USD women fall in overtime behind LMU comeback

VERMILLION, S.D. (USD) — For the second time in three games, the South Dakota women's basketball team fell in overtime in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center Wednesday night, dropping a 71-67 result to LMU. Grace Larkins continued her hot start to the season with a season-high 29 points, adding nine rebounds and six assists. Six of her nine boards were offensive, as USD grabbed 14 offensive rebounds as a team. Carley Duffney continued her streak of double-digit scoring games by totaling 12 points. She added seven rebounds. Olivia Kieffer made her first start in a Coyote uniform, totaling 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists. USD scored 20 points in both quarters of the first half to open a 40-22 lead. The largest USD lead was 40-19 in the closing seconds of the second quarter before a buzzer-beating three-pointer from LMU closed the half. Larkins scored 22 of her 29 points in the first half on 11-of-16 shooting. As a team, the Coyotes were 18-of-31 in the half. USD's longest scoring run in the first half was 10 points. LMU opened the third quarter with a couple of quick baskets and worked the lead to single digits late in the quarter. A strong finish by the Coyotes allowed them to hold a 52-40 lead after three. The lead held steady for a good portion of the fourth quarter, but in the final minutes, a 9-0 run from the Lions gave them a 60-59 lead. Larkins scored her final point of the game on a free throw to tie the game at 60 and force overtime. The Lions built a five-point lead in the overtime period and USD was unable to recover. The Coyotes are now 0-3, and 0-2 in overtime games to start the season. Next up, the Coyotes head to Sioux Falls for a battle with No. 21/20 Nebraska at the Sanford Pentagon. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday on Heritage Court. NOTABLES: • Grace Larkins totaled a season-high 29 points in the loss, 22 of which were scored in the first 20 minutes. • For the second consecutive game, Larkins finished one rebound shy of a double-double. • Carley Duffney recorded 12 points for the second straight game and has scored in double figures in eight straight dating back to last season. • Olivia Kieffer made her first career start Wednesday, scoring a season-best 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting. • Kieffer's 34 minutes is a career-high, and she added six rebounds and three assists to her stat line. • Coral Mason continues to see her role with the Yotes grow, playing 23 minutes and setting a new career-best with six points and tying a career-high with five rebounds Wednesday. • Mason is 3-for-5 on the season from beyond the arc, including making two against the Lions. • Gabby Wilke also made an impact off the bench Wednesday, totaling five points and three rebounds in 10 minutes. • Alexi Hempe played a career-high 38 minutes Wednesday, scoring four points and grabbing seven rebounds. • LMU came into Wednesday shooting over 40% from three, but shot 20% from beyond the arc against the Coyote defense. • USD has kept all three opponents under 30% from three this season. • South Dakota is now 0-2 in overtime this season and both losses came in the SCSC.