VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota women's basketball continues a three-game homestand with Omaha Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
• South Dakota women's basketball against Omaha will be available to watch Midco Sports and on the Summit League Network powered by Midco Sports Plus.
• Fans can listen to the Coyotes on KVTK 1570 AM on the Coyote Sports Network with the voice of the Coyotes Jerry Palleschi on the broadcast.
 
PROMOTIONS
• Thursday Basketball Bingo night. Pick up your bingo cards and play along!
 
KEY STORYLINES
• Thursday's game against Omaha is the second game of a season-long three game homestand for South Dakota, who is 11-2 in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center this season.
• South Dakota women's basketball has won five straight games, its second longest win streak of the season (seven straight to open the season).
• In USD's lone game last week, the Coyotes played an overtime game for the first time this season, earning a 70-65 win over Kansas City after trailing by 15 points in the third quarter.
• Tori Schlagel was a difference maker in last week's win against the Roos. She recorded career-highs in points (17) and steals (4) in the win. Josie Hill's nine points puts her just two points away from 1,000 in her career.
• Robles has scored 20+ points in three of the last five games, and won Summit League Peak Performer honors last week after wins vs St. Thomas and SDSU.
• In USD's 20 wins so far this season, they've won by 20+ points 12 times.
• Defensively, The Coyotes have been one of the nation's toughest teams to score on, ranking third in the NCAA in FG% defense (33.7%), 15th in scoring defense (56.0), and 17th in 3PT% defense (26.5).
• Robles leads the conference in assists during conference play, totaling 49 for a 4.1 per game average.
 
INSIDE THE OMAHA SERIES
• The Coyotes and Mavericks meet for the 95th time in series history.
• The Coyotes have faced Omaha more than any other opponent but one (South Dakota State) in program history as a 95th meeting between the Yotes and Mavs is scheduled for Thursday night in Vermillion.
• South Dakota has been very strong at home against the Mavericks with a 32-14 record.
• In the Sanford Coyote Sports Center, USD is 7-1 against Omaha. The Mavs' lone win came during the 2023-24 season.
• USD has been in control of the Division I history of this series, with a 25-4 record record against the Mavericks since the 2011-12 season, but the Coyotes and Mavs have split their last four meetings.
• USD's 25 wins over Omaha as Summit League foes is the most USD has recorded against a single Summit League opponent.
 
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
• The last time South Dakota and Omaha met, the Mavericks were still looking for their first Division I win of the season, and they've picked up two since.
• Omaha has won two of their last four games, but most recently fell 73-43 at St. Thomas Saturday.
• In the Mavs' last win, a 65-58 result in Denver, Sarai Estupiñan poured in 24 points, including 4-for-5 from three. Regan Juenemann added 16 points and Ali Stephens added 13 and 10 rebounds.
• The Mavericks attempt their fair share of three-pointers, ranking second in the conference in attempts (23.4) and makes (6.8).
• Avril Smith is one of the nation's best in blocking shots and grabbing rebounds, ranking seventh in blocks (64) and fifth in rebounds (316).
• Smith is second in rebounding during conference play in the Summit League with 11.5 per game.

RECORD VS THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
• The Coyotes have five Summit League regular season titles and four tournament championships since joining the conference in 2011 and have finished in the top four in the conference every season except one.
• South Dakota is 198-73 against the Summit League (previously Mid-Continent Conference) in program history.
• USD has winning records against seven of the eight current conference foes as members of the Summit League
• South Dakota has 20 or more Summit League wins against four current members in Summit League play history: Omaha (25), Denver (24), North Dakota State (22), and Oral Roberts (22).
 
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 118-26 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 63-14 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 (9-0) 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 seven programs with at least nine 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).
 
CAREER MARKS
• Career bests set against Kansas City Thursday.
• Tori Schlagel had her best game as a freshman, totaling career highs in points (17) and steals (4).
• Angelina Robles tied a career high with seven assists and set a new career high with two blocks.
 
SEASON HIGHS LAST TIME OUT
• Season highs set Thursday against Kansas City:
• Josie Hill set a season high with 11 rebounds in the win.
 
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 are currently ranked No. 22.
• South Dakota climbed one spot to No. 22 in this week's poll.
• After receiving votes in the last couple polls, USD re-entered the Top 25 at No. 24 two weeks ago and were No. 23 last week.
• South Dakota has ranked as high as No. 11 since joining the rankings on Nov. 18.
• 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 three Summit League schools ranked in the Top 25 (NDSU at No. 1, SDSU at No. 8).
 
MILESTONE CHASING
• A handful of Coyotes are looking to reach some career milestones this season.
• Two Coyotes have passed 1,000 collegiate points: Molly Joyce and Angelina Robles.
• Joyce is also nearing 100 career three-pointers, currently at 98.
• Josie Hill is nearing 1,000 career points, currently at 998 (168 as a Yote).
• Turrubiates passed 1,000 career points including NJCAA stats earlier this season, but passed 800 NCAA points at Omaha, currently with 855.
• Patience Williams needs two blocks for 50 and 12 steals for 100 in her career.
• Olivia Moore needs 10 points for 300 in her NCAA career.
 
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.
• USD is ranked 16th nationally and is atop the Summit League in rebounding at 42.4 rebounds per game.
• The Coyotes are getting it done on both ends of the floor, ranking second in the conference in offensive rebounds at 12.5 per game, and ranking 10th nationally (first in the SL) in defensive rebounds at 29.8 per game.
• USD has outrebounded its opponents in 19 games this season, going 18-1 in those games.
• South Dakota broke the SCSC record for rebounds in a game for a second time this season against College of Saint Mary, totaling 63.
• The Coyotes previously set an SCSC record with 62 rebounds against Valparaiso.

DEFENSE WINS
• South Dakota has been the best defensive team in the Summit League this season, holding opponents to 56.0 points per game.
• The Coyotes lead the Summit League in scoring defense (56.0), field goal percentage defense (33.7%), and three-point percentage defense (26.5%).
• The Coyotes also rank inside the top 25 nationally in four categories: 3rd in FG% defense, 10th in defensive rebounds, 15th in scoring defense, 17th in 3PT% defense.
• South Dakota has held opponents under 30% shooting in eight 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 15.7 points per game (32nd in Division I).  
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