BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota women's basketball concludes its regular season Saturday in Brookings, taking on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits for the second time as a part of the Interstate Series presented by First Interstate Bank.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
• South Dakota women's basketball against South Dakota State 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 KVHT 106.3 FM on the Coyote Sports Network with the voice of the Coyotes Jerry Palleschi on the broadcast.
 
KEY STORYLINES
• It's a battle for the No. 2 seed in the Summit League Tournament Saturday night in First Bank and Trust Arena, with the winner of this matchup earning the No. 2 seed in Sioux Falls next week. The Jackrabbits can also earn a share of the conference title with a win and a NDSU loss to UND.
• Wednesday night, four Coyotes scored in double figures as USD defeated North Dakota 80-66. The 80 points is the second most points scored against a D-I opponent this season and most in a game in conference play for the Coyotes.
• South Dakota women's basketball has pulled out a lot of close victories in the month of February, going 5-1 with a scoring margin of +4.2 in six February games.
• Angelina Robles has been on a tear in the month of February, scoring 19.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in six games. She has made 40.7% from the field and 89.1% from free throw line.
• Molly Joyce has also been a scoring threat this month, totaling 15.2 points per game, including 47.4% 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 15.5.
• Robles leads the conference in assists during conference play, totaling 57 for a 3.8 per game average.
 
INSIDE THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE SERIES
• The Coyotes and Jackrabbits meet for the 105th time in series history.
• South Dakota's longest running rivalry is renewed Saturday, with the Coyotes looking for their first season sweep of SDSU since the 2019-20 season.
• Earlier this season, South Dakota snapped a seven-game losing skid to South Dakota State with a 73-54 win in Vermillion.
• The Coyotes are looking for their first win in Brookings since that 2019-20 season when USD earned a 77-67 win. USD wound up earning a third win over the Jacks that season with a 63-58 win in the Summit League Championship Game.
• South Dakota has struggled in the long series history in Brookings, going just 11-36 all-time.
USD is 3-13 in Brookings during the Division I era of the rivalry.
 
SCOUTING THE JACKRABBITS
• Despite losing their first two Summit League games since 2021-22 earlier this season, the Jacks are still able to claim a share of the Summit League Regular Season crown Saturday with a win and some help from North Dakota.
• Saturday's game is for more than just bragging rights, as the two sides will play for the No. 2 seed in the Summit League Tournament, adn the loser getting the No. 3 seed.
• South Dakota State has the best scoring margin in the Summit League during conference play at +24.5.
• Brooklyn Meyer has firmly planted herself in the Player of the Year conversation as she averages 21.7 points and 8.7 rebounds. She is also sixth in the conference in assists with 46.
• Meyer converts 67.6% of her shots during league play and 64.8% overall.
• Emilee Fox is one of the nation's best three-point shooters, ranking second in the NCAA in percentage at 49.5%,
• SDSU is eighth in the NCAA in field goal percentage at 48.7%.

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 200-74 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. 24.
• After a loss last week, South Dakota fell to No. 24 in the Mid Major poll this 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. 6).
 
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 has reached 50 blocks and need eight steals for 100 in her career.
• Olivia Moore needs eight 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 31st nationally and is atop the Summit League in rebounding at 41.0 rebounds per game.
• The Coyotes are getting it done on both ends of the floor, ranking second in the conference in offensive rebounds at 12.0 per game, and ranking 15th nationally (first in the SL) in defensive rebounds at 29.0 per game.
• USD has outrebounded its opponents in 20 games this season, going 19-1 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 (57.6), field goal percentage defense (35.0%), and three-point percentage defense (27.9%).
• The Coyotes also rank inside the top 50 nationally in four categories: 7th in FG% defense, 15th in defensive rebounds, 31st in scoring defense, 47th 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 (38th in Division I).  
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