Coyotes advance for third consecutive championship game
The University of South Dakota women’s basketball team’s win over Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Monday afternoon put the Coyotes into its third straight championship game in the Summit League.
“(I’m) really proud of our team and thought we committed to things we knew that were going to be key for this game,” head coach Amy Williams said. “We knew rebounding was going to be a huge key, and we overcame some cold shooting early to put together a stretch. We are thrilled to be going back to the championship game.”
The semifinal game at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center proved to be a tough match up, as it was a slow start for both teams.
“I feel like we always have a rough start in the first half, then our second half seems to be a lot better,” senior guard Nicole Seekamp said. “We are comfortable and confident in each other.”
Each team had a lot of turnovers in the first half — USD with 11, while IUPUI had 10. But USD out-rebounded IUPUI 22-15. At halftime the Coyotes led 25-19.
Seekamp led the team with 11 points and junior guard Tia Hemiller added five points. Junior center Margaret McCloud and first-year center Kate Liveringhouse each had six rebounds.
Meanwhile, IUPUI’s Nevena Markovic, Caitlyn Tolen and Danielle Lawrence each had four points.
In the second half, Seekamp’s back-to-back threes pumped up the crowd and the team, and as the team continued to shoot threes, IUPUI couldn’t match the shots USD was making. The Coyotes closed out the game 69-58.
“We lost to a really good basketball team that is playing well at the right time,” IUPUI head coach Austin Parkinson said. “Nicole Seekamp is probably the best player in our league this year.”
Averaging 20+ points in the Summit League Tournament play, Seekamp led the team with 23 points. Contreras added 11 points and seven assists, and Hemiller put up 11 points.
“The big key was to stay with it. We were able to hold off some of those runs by sticking with our game plan,” Williams said. “Both teams were kind of looking fatigued and we continued to attack, transition and found some open shots and knocked them down.”
Despite a high number of turnovers, USD out-rebounded IUPUI 41-29. McCloud had eight rebounds and Liveringhouse added seven.
“(The difference was) their transition game and we didn’t box out very well. They got second chances and once you give them second chances they are going to capitalize on it,” IUPUI’s Nevena Markovic said.
Markovic, Shaquira Scott and Jenna Gunn each had 11 points for IUPUI.
“(This) sets us up for the championship game,” Seekamp said. “The last two years we have had the experience of what it is like to play in the championship game, and hopefully we come out with a win.”
With the win, the Coyotes advance to the championship game Tuesday at 1 p.m. against South Dakota State.
“This next game is going to be a battle,” Hemiller said. “We will be ready and treat it like every other game. We are going to go out and play our hearts out.”
(Photo: Senior guard Nicole Seekamp goes up for a lay-up en route to a 69-58 win for the Coyotes against IUPUI in the second round of the 2015 Summit League Championships at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls. Monday’s win earned USD a spot in the Summit League Championship Game Tuesday at 1 p.m. Austin Ashlock / The Volante)
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