VERMILLION, S.D. – It is senior day and the final day of the regular season for South Dakota women's basketball as it hosts Denver Saturday afternoon in Vermillion.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
The Senior Day double header gets started with the women at 1 p.m., but Senior Day festivities begin 10 minutes prior to the game. Fans can tune-in to the game on KVHT 106.3 FM and the Varsity Sports Network with the voice of South Dakota women's basketball Jerry Palleschi. Fans can also watch the game on the Summit League Network powered by Midco Sports Plus.
 
SENIOR DAY
• Saturday, South Dakota will honor four seniors for their dedication and commitment to South Dakota Women's Basketball: Adara Groman, Sophie Haydon, Alexi Hempe, and Grace Larkins.
• Adara Groman is a graduate transfer from the University of New Hampshire and Sophie Haydon transferred to South Dakota after spending her freshman year at George Washington University.
• Alexi Hempe and Grace Larkins have been Coyotes their entire collegiate careers. This is Hempe's sixth year as a Coyote, while Larkins is in her fourth season in Coyote Red.
 
(ALMOST) TWO MONTHS LATER
• When South Dakota and Denver met in the Mile High City on January 2nd, it was the opening night of conference play. Now, after seeing the other seven teams twice in between, the Coyotes and Pioneers finally get to round two, this time to finish the regular season.
• It was the Larkins and Hempe show from Hamilton Gymnasium on Jan. 2, with the two combining for 55 points on 20-of-31 shooting. Larkins may have led the Coyotes with 29 points and 13 rebounds in the game, but Alexi Hempe's 8-of-10 performance from three-point territory to score 26 in the game was the highlight of the night.
• Denver's Jordan Jones put her best foot forward against the Coyotes in January, scoring 27 points.
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
• In the final game of the regular season for both sides and the conference tournament set to begin Wednesday, the Coyotes are still fighting for post season positioning.
• As things stand entering Saturday, South Dakota is tied with Omaha and North Dakota in the conference standings at 5-10. Denver is locked into the No. 9 seed with their 1-14 record.
 
INSIDE THE DENVER SERIES
• The Coyotes and Pioneers meet for the 27th time in series history.
• South Dakota has won three straight over Denver.
• The Coyotes' last loss to the Pioneers came in Vermillion on Feb. 18, 2023, a 79-74 response.
• Last season's game in Vermillion was a 78-70 USD win. The Coyotes made 52.7% of their shots in that game.
 
SEEDING HEADACHES
• As things stand entering Saturday's action, South Dakota, Omaha, and North Dakota are tied with 5-10 records in conference play, and with Kansas City is just one game ahead at 6-9, there are eight different tiebreaker scenarios in play.
• Three games on Saturday will influence seeding: Denver at USD, Omaha at NDSU, and Kansas City at UND.
• A South Dakota win would guarantee a No. 6 or 7 seed in the Summit League Tournament.
• A Coyote loss would guarantee a No. 7 or 8 seed.
• From there, South Dakota's seed will be determined by the outcome of the Omaha at North Dakota State game.