Jan. 17—VERMILLION — The University of South Dakota women’s basketball team led for over 37 minutes of game time in a 75-55 victory over the University of Denver in Summit League action on Saturday in the Sanford Coyotes Sports Center.
The Coyotes are now 14-5 on the season and 4-1 in Summit League play, marking the program’s best start to league action since the 2022-23 season.
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USD held Denver under 40% shooting in each quarter and won all four periods by an average margin of five points. The Pioneers scored a quick basket to start the game, but USD took the lead a couple of possessions later and didn’t look back. Denver shot 31.6% from the field and 22.2% from the 3-point line, both under its season averages. South Dakota shot 42.9% from the field with eight 3-pointers and finished 13-of-16 from the free-throw line.
With less than five minutes left in the third quarter, South Dakota’s Molly Joyce scored a 3-pointer to get to 13 points on the night, and to 1,000 in her collegiate career. Joyce reached 1,000 career points in 78 games, with 774 of those points coming in 59 games at Truman State University before transferring to USD this season. Joyce finished with 15 points for the game, which marks her fifth consecutive contest of 15-plus.
Four Coyotes scored in double figures, led by a career-high 21 points from Patience Williams, as she also hauled in 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Elise Turrubiates recorded 13 points, three rebounds and two assists, as Tori Schlagel added 10 points and three rebounds off the bench.
For the Pioneers (7-11, 1-4 Summit), Coryn Watts had 19 points to pace their scoring, while Victoria Baker recorded 18 points and two steals. Ana Conde added seven points and seven rebounds.
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USD is back in action against the University of Nebraska-Omaha at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 in Omaha, Nebraska.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The University of South Dakota men’s basketball team fell on the road Saturday afternoon 96-80 to the University of North Dakota at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
The Fighting Hawks won each half of play by eight points and controlled the pace of the game nearly wire-to-wire, with only one tie and one lead change throughout the contest. UND shot 54.8% from the field and finished 12-of-26 from the 3-point line, while limiting South Dakota to 47.2% shooting and 13 turnovers for the game.
Jordan Crawford led the way for the Coyotes in scoring with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting and knocked down 6-of-8 attempts from the 3-point line. Crawford also dished out four assists and had three rebounds. Cameron Fens recorded his third-straight double-double with 13 points and 14 boards, plus two blocks.
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Issac Bruns tallied his fourth consecutive game with 20-plus in a 21-point effort and four rebounds. Silas Bennion had 10 points and three assists off the bench, as Uzziah Buntyn added eight points and four assists.
For the Pioneers (10-10, 4-2 Summit), Greyson Uelmen had a game-high 26 points on 10-for-17 shooting and two steals. Garrett Anderson posted 17 points, seven rebounds and two steals, while Eli King added 15 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals.
USD drops to 10-10 on the season, 2-3 in the Summit League and 0-8 on the road, as it faces off against the University of Nebraska-Omaha at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21 in Omaha, Nebraska.
