Summit League Women’s Preview: Coyotes at Jackrabbits

Five times in the Division I era, South Dakota State has captured the Summit League women's basketball regular season title.  Saturday afternoon, the Jackrabbits will be trying to keep their arch rivals, South Dakota, from clinching their first Summit League crown.

Both teams come in red hot.

USD has won six straight, 10 of 11 overall after winning 79-68 in Denver Wednesday night.  The Coyotes scored 51 points in the second half, Raeshel Contreras led the way with 22 points, Margaret McCloud added 16.

• Summit League Men's Preview: IUPUI at USD, Oral Roberts at SDSU

SDSU has won six of seven, including a 60-49 win in Omaha Wednesday. In that game, the Jacks led 34-27 at halftime, and then blew the game open with a 7-0 run to start the second half.  Megan Waytashek led the scoring with 17 points, Macy Miller added 15.

The Coyotes took the first meeting with the Jacks, 82-78 in Vermillion last month. Contreras torched the SDSU defense for 32 points, 23 of which came in the second half. Miller had 25 for the Jacks.  One of the big differences in the game came at the free throw line, where USD (30-of-41) outscored SDSU (18-of-22) by 12 points.

Coyotes head coach Amy Williams on the rematch:

Jackrabbits head coach Aaron Johnston on defending Contreras and USD Saturday:

Tipoff is 4:30 PM in Brookings Saturday.