• South Dakota is looking to go 2-0 against the Missouri Valley Conference this season by winning Wednesday's game.
• South Dakota is 29-28 all-time against the Missouri Valley.
• The Coyotes defeated Valparaiso 85-44 in Vermillion earlier this season.
• USD is undefeated against four MVC opponents: Bradley (4-0), Valparaiso (2-0), Indiana State (1-0), Southern Illinois (1-0).

MID-MAJOR TOP 25
• South Dakota women's basketball has been ranked No. 1 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 ten times since joining the Division I ranks, and after a pair of road wins last week, the Coyotes have joined the rankings again after their longest stretch not receiving votes in a decade.
• The Coyotes moved up to No. 11 in last week's poll.
• South Dakota was ranked No. 23 and No. 16 in the two previous polls.
• South Dakota's first ranking in the poll since week 8 of the 2023-24 season (23rd) came on Nov. 18.
• USD is one of two Summit League schools ranked in the Top 25 (SDSU at No. 1). One other conference foe is receiving votes (NDSU).
 
CRASH THE GLASS
• The Coyotes have placed an emphasis on rebounding this season, and it has paid off so far as USD is one of the top rebounding teams in the country through nearly one month of the season.
• USD is ranked 13th nationally and is atop the Summit League in rebounding at 45.4 rebounds per game.
• The Coyotes are getting it done on both ends of the floor, ranking 69th in the country and leading the conference offensive rebounds at 14.1 per game, while ranking 9th nationally (third in the SL) in defensive rebounds at 31.3 per game.
• The Coyotes set an SCSC record with 62 rebounds against Valparaiso.
• One of the best rebounders in the country through the first month of the year is Patience Williams, who ranks 41st in the NCAA in total rebounds (87) and 76th in rebounds per game (8.7).
 
DEFENSE WINS
• Through the first three weeks of the season, South Dakota has been one of the best defensive teams in the country, holding opponents to 54.0 points per game.
• The Coyotes lead the Summit League in scoring defense (54.0), field goal percentage defense (30.6%), and three point percentage defense (25.0%).
• The Coyotes also rank inside the top 35 nationally in all of those category: 3rd in FG% defense, 33rd in 3PT% defense, and 25th in scoring defense.
• South Dakota has held opponents under 30% shooting in five of their 10 games this season.
• USD's strong defense has allowed for them to have one of the nation's best scoring margins as the Coyotes outscore their opponents by an average of 23.4 points per game (26th in Division I).
 
BUZZER-BEATER MAGIC
• In both South Dakota road games this season, the Coyotes hit three-pointers in the final seconds of the game to pick up one-point victories.
• At Kansas State, The Coyotes used a three-pointer from Patience Williams with just over one second left to take down the Wildcats 72-71.
• It was USD's first win over a Power 4 Conference school since the Coyotes defeated Baylor in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2022.
• The magic carried over to Pocatello, Idaho, where USD's Angelina Robles buried a game-winning three-pointer to give the Coyotes a 64-63 win.
• Robles led the Coyotes with 14 points in the game, and she went 4-for-6 from three, including two triples in the closing minutes to give the Yotes a win.
 
MILESTONE CHASING
• A handful of Coyotes are looking to reach some career milestones this season.
• Josie Hill is nearing 1,000 career points, currently at 896 (66 as a Yotes).
• Hill is also nearing another two milestones. She needs two blocks to get to 150 in her career.
• Hill reached 600 rebounds with three against Eastern Washington.
• Molly Joyce could also reach 1,000 career points in just her third collegiate season. She has 867  points between her time at Truman State and USD.
• Jenna Hopp needs two points for 250 in her career.
• Angelina Robles needs two rebounds for 250 in her career.
 
10 YEARS OF SCSC SUCCESS
• South Dakota women's basketball is in its 10th season of calling the Sanford Coyote Sports Center, a building that has treated the Yotes well, home.
• USD is 112-25 inside the SCSC since the building opened in 2016.*
• The Coyotes have had a winning record in the SCSC in 8 of the 9 seasons played in the SCSC.
• South Dakota has a record of 58-13 against Summit League foes in the SCSC, including a winning record against all eight current foes.
• USD is undefeated against two Summit League opponents in the building: North Dakota (8-0) and Kansas City (4-0)
• South Dakota has had two undefeated seasons at home during the SCSC era: 2018-19 and 2020-21.
• USD's first win against a Top 25 opponent during the Div. I era came in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center (No. 23/22 Iowa State on Nov. 28, 2018).
 
THE TRANSFER PORTAL ERA
• Over 1,500 women's basketball players entered the transfer portal following the 2024-25 season. USD is one of at least six programs with 13+ newcomers.
• USD is one of at least seven programs with 13+ newcomers.
• USD is one of at least 7 programs with at least 9 transfers.
• Seven of USD's nine transfers come from Div. I programs, including two from Summit League foes.
• South Dakota's transfers hail from 6 states: California (1), Iowa (4), Minnesota (1), New Mexico (1), South Dakota (1), and Washington (1).
   
Stay up to date with all things Coyote Women's Basketball by following South Dakota Women's Basketball on Facebook /SDCoyotesWBB, X (Twitter) @SDCoyotesWBB, and Instagram @sdcoyotesWBB! #GoYotes