USD Women’s Basketball Defeat Oral Roberts 79-56

Following their 54-point win over the Mastodons Friday, the Coyotes returned Sunday to take their win streak to eight games.

The Coyotes now hold a 19-2 record on the season while remaining undefeated in Summit League play at 8-0.

After a rather slow start in the first half potentially due to the proximity of the team’s schedule, the Coyotes were able to get back into motion during the second half.

“We just had a one day break and coming in they gave it their all,” junior Monica Arens said. “They had a lot of shooters and a lot of presence on the inside but right away we were ready for that. I think by the second half we kicked it into gear to finish the game.”

Senior Ciara Duffy and Arens led the Coyotes in points as each player racked in 18 points.

Arens said she gives a lot of credit to the team.

“Everybody’s playing at a really high level right now … inside and outside we’re finishing the ball,” Arens said.

Arens also earned five three-pointers, three defensive blocks and two assists.

“At this point in the season, every day, every game you know there is some aches but its something we have to overcome,” Arens said. “We have to mentally work through those things.”

Senior Madison Mckeever posted 14 points followed by Hannah Sjerven with 11 and Chloe Lamb with 7. Mckeever added four rebounds, four assists and 3 defensive steals.

“They have a lot of shooters so making sure we stay out on them and not let them get going,” Mckeever said. “On the inside, we needed to limit the touches inside so they can’t kick out.”

Mckeever is now just eight points short of achieving 1,000 career points.

Duffy has now moved into fourth on USD’s all-time career scoring list with 1,617 points.

Keni Jo Lippe totaled 16 points, which allowed Oral Roberts to hold USD from continuing their streak of keeping teams under 50 points.

“Oral Roberts is a very good team with a very good program so it certainly, helps us to have a group of young ladies who have been through that before and understand,” head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said.

Looking ahead, the Coyotes are down to three home and five road games before the start of the Summit League Tournament, hosted in Sioux Falls.

“We got the target on our back,” McKeever said. “Knowing that we’re going on the road for a bit, it’s nerve-racking.”

The Coyotes travel to Omaha, Nebraska on Wednesday to face the Mavericks.