Coyotes snag overtime win against Drake University

Rebounding was the name of the game in the Coyotes’ 92-87 win over the Drake University Bulldogs on Thursday night in the DakotaDome.

But it wasn’t an easy win for the team.

Just after junior Caitlin Duffy hit a three-pointer that appeared to have sealed the game for the Coyotes, Drake’s Lizzy Wendell hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

However, free throws and clutch shooting were able to put the Coyotes on top.

“Somehow we managed to come in a little clutch down there at the end and kind of lock down a little bit. We still have some things to work on, but a great win overall,” senior guard Nicole Seekamp said after the game.

Seekamp led scoring for the Coyotes with 24 points and five rebounds for the team. The Coyotes had 27 offensive rebounds and 27 defensive rebounds in their fourth straight victory.

Duffy, who earned 17 points and four rebounds, said the team knew Drake’s opponents were able to grab a lot of rebounds against the Bulldogs, so they went in with a rebounding mentality.

“That was what was keeping us in (at halftime),” Duffy said. “Then once shots started going in that’s when we really found our stride. But, people did a great job on the glass.”

USD head coach Amy Williams said her team knew going into the game that Drake, who was previously undefeated and had beaten teams such as Wisconsin and Iowa State, was a good team but looked at the game as an opportunity to prove themselves.

“That’s an excellent opportunity to be able to make a statement for our program,” Williams said. “That was a great thing for us – but the truth is we look at every game on our schedule as the most important one and now Portland State becomes just as important as Drake.”

The Coyotes will take on Portland State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the DakotaDome.