South Dakota women’s basketball continue winter break winning streak
While many students were at home for the holidays, the South Dakota women’s basketball team stayed in Vermillion to compete. Over that time, the team went 10-1 overall and stayed undefeated in the Summit League with a record of 7-0.
In their first two Summit League games, the Coyotes went on the road to play the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and the Kansas City Roos. The Coyotes defeated the Golden Eagles 90-59. In the game, freshman guard Grace Larkins broke her career high with 15 points and five rebounds.
In the game against the Kansas City Roos, the Roos scored more bench points than the Coyotes. The Roos ultimately fell to USD with a final score of 67-57. In the game, there was a battle between leading scorers with Coyotes’ redshirt senior guard Liv Korngable scoring 20 points and the Roos’ senior guard Naomie Alnatas having 19 points.
The Coyotes came back to Vermillion to play three home games against North Dakota, North Dakota State and in-state rival South Dakota State. Dec. 30 was the Coyotes’ match-up against UND where they won 85-46. The second game back in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center (SCSC) was against the Bison where the Coyotes won 65-38. Senior guard Chloe Lamb was the leading scorer having 27 points.
The last game at home was against South Dakota State. The Coyotes pulled out a victory over rival Jackrabbits 65-42 where freshman guard Kyah Watson had her new career high of 14 points, having shot three of seven from three-point range.
The Coyotes next games took them back on the road heading west to compete against the Denver Pioneers. USD topped the Pioneers 79-51 in a game where the Coyotes had three players score 14 points. South Dakota also held the Pioneers to three points in the first quarter. After their win over the Pioneers, they headed to Omaha to play the Mavericks. The Mavericks were unable to contain the Coyotes as they fell 68-45.
As for the Coyotes’ latest games, they came back to Vermillion to host the Western Illinois Leathernecks and Summit League new comers, the St. Thomas Tommies. The Coyotes played the Leathernecks first on Jan. 20 in a game where the Coyotes were down going into halftime but prevailed winning the game 70-53. The Coyotes defense stood out in the third quarter of the game, only allowing the Leathernecks to score seven points.
In the game against the Tommies, St. Thomas took an early lead going into the second quarter leading 11-9. However, the Coyotes rallied back in the second quarter and put up 24 points, holding the Tommies to 10. The Coyotes went on to win 70-43.
With this stretch of wins, the Coyotes are on a 14-game winning streak which is currently the longest winning streak in the NCAA. The Yotes are also in the top-ten in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll that was released on Jan. 17. They are currently sitting at No. 8.
As for individual awards, Lamb received a few individual awards for her accomplishments. She was elected to be in the WBCA’s “So You Want To Be A Coach” program. Lamb is one of 61 seniors selected to participate. The WBCA’s will be holding a two-day workshop during the NCAA Women’s Final Four. She was also named to the Becky Hammon award midseason watch list. She is one of 15 players in the nation to receive the award, which she was given alongside Western Illinois’ senior guard Danni Nichols.
The Coyotes’ next game in the SCSC won’t be until Feb. 10. However, their next games against North Dakota State, North Dakota, and in-state rival South Dakota State will be on the road beginning Jan. 27.
