VERMILLION, S.D. – A near wire-to-wire victory for South Dakota women's basketball Saturday afternoon, leading for 37:47 in a 75-55 victory over Denver on Native American Heritage Day in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
Four Coyotes scored in double figures, led by a career-high 21 points by Patience Williams. She also had 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.
 
The Coyotes held Denver under 40% shooting in each quarter and won all four quarters. Denver scored a quick two to start the game, but USD look the lead a couple of possessions later and didn't look back. The Coyotes hit three triples in each of the first two quarters to open up a 37-22 halftime lead.
 
With 4:58 to go in the third quarter, Molly Joyce buried a three-pointer to get to 13 points on the night, and to 1,000 in her collegiate career. She reached 1,000 career points in just 78 games, with 774 of those points coming in 59 games at Truman State. She finished with 15 points on the day, a fifth consecutive game of 15-plus.
 
The Coyotes kept control down the stretch, not allowing Denver within 10 of the lead for the entire second half. The Pioneers shot 31.6% from the field and 22.2% from three, but under their season averages.
 
Outside of Williams' double-double, Joyce was second on the Coyotes in scoring Saturday with 15. Elise Turrubiates tallied 13 points and Tori Schlagel 10. Going up against her former team for the first time, Angelina Robles tallied nine points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals, and zero turnovers.
 
South Dakota outrebounded Denver 41-37, and had more points off turnovers, points in the paint, second chance points, and bench points.
 
The Coyotes are now 14-5 on the season and 4-1 in Summit League play, marking the program's best start to league play since the 2022-23 season. Saturday is also USD's 23^rd win over the Pioneers in program history, the second most Summit League wins over a current conference foe (Omaha, 24), and was USD's 60^th Summit League victory inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
The Coyotes are on the road for two games next week, starting with a trip to Omaha Thursday night for a 6:30 p.m. start.
 
NOTABLES
• South Dakota is 14-5 on the season, 8-2 at home, and 4-1 in Summit League play.
• The Coyotes are now 60-14 in Summit League play inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
• South Dakota is now 23-5 all-time against Denver, and 12-2 in Vermillion.
• Patience Williams recorded her second double-double of the season with a career-high 21-points and adding 13 rebounds.
• Molly Joyce eclipsed 1,000 career points in the win, scoring 15 Saturday.
• Angelina Robles recorded nine points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals in the win.
• Elise Turrubiates tallied 13 points and Tori Schlagel added 10 more, giving USD four players in double figures for the first time since the final non-conference game against College of Saint Mary on December 30.
• Saturday was USD's 11^th win of the season by 20 or more.  
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