SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – After averaging a double-double during conference play and leading the conference in points, rebounds, steals, and minutes during the conference season, Grace Larkins was named the Summit League Player of the Year, announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon.
 
Larkins was named to the all-Summit League first team as the Player of the Year and made the all-defensive team. Larkins is South Dakota's first conference player of the year since Chloe Lamb won the award for the 2021-22 season. She is the fourth Coyote to win the Summit League honor.
 
"Grace is so deserving of being named the Summit League Player of the Year. She has had a record-breaking season and a remarkable career," South Dakota head coach Carried Eighmey said. "She led the league in points, rebounds, and assists which is extremely difficult to accomplish and speaks to her versatility and value on the court. What can't be quantified is her work ethic, leadership, competitiveness, and grit."
 
Larkins averaged 25.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.1 steals in 38.3 minutes per game during Summit League play. She was first in total points (411), rebounds (162), tied for first in steals (33), and second in assists (89) during league play.
 
As a member of the all-defensive team, Larkins tied for the league lead in steals during Summit League play with 33 (2.1 per game) and led the league in defensive rebounds with 134 (8.4 per game). She also recorded six blocks.
 
Over the course of conference action, Larkins won four Kwik Star Summit League Peak Performer of the Week honors in the nine weeks of play. In total, Larkins won five Peak Performer of the Week awards and was the January Kwik Star Summit League Peak Performer of the Month. Larkins averaged 28.6 points and 10.6 rebounds in the month of January.
 
The second week of conference play (Jan. 6-12), Larkins won Peak Performer of the Week for her performances in wins over St. Thomas and Omaha, including a 45-point, 13-rebound double-double in USD's win over Omaha. The 45 points broke the USD single game record of 40 points set by Mandy Koupal. That week's performances garnered national attention for Larkins, who was named the Associated Press Player of the Week and was named to the USBWA National Players of the Week and NCAA Starting Five lists for that week.
 
Larkins received two NCAA Starting Five mentions during her senior season, with the second one coming after her Summit League, and South Dakota record 47-point performance against North Dakota State on Feb. 8.
 
In total, Larkins recorded 15 double-doubles in 30 games this season. She opened conference play with five straight and finished with 10 double-doubles in 16 conference games. Larkins scored in double figures in every game this season and has done so in 32 consecutive games dating back to the WNIT last season.
 
As the Coyotes enter the Summit League Tournament, Larkins led the Coyotes in scoring in 25 of the 30 games this season. She's scored 20-plus points in 19 games, 30-plus in six games, and 40-plus in two. She's started 96 consecutive games for the Yotes, dating back to her sophomore season in 2022-23.  
 
Larkins stamped her name in the South Dakota and Summit League record books this season. Her 47-point game is the school and conference single game record. She is the first player in USD and Summit League history with two 45-point performances in a career, and she had both performances this season. Her 19 made field goals and 32 attempts against Omaha were also school records.
 
Over the course of the season, Larkins has continued to soar up the record books for both single season and career statistics. Larkins' 719 points so far this season is the third most in South Dakota and Summit League history. She has also cleared the 2,000-point threshold for her career and now ranks second in South Dakota history in scoring.
 
Outside of scoring, Larkins is now fourth in assists (514) and free throws made (457), sixth in rebounds (883), seventh in steals (208), and eleventh in games play (131) in a Coyote uniform. She is the first player in South Dakota history with over 2,000 points, 800 rebounds, and 500 assists.
 
This is Larkins' third all-Summit League first team honor of her career after receiving Sixth Woman of the Year her freshman year. She's also been on the all-Summit League Defensive Team twice in her career, also receiving the honor for the 2022-23 season. She has seven weekly conference honors and three monthly honors to her name.
 
As the season enters postseason play, Larkins remains on national watch lists. Monday, Larkins was named a finalist for the World Exposure Report Mid-Major Player of the Year Award. Larkins is also a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year honor. She is on watch lists for the Dawn Staley Award, the Ann Drysdale Meyers National Player of the Year Watch List, and the Women's College All-Star Game Watch List.
 
Larkins and the Coyotes are set to begin postseason action Thursday at noon, as South Dakota faces Oral Roberts in the opening round of the Summit League Tournament at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. The Coyotes and Golden Eagles are the opening game of the quarterfinals, and the winner would have an off day before playing in the semifinals Saturday.