Preview: IUPUI at USD, UNO at SDSU

The biggest game on the Summit League women's basketball schedule tonight is in Vermillion, as South Dakota hosts IUPUI, with the Coyotes trying to take over sole possession of third place and close the gap to a game-and-a-half with IUPUI for second.

The Jaguars (16-9, 9-3) come in as the hottest team in the Summit League, with a five game winning streak.  They are second in the league in scoring offense (64 points per game) and first in steals per game (10).  IUPUI is led Kerah Nelson and DeAirra Goss, who both average 12 points per game.  Nelson is also the top rebounder for the Jags with six per game.

USD is the only team to beat IUPUI in the last eight games.  The Coyotes are trying to rebound from last Saturday’s 71-64 loss to Fort Wayne.  Forward Polly Harrington recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds at Fort Wayne.  She was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and 4-for-4 from the foul line.  Harrington leads the Summit League in shooting percentage at 51 percent.

Guard Tempestt Wilson has averaged 17 points while shooting 60 percent from 3-point range during the last three games.

When USD and IUPUI met last month, Wilson scored a career-high 26 points while Nicole Seekamp added 16 points to lead the Coyotes to a 76-56 win.  South Dakota  shot 61 percent and held IUPUI to just 32 percent shooting.

Tipoff at the DakotaDome is 7:00pm.

First place South Dakota State has a home date with Omaha.  The Jackrabbits open the night with a one game advantage on IUPUI in the loss column.

SDSU (20-7/12-2) is hoping to shoot better than they did in last Saturday's 61-52 win at Western Illinois.  The Jacks hit just 33 percent of their shots, but did use a 15-0 run in the first half to help secure the victory.  Ashley Eide led the way with 12 points.

Omaha (16-8/6-6) hasn't played a game in 12 days.  The last time out was a defensive battle for the Mavericks, as they hosted IUPUI.  Both teams shot poorly (UNO 31%/, IUPUI 29%), and the Mavs were plagued by 18 turnovers, but they were still tied late in the game, until Kerah Nelson's layup with 0.7 left game the Jags a 45-43 win.

UNO is led by Paige Frauendorfer, who ranks in the top ten in the Summit League in scoring (15 points) and rebounding (8).

When the Jacks and Mavs met last month, SDSU led from wire-to-wire, winning 74-64.  South Dakota State shot 55 percent in the first half, opening up a 15-point cushion at intermission.  The Jacks finished the day with their best overall shooting percentage of the season, going 27-of-52 for 52 percent. State also drained 12 three-pointers.

Megan Waytashek led four players double figures with 11, Gabby Boever, Hannah Strop and Katie Lingle all added 10.

Omaha shot 37 percent, and got 17 points each from Jamie Nash and Carolyn Blair-Mobley.

Tipoff at Frost Arena is 7:00pm.