Coyote women lose to Drake 89-81, to play Boise State Sunday

The University of South Dakota and Drake University women’s basketball teams clashed for the first time on the Heritage Court inside Sioux Falls’ Sanford Pentagon.

A back-and-forth overtime thriller, the game ended with an 89-81 scoreboard in favor the visiting Drake Bulldogs, who snapped a two-game losing skid and move to 2-2 on the season.

Meanwhile, the Coyotes fell to 1-4, despite five players in double figures and only 10 turnovers. USD shot 36.5 percent from the field, including 1-14 from the three-point line.

Drake was able to overcome a 9-0 deficit at the beginning of the game, double digit turnovers in the first half and late game drama to claim their first victory over the Coyotes in their last three contests.

The Bulldogs took advantage of their threes, shooting 8-16 from downtown with many of the shots from the Pentagon’s white NBA line.

However, it didn’t always look as though it was going to be Drake’s night.

USD came out of the locker rooms rolling. Junior Nicole Seekamp opened up the contest with the first five points, and senior Polly Harrington chipped in with a couple of solid defensive plays.

Throughout the rest of the game, Drake was able to hold Seekamp to 3-17 shooting, with an impressive 8-16 from the three-point line.

Junior guard Raeshal Contreras came off the bench to lead the Coyotes in scoring with 17 points, attacking the rim almost every time she touched the ball.

Drake was led on the night by Kyndal Clark with 26 points.

The Coyotes will take on Boise State Sunday in the DakotaDome.