Coyotes’ balanced shooting takes down Omaha

Without junior starting guard Tia Hemiller, the University of South Dakota pulled off an 83-69 win against the Omaha Mavericks, with six players reaching double digits in scoring.

“We are dealing with the adversity right now, but I think we are doing alright (without Tia),” senior guard Nicole Seekamp said. “If we can come through strong these next two weeks without her, then having her come back in, we are going to be an even stronger team.”

The Coyotes began the game with an early lead, but let it slip in the first half. Then, with about eight minutes left in the game, they regained the lead.

USD led the first half 44-34.

“Even at this time in the year we can still improve things,” Seekamp said. “There are some big areas where we need some work, and we will have to work on them if we want to win the Summit League Championship.”

Senior guard Raeshel Contreras led the team with 14 points and two steals. Senior forward Lisa Loeffler followed with 10 points, and junior guard Heidi Hoff had three assists.

Meanwhile, Remy Davenport led in scoring for the Mavericks with 13 points and Madi Robson had four assists.

“(Davenport) was three for five at half time and we felt like five looks from behind the arc is too many,” head coach Amy Williams said. “She got three more in the second half, and fortunately for us (she) didn’t make any. But I thought it was a little better defense on her in the second half.”

The Coyotes kept increasing the lead, but Williams thought defensively the team still has work to do.

“Our players are starting to figure out this time of year when you have one breakdown or miscommunication it can really cost them,” she said.
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“Teams are executing at a level to make you pay for every single mistake.”

By the end of the game six players had double digits in scoring — Seekamp with 16, Contreras with 14, Kate Liveringhouse with 12, Kelly Stewart with 11 and Loeffler and Bridget Arens with 10 points each. Stewert also had seven rebounds.

“(Scoring balance) is a big strength for us,” Stewart said. “We are so balanced that if you want to try to stop us you are going to have to stop all five players on the court, because everyone is a threat.”

Coyote bench players earned 35 of the 83 points.

“Early in the season we knew (contribution from the bench) is what makes our team special,” Williams said.

Three players from Omaha ended the game in double digits — Taijhe Kelly with 20 points, Mikaela Shaw with 18 and Remy Davenport with 15.

“On the defensive side we didn’t change our plan too much. Obviously we didn’t want Kelly to go off on us like that,” Seekamp said. “She only averages six points a game, so we just have to lock up on those things and hopefully improve the next few games.”

The Coyotes improve to 20-5 (10-2 Summit League) with the win over Omaha, dropping them to 7-17 (2-10).

USD hits the road to Denver on Wednesday, with tip-off at 8 p.m.

“We know that Denver is a tough place to go play, and our focus is now shifting to the things we have to do to sneak out with a win,” Williams said.

(Senior forward Lisa Loeffler goes up for a shot during the Feb. 12 home game in the DakotaDome against Omaha. Malachi Petersen / The Volante)