SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota women's basketball was looking for revenge from a regular season finale loss to South Dakota State just a week ago, but the Coyotes fell short in a 74-59 loss to SDSU in the semifinals of the Summit League Tournament at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls Saturday afternoon.
 
Three Coyotes scored in double figures on the game, led by Angelina Robles' 18 points, three assists, and two rebounds. Elise Turrubiates had her fifth double-double of the season, most on the team this year, totaling 12 points and 11 rebounds. Molly Joyce added 17 points and four assists for the Yotes.
 
The Jackrabbits took the early 20-10 lead, but South Dakota wasn't going to allow its rival to pull away without a fight. The Coyotes were able to get within six, 24-18, at the end of the first quarter, and took the lead for the first time at 25-24 on a Robles jumper at the 8:11 mark of the second quarter.
 
The remainder of the second quarter went back and forth. Turrubiates buried a turnaround jumper near the halfway point of the second that gave USD a 29-27 lead. It would be the Coyotes' last lead of the game. The Coyotes were shaping up to go into the half down three, but a second-chance jumper for SDSU with a second left extended the lead to five, 36-31, at the intermission.
 
South Dakota State took that five-point lead to 13 quickly to open the third quarter, but the Yotes weren't done fighting. Back-to-back three-pointers from Tori Schlagel and Patience Williams cut the lead to seven, 46-39, with 2:53 to go in the third. A Schlagel free throw made it a six-point game with 1:02 to go, but three straight from SDSU put the lead back to nine, 51-42, after three.
 
South Dakota tried to hold steady to make a push in the fourth quarter, but a strong finish from the Jackrabbits allowed them to hold on. South Dakota State shot 41% (24-58) from the field while South Dakota finished at 40% (21-53). The Jackrabbits also controlled the glass with a 44-29 rebound advantage.
 
South Dakota stands at 23-9 on the season and will await a potential postseason bid. As records stand Saturday, South Dakota's 12 win improvement from last season is the fourth best improvement in all of Division I, trailing McNeese State (17), Arizona State (14), and Long Island (13).
 
NOTABLES
• South Dakota is 23-9 on the season and 2-1 at a neutral site.
• The Coyotes are now 24-10 at the Summit League Tournament, 3-2 as a No. 3 seed, and 9-2 in the semifinals.
• South Dakota is now 3-7 against SDSU in the Summit League Tournament and 1-2 in semifinal games.
• Angelina Robles led USD with 18 points, her 17^th time leading USD in scoring this season.
• Elise Turrubiates secured her team-leading fifth double-double, totaling 12 points and 11 rebounds.
• Molly Joyce tallied 17 points and added four assists for the Yotes.
   
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