BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota women's basketball fell behind early, and South Dakota State ran away with it, defeating the Coyotes 82-49 Saturday night in Brookings.
 
Molly Joyce, Angelina Robles, and Jenna Hopp scored in double figures Saturday night at First Bank & Trust Arena. Joyce led the Coyotes with 21 points, followed by Robles and Hopp with 11 points each. Elise Turrubiates led the Yotes on the glass with nine rebounds.
 
The Coyotes fell behind early as South Dakota State opened with a 7-0 run, and didn't look back. SDSU used an 18-0 run to open a 27-6 lead with 29 seconds until the end of the first. Molly Joyce converted a jumper with 12 seconds left to make it 27-8 after one quarter.
 
South Dakota didn't lose any ground in the second quarter, but also struggled to trim the lead. The closest the Coyotes got was 16, 48-32, with 44 seconds to go until halftime. A three-pointer at the buzzer put the lead back at 19, 51-32.
 
Both teams struggled from the floor in the third quarter, but SDSU was able to grow their lead to 24 at 64-40 after three.  The Jackrabbits cruised to the win and the No. 2 seed in the Summit League Tournament in the fourth.
 
As a team, South Dakota shot 31.6% (18-57) from the field and 13.6% (3-22) from three. Meanwhile, one of the nation's most efficient offenses in SDSU totaled 50.8% (32-63) from the field and 42.9% (9-21) from three. The Jackrabbits controlled the rebounding battle 43-29 and turned 10 offensive rebounds into 12 points. South Dakota committed 14 turnovers, leading to 22 Jackrabbit points off turnovers.

With Saturday's loss, South Dakota finishes the regular season with a 22-8 record and a 12-4 record in Summit League play. The Coyotes have earned the No. 3 seed in the Summit League Tournament and will face Denver, the No. 6 seed, Friday at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls.
 
NOTABLES
• South Dakota is 22-8 on the season, 9-5 on the road, and 12-4 in Summit League play.
• South Dakota is the third seed in the upcoming Summit League Tournament.
• Molly Joyce recorded 21 points, a team-high, and was her sixth 20-point scoring game of the season.
• Jenna Hopp and Angelina Robles added 11 points apiece.
• Elise Turrubaites had a game-high nine rebounds.
   
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