VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota women’s basketball found themselves trailing for over 35 minutes of Thursday night’s home game against Kansas City, but ultimately the Coyotes wound up on top, 70-65 in overtime inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. South Dakota hit their second field goal at tempt of the game, a Jenna Hopp layup, to go up 2-0, then proceed to miss their next 12 attempts of the quarter to trail 13-2 after one. South Dakota’s struggles in the field goal department (1-of-14) were combined with seven first quarter turnovers to give Kansas City an advantage. When South Dakota needed a spark in the second quarter, freshman Tori Schlagel provided it in a big way. She scored USD’s first five points of the second quarter, scoring first on a second-chance three-pointer, then on a cut to the basket for a lay-in as the shot clock expired. Schlagel ended the day with a career-best 17 points. Molly Joyce buried an open three-pointer off a Kansas City turnover to cut the lead to six, 19-13 with 4:07 to play in the first half. That was the closest USD would get until Angelina Robles made a lay-up with 11 seconds left in the half to make it 26-22 going into the intermission. After the cold start to the first quarter, South Dakota hit 50% of its shots in the second, including going 3-for-4 from three, to get back into the game. The cold shooting returned for the Coyotes in the third though, as an 11-0 run from the Roos to open the second half put USD at its largest deficit (15). As was the story all night, South Dakota responded again, this time on a 6-0 run including a pair of baskets from Josie Hill, whose nine points on the night puts her at 998 in her collegiate career. The 6-0 run was the start of a larger 15-4 run to close the third quarter that put the Roo lead back to just four entering the fourth. Schagel and Hill combined for 13 of the 15 points scored in the quarter to keep South Dakota afloat entering the fourth. The two sides traded makes for the first nearly four minutes of the quarter, but at the six minute mark of the frame, Schlagel sank a three-pointer, and after a Kansas City turnover, forced by a Schlagel steal, Elise Turrubiates scored on an assist from Schlagel to give USD its first lead since 2-0. The 48-47 lead didn’t last long, as the Roos responded right back. South Dakota opened up its largest lead of the game off a 6-0 run, capped by a Joyce three-point play, to lead 54-49 with 2:51 to play. Again, the Roos responded, this time to the tune of a 7-2 run to tie the game and force overtime. The Roos got the jump in overtime, USD’s first overtime game of the season, leading by four just over 90 seconds into the extra period. South Dakota made one last push, going on an 11-0 run, with nine of those points coming at the free throw line, to put the game away for good. In total, three Coyotes scored in double figures, led by Schlagel’s 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting. She added five rebounds, two assists and a career-high four steals. Robles may have been third on the team in scoring with 14 points Thursday, but she contributed with seven assists, matching her career high, and snatching five rebounds. Joyce was the other Coyote in double figures, scoring 15 with five rebounds and two assists. Hill was a major contributor in the second half and overtime in the win, totaling nine points and 11 rebounds. Turrubiates snatched 12 rebounds, including four offensive boards, to go with six points. Thursday was the fourth time in the last five games that Turrubiates grabbed double digit rebounds. The Coyotes may have lost the field goal percentage battle as Kansas City shot 40.9% from the field, compared to 35.5% for the Yotes, but USD controlled the glass, snatching 49 rebounds to the Roos’ 33. USD had 18 offensive rebounds for 18 second chance points. The Coyotes also got to the free throw line a season-high 29 times, converting 22 of those attempts. Twelve of USD’s 14 points in the overtime period were scored at the charity stripe. South Dakota is now at 20 wins on the season and 10 in conference play. This is the first overtime win for the Coyotes under head coach Carrie Eighmey, who is now 1-2 in overtime games as the leader of the Coyotes. The Coyotes now get to rest, being the lone Summit League team not in action this weekend. The Coyotes are back in the SCSC for a pair of games next week, first at home against Omaha on Thursday, followed by a Senior Day home game against conference leading North Dakota State Saturday. NOTABLES • South Dakota is 20-6 on the season, 11-2 at home, and 10-2 in Summit League play. • The Coyotes are now 1-0 in overtime games this season, and 1-2 under head coach Carrie Eighmey • Schlagel led the Coyotes with 17 points and four steals, both career highs for the freshman. • Robles tallied 14 points and matched a career high with seven assists. • Joyce pitched in 15 points, her eighth 15+ point game of conference play. • Turrubiates grabbed 12 rebounds, her fourth double digit rebounding game in the last five, to go with six points. • Hill contributed nine points and 11 rebounds, and is now two points away from 1,000 in her collegiate career. • USD is now 18-1 this season when outrebounding its opponent. • The Coyotes are now 4-2 in game decided by five points or less this season, an improvement from being 3-3 in close games a season ago. ...read more read less