Women’s Basketball: Week 9 Preview

As they seek their fourth Summit League regular season championship in six years,  the South Dakota State women's basketball team has just one blemish on its conference record this season, and tonight they get a chance to avenge it.

The Jacks (11-1) play at IUPUI, the team that shocked them in Brookings last month, 57-56.  In that game, SDSU shot poorly, just 35 percent as a team, with starters Hannah Strop, Megan Waytashek, and Ashley Eide going a combined two-for-23 with ten turnovers.  The Jacks also made just three-of-23 from behind the three-point line.

The Jaguars (7-3) were led by DeAirra Goss' 22 points, as IUPUI also dominated the glass, outrebounding SDSU 36-27, securing the Jags first-ever win over the Jacks in 13 meetings.

Since then, both teams have been playing well.  South Dakota State has won five in a row, IUPUI has strung together three straight. These two are #1 and #2 in the standings, as well as Summit League offense and defense.

A win gives the Jacks at least a share of the regular-season title. Tipoff at 6:00pm in Indianapolis.

South Dakota starts the night a half-game behind IUPUI in the Summit League standings, as they play at Oakland.

The Coyotes (7-4) have beaten everyone in the Summit this season not named South Dakota State and North Dakota State.  One of those seven wins came against Oakland last month in Vermillion.

In that game, the Coyotes downed the Golden Grizzlies (2-9), 64-49, with rebounding, defense, and a late scoring run.  USD had a plus seven (42-35) advantage on the glass, held OU to 33 percent shooting, and pulled away late with an 18-4 run. Tempestt Wilson led the way with 17 points, she's averaging 15 points a game in her last 14.

One of the keys to the Coyotes success this season has been the improved play from their young players, sophomores Nicole Seekamp and Lisa Loeffler, and freshmen Heidi Hoff and Margaret McCloud.

Oakland continues to struggle without Summit League pre-season player of the year Bethany Watterworth, who's missed the entire season due to injury.

A USD win, and IUPUI loss at SDSU, moves the Coyotes back into sole possession of second place.  Tipoff is 6:00pm in Rochester, Michigan.