South Dakota women’s basketball falls in conference clash against North Dakota State

With four minutes to play in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game against North Dakota State, a rolling Carley Duffney cut the South Dakota women’s basketball deficit to six points.

The Bison immediately re-extended their lead to 10, but the Coyotes got it back to eight with a minute to play in the third. USD then missed an open 3-pointer and a difficult – but makeable – layup in the final minute of the third that could’ve cut their deficit to just three heading into the fourth.

Instead, they still trailed by eight.

“I definitely think it was the difference in momentum,” South Dakota women’s basketball coach Carrie Eighmey said postgame. “If you go into that fourth quarter down three, totally different feel.”

What unfolded in the final 10 minutes of play was a 21-10 drubbing at the hands of North Dakota State that resulted in a 72-53 loss for the Coyotes.

“We had a couple chances to kind of continue building that momentum and just couldn’t get it done,” Eighmey said. “It kind of unraveled on us.”

The Coyotes hung tough in the second and third quarters but were outscored handily in the first and fourth. They shot 35.7% in the first and 11% in the fourth. South Dakota shot 36% in the game and went 2-for-19 from beyond the arc.

“We fought hard. That’s for sure,” Grace Larkins said postgame. “(North Dakota State) is such a good team, so it was really encouraging that we were right there, and we were right with them for two quarters.

“It’s just putting four quarters together and just staying disciplined when the other team’s going on a run, or things aren’t going our way.”

The Coyotes were also outworked by the Bison on the glass. North Dakota State outrebounded South Dakota 42-20 in total rebounds and 10-3 on the offensive glass. Those 10 offensive rebounds led to 13 NDSU second-chance points.

North Dakota State’s Abbie Draper was personally responsible for five of the team’s 10 offensive rebounds. Draper also scored a career-high 29 points to go along with 12 rebounds.

“We did not have an answer for her tonight,” Eighmey said.

Larkins and Duffney were the lone Coyotes in double figures. Larkins led the way with 23 points while Duffney scored 13 on 5-of-8 shooting. Larkins also recorded seven rebounds, one assist, and five turnovers. 

Up next South Dakota will host South Dakota State in Vermillion on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 1 p.m.