by VERMILLION, S.D. – The Coyote women’s basketball program picked up its third straight win to open the 2025-26 campaign, taking down Buena Vista 104-54 Monday night inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
South Dakota (3-0) continued its hot start to the season on the offensive end of the floor with four players scoring in double figures Monday night. Angelina Robles and Elise Turrubiates paced the charge on the scoring front, both scoring 17 points, but in different ways. Robles hit five three-pointers,a career-high achieved all in the second half, to get 15 of her 17. Meanwhile, Turrubiates feasted on jumpers and lay-ups, converting 8-of-11 shots from the field to pick up 16 of her 17.
Joining Turrubiates and Robles in double figures were Josie Hill and Olivia Kieffer. Hill, no stranger to double-double performances at Chicago State before joining the Yotes this season, recorded her first as a Coyote with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kieffer, much like Robles, was hot from the three-point arc Monday night, converting four to total 12 points.
The Coyotes also dominated the glass Monday, grabbing 55 rebounds to Buena Vista’s 26. Patience Williams had 11 boards to lead the team. Twenty-three of USD’s 55 rebounds were on the offensive end. Williams had six o-boards to lead the team, while Hill contributed five. South Dakota had 33 second chance points.
USD also won the turnover battle for a second time in three games, forcing 22 turnovers and scoring 33 points off those turnovers. Williams led USD with three steals.
The Beavers started the first half out strong, totaling 30 points, including getting to the free throw line for 13 attempts, converting 11 of them. The Coyotes started to clamp down in the second half, allowing just 24 points and forcing 14 turnovers.
For the second time in three games, every Coyote who played, scored. Every Coyote recorded a rebound and nine of them picked up assists.
When it was all said and done, Robles totaled 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Turrubiates added 17 points, five rebounds, a block, and a steal. Hill captured the first double-double of the season for a Yote, totaling 14 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, four blocks, and a steal. Williams scored seven points, but added 11 rebounds and three steals to the mix. Molly Joyce, fresh of a double-digit scoring effort Friday, tallied eight points and had a team high five assists.
In the tenth season of the SCSC, the Coyotes reached a couple of milestones Monday night. It was USD’s 100th win in the SCSC when leading at the half (100-6 all-time in the building). It was also the 100th win when holding their opponent to less than 45% shooting (100-7). Monday was the 20th time USD has scored over 90 points in the SCSC, and the Yotes are 20-0 in those games. It was also the 40th time the Coyotes have allowed their opponent to score somewhere in the 50-59 point range, and USD is 40-0 when that happens.
