ST. PAUL, Minn. — In South Dakota women's basketball's final road test of the season, it was a tale of two halves as the Coyotes scored 41 points in the first half but ultimately fall at St. Thomas 66-57 Saturday afternoon.
 
South Dakota was feeling it in the first half shooting the ball at a nearly 50% clip (15-31), but couldn't replicate that performance in the second half, making just 6-of-29 attempts, including just 1-for-12 from three.
 
Gabby Wilke helped the Coyotes open a 10-point advantage in the first quarter by sinking three triples, including a shot at the buzzer that bounced up off the left side of the rim and fell in for the Coyotes. She finished the first half with 12 points, all from beyond the arc, and finished the game with 14 points.
 
Defensively, the Coyotes were fairly consistent, allowing between 14 and 19 points in each quarter defensively, but were not about to hold their scoring output from the first half into the second. South Dakota scored 24 points in the first quarter and 17 in the second but totaled 16 points over the final 20 minutes to see a 10-point advantage slip away.
 
Outside of Wilke's 14 points, Grace Larkins found herself flirting with a triple-double yet again. Larkins scored 21 points and added nine assists and eight rebounds. Off the bench, Olivia Kieffer totaled seven points and three rebounds. Alexi Hempe added eight rebounds, tying a season-high, and six points to the cause. Kieffer also had two blocks, matching a career-high.
 
South Dakota concluded their road slate of the 2024-25 regular season with a 1-10 record, but will have a chance to pick up a 10^th home win on March 1 against Denver. It is also senior day as the Coyotes will honor their four seniors prior to tip-off.
 
NOTABLES
• The Coyotes are now 11-18 on the season, 5-10 in conference play, and 1-10 on the road.
• Grace Larkins scored 21 points, adding nine assists, eight rebounds, and two steals.
• Larkins is now fourth all-time in assists at South Dakota with 509.
• Gabby Wilke hit four three-pointers and finished with 14 points and six rebounds.
• Olivia Kieffer added seven points, three rebounds and two blocks.
• The Coyotes grabbed more offensive rebounds than St. Thomas 7-4, but lost the rebound battle overall 36-35.
• South Dakota is now 10-4 with leading at halftime.
• This was South Dakota's first loss this season when holding their opponent under 70 points.