South Dakota women’s basketball’s successful season started with portal risks

VERMILLION — This South Dakota women’s basketball team was built in a modern style — with lots of veterans looking to revive their careers or get a final chance to prove themselves through the transfer portal.

Both head coach Carrie Eighmey and her staff, as well as the first-year ‘Yotes, all felt they took a risk joining forces this offseason.

After a 26-10 season, the second-best win improvement in Division I women’s college basketball and a WNIT Fab 4 appearance, it’s safe to say that risk worked out well for all parties.

“We won 11 games last year,” Eighmey said. “So they took a leap of faith as well. And they joke with us that we took a chance on them. And so we all kind of feel like we took a chance on each other.”

The Coyotes’ entire seven-player rotation was in their first season in Vermillion, with Angelina Robles (Denver), Molly Joyce (Truman State), Jenna Hopp (South Dakota State), Elise Turrubiates (Tarleton State), Patience Williams (Georgia State), Josie Hill (Chicago State) and Tori Schlagel (Eden Prairie High School) all taking on large roles and learning how to play with each other on the fly.

Eighmey, Robles and many other South Dakota players are thankful for General Manager Devin Eighmey and his ability to craft this team.

“I’m just so grateful to Coach Carrie, Coach Dev, for allowing me to be a part of such a special program,” Robles said. “We really believe that we could have gone all the way, but ball didn’t bounce our way. I’m just super grateful for this group of girls and they made this season the best I’ve ever had, and I’m grateful.”

Robles, Turrubiates, Williams and Hill all played their last collegiate game on Wednesday, April 1, and were upset after the game ended, not only because their season was finished, but because they won’t get to play together again.

“I love them with all my heart,” Robles said. “I think we all came in with the same mindset of if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right and we’re going to do it together. And I think that’s exactly what we need to be setting the standard for everyone else that’s staying.”

Joyce is one of the top returners for next year, and this was her first season at the Division I level after two years at Division II. The move ended up being a great one for her, as she broke out to average 12.9 points for the Coyotes.

“My freshman year, I won seven games and my sophomore year, we won 14, so being able to come here and just be a dominant team was super special and just grateful that I got to be a part of this group because all these girls are my best friends,” Joyce said.

None of the players took advantage of the opportunity as much as Robles, who became the vocal and statistical leader of this South Dakota team and became a star in the league she spent her first three seasons in. Robles ended her senior season at 15.8 points per game and 38.0% shooting from three.

“She was a player that, you could see it at different times, she’s emotional,” Eighmey said. “I think one of the things that she grew so much in was just her ability to play with emotion, but not let being emotional take her away from what she was trying to do. I think the thing that was really neat about her was she started to really understand what winning looks like and what it takes to win, and I think that’s what gave her that swagger.”

Robles attributes her rise to stardom to her teammates and the faith her coach showed her early on this season. As she experienced some ups and downs throughout the season, everyone stuck together and came out better on the other side.

“I’ve said this so many times, but Carrie really believed in me and saw things that I was capable of that I didn’t even see for myself, so she put me in a great position,” Robles said. “And Coach Dev made sure that I was surrounded by great human beings off the court, but also on the court. We’re a selfless team and the whole plan was to make it as far as we could and we made it to April. Not a lot of teams can say that, so that’s a blessing and we just fought hard.”

Building this team wasn’t easy and a lot could’ve gone wrong, but all parties feel it was worth it. Even with a third-place finish in the Summit League and a loss in the WNIT semis, the coaches and players felt this team showed what a Carrie Eighmey-led team will look like from here on out.

“They show up, gave great energy,” Eighmey said. “It’s just fun to be around. Honestly, I think the way they played was very inspiring. I think it speaks to the way that people started showing up for this team and supporting this team. ‘Yote fans have always been very supportive of the women’s basketball program, but I felt like as this season continued to build and this team continued to become more and more of the best version of itself, people got on board and they were inspired and appreciated the way we played. It was a blast to coach them.”

The players all feel this season was a success, even without a trophy, and Eighmey will be the one to bring this South Dakota program back to the heights of the early 2020s.

“And I’m going to boldly say this, I see a Summit League championship in the next couple years,” Robles said. “So bring it back to South Dakota and I will be in the stands watching you guys get it.”