GRAND FORKS, N.D. – A strong fourth quarter from South Dakota allowed them to pull away with an 80-66 win over North Dakota Wednesday night in Grand Forks.

Four Coyotes scored in double figures for the first time since January 28 against St. Thomas. Angelina Robles led the Coyotes with 17 points, adding seven rebounds and five assists. Elise Turrubiates and Molly Joyce added 16 points each. Jenna Hopp tied a career-high with 13 points and matched a season-high with four assists.
 
The first half was a three-point shooting showcase for both sides, combining for 14 makes on 33 attempts. The two sides combined to average 12.2 made threes per game entering play Wednesday.

The Coyotes opened a first quarter lead by scoring their first 12 points from beyond the three-point arch. The Fighting Hawks didn't go away quietly as USD led 17-15 after one quarter of play.
 
North Dakota outscored USD by a point in a back-and-forth second quarter with both sides exchanging the lead. The Fighting Hawks built a four-point lead with 5:25 to go in the quarter, but South Dakota responded and a Joyce three-pointer made it a 37-33 game with a minute to go in the half. A UND triple cut the lead to one at the break.
 
Olivia Kieffer made her impact in the second quarter with multiple teammates in foul trouble. Kieffer buried both of her three-point attempts in the quarter.

South Dakota tried pulling away in the third quarter, opening up a nine-point lead with a Tori Schlagel free throw with 2:55 to go in the quarter, but another strong finish to a quarter form the Fighting Hawks made it 57-53 after three.

The Coyotes finally found a way to pull away in the fourth, getting their first double digit lead off a Elise Turrubiates bucket with 2:53 to play. Turrubiates scored eight points in the quarter to help build the lead. A 9-0 run from the Yotes sealed the victory.

South Dakota now turns its' attention to Saturday with the No. 2 seed on the line. South Dakota and South Dakota State will battle it out at 6 p.m. in Brookings with the winner earning the No. 2 seed in the Summit League Tournament next week. It is also the second matchup between the two for the Interstate Series presented by First Interstate Bank.
 
NOTABLES
• South Dakota is 22-7 on the season, 9-4 on the road, and 12-3 in Summit League play.
• Angelina Robles had a game, totaling 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
• Elise Turrubiates and Molly Joyce tallied 16 point apiece.
• Jenna Hopp added 13 points, tying a career high. She also matched a season-best in assists with four.
• South Dakota outrebounded North Dakota, marking the 20^th time USD has accomplished that this season. USD is 19-1 in those games.
• USD is now 20-2 when leading at the half this season.
   
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