VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota women's basketball is on the road this week, starting with a trip to North Dakota to face the Fighting Hawks Wednesday night in Grand Forks.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
• South Dakota women's basketball against North Dakota 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.
 
KEY STORYLINES
• South Dakota hits the road for the first time since the first week of February this week, taking on North Dakota and South Dakota State to conclude the regular season.
• South Dakota women's basketball lost for the first time in nearly a month on Saturday against North Dakota State. The Bison have locked on the top seed in the Summit League Tournament with the win. Meanwhile South Dakota and South Dakota State are in a battle for the No. 2 seed in the tournament.
• Angelina Robles has been on a tear in the month of February, scoring 19.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in five games. She has made 40.8% from the field and 90.5% from free throw line.
• Robles notched her 10th and 11th 20-point performances of the season last week against Omaha and North Dakota State.
• Molly Joyce has also been a scoring threat this month, totaling 15.0 points per game, including 45.5% shooting from three.
• South Dakota is the only school in the conference to have two players rank in the top six in scoring during Summit League play. Robles is fourth at 16.7 ppg, Joyce sixth at 15.4.
• Robles leads the conference in assists during conference play, totaling 52 for a 3.7 per game average.
 
INSIDE THE NORTH DAKOTA SERIES
• The Coyotes and Fighting Hawks meet for the 92nd time in series history.
• Long time foes dating back to the 1976-77 season, South Dakota and North Dakota will square off for the 92nd time Wednesday with USD looking to sweep the season series from the Fighting Hawks for sixth time in eight seasons as Summit League foes.
• The Coyotes hold a 14-2 record against North Dakota since the two became Summit League rivals in 2018-19.
• Despite not being conference rivals when USD went to the Summit League after the 2010-11 season, the two schools still played five times from 2011-12 to 2017-18, with USD winning four of the matchups.
• Overall, South Dakota holds a Division I series advantage on the Fighting Hawks, winning 21-of-29 games between the two.
 
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING HAWKS
• North Dakota, led by first year head coach Dennis Hutter, are in a battle for seeding in the Summit League tournament with a 3-11 conference record, currently eighth in the conference, but could climb as high as sixth with wins this week against the Coyotes and Bison.
• The Fighting Hawks attempt more three-pointers than anyone in the Summit League, putting up 25 triples a game, but convert a Summit League low 27.0% of them.
• North Dakota is also strong on the defensive glass, grabbing 28.5 per game, ranking 26th in the NCAA and 3rd in the Summit League.
• The strong rebounding has led to two Fighting Hawks ranking in the top 10 in the conference in rebounds per game: Ava Miller (4th: 7.9) and Walker Demers (7.4).
• Dennis Hutter is 0-1 against South Dakota as head coach of the Fighting Hawks, but was 1-1 as the associate head coach in 2023-24.

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 199-74 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 (26), 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 119-27 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 64-15 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 (5-0).
• 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).
 
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.
• Three Coyotes have passed 1,000 collegiate points: Molly Joyce, Angelina Robles, and Josie Hill
• Hill passed the 1,000 point mark in her career against Omaha Thursday.
• Patience Williams needs one blocks for 50 and eight 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 30th nationally and is atop the Summit League in rebounding at 41.3 rebounds per game.
• The Coyotes are getting it done on both ends of the floor, ranking second in the conference in offensive rebounds at 12.2 per game, and ranking 15th nationally (first in the SL) in defensive rebounds at 29.1 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 57.3 points per game.
• The Coyotes lead the Summit League in scoring defense (57.3), field goal percentage defense (34.8%), and three-point percentage defense (27.3%).
• The Coyotes also rank inside the top 35 nationally in four categories: 6th in FG% defense, 15th in defensive rebounds, 23rd in scoring defense, 33rd 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 14.2 points per game (37th in Division I).  
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