USD defeats Northern Arizona to advance to WNIT Super 16
South Dakota women's basketball overcame a 10-point deficit to advance to the WNIT Super 16 on Tuesday night, defeating Northern Arizona, 79-65. The Coyotes outscored the Lumberjacks by 16 in the fourth quarter.
Junior guard Grace Larkins scored a career-high 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. She scored 12 of the Coyotes' (23-12, 9-7) first 17 points.
Northern Arizona (25-10, 15-3) set a single-season program record in wins this season with 25.
After an evenly matched first quarter, the Lumberjacks created some separation before the end of the first half. NAU scored right before the first-half buzzer to take a 37-31 lead heading into the break.
South Dakota tied the game at 55 in the fourth quarter on a layup by Alexi Hempe. They took the lead on their next trip down the court on a layup from Carley Duffney. Both buckets were part of a 13-point run by the Coyotes that extended the lead to nine halfway through the fourth quarter.
The Coyotes capitalized on 18 Lumberjacks turnovers to score 19 points. Larkins came up with four of the team's six steals. The Coyotes also finished 27of-28 from the line while Northern Arizona had just six attempts. Larkins made all 11 of her shots from the charity stripe.
This marked the second straight game the Coyotes have had four players reach double-digit scoring numbers. Larkins, Hempe, Nicole Avila-Ambrosi, and Duffney all reached double figures.
Northern Arizona junior guard Leia Beattie led the way for the Lumberjacks with 19 points. Sophomore forward Sophie Glancey was a strong presence in the paint for Northern Arizona. She scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and blocked four shots in the game.
South Dakota advances to the WNIT
Super 16 to face Wyoming on Friday in Laramie, Wyoming at 7:30 p.m.
Jonathan Fernandez covers high school and college sports for the Argus Leader. Contact him at jfernandez1@argusleader.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFERN31