South Dakota Women Come From Behind to Down Western Illinois

The South Dakota women's basketball rallied from seven points down in the second half to finish off the home portion of their schedule with a 71-67 win over Western Illinois, Saturday afternoon in Vermillion.

The victory kept the Coyotes (9-6) a game-and-a-half behind IUPUI for second place in the Summit League with one weekend left.

Senior Tempestt Wilson, making her 75th consecutive start, and playing in her final regular season game at the DakotaDome, scored 14 of her game-high 24 points in the second half, while sophomore Nicole Seekamp erupted for 16 of her 19 points in the second half to key the USD comeback, as the Coyotes finished 7-2 at home in conference play this season.

Western Illinois (5-9) set a blistering shooting pace in the first half, hitting six three-pointers to open up a seven point lead.  But, USD kept chipping away and finally grabbed a 31-30 lead at the break on Pam January's basket with :03 left.

Neither team shot ball well in first half, the Coyotes made just 36 percent of their shots, the Leathernecks 39 percent. A 21-14 rebounding edge and great bench play kept USD in it, as the Coyotes didn't allow Western Illinois an offensive rebound in the first half, while South Dakota's reserve players outscored WIU 12-3.

The Coyote lead was short lived in the second half, as the Leathernecks connected on six of their first ten shots, to re-take a six point advantage with 13:48 to play.

That edge grew to seven four minutes later, and that's when Wilson and Seekamp went to work.  Over the next six minutes, Wilson (10 points) and Seekamp (6 points) keyed an 18-7 Coyote run, and gave USD the lead at 65-61.

From there it was free throw shooting that helped USD climb back to .500 (14-14) on the season, as the Coyotes made six-of-eight from the line over the final three minutes.

Ashley Luke finished with a double-double for Western Illinois with 16 points and ten rebounds.

The Coyotes finish the regular season Omaha Thursday night.