Coyotes Outlast North Carolina Central, 61-54, as Grace Larkins Shines
VERMILLION, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The University of South Dakota women’s basketball team celebrated a hard-fought victory against North Carolina Central, clinching a 61-54 win on Thursday night at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. This marked the Coyotes’ second consecutive victory, improving their season record to 2-4.
Despite a slow start, with USD trailing 15-14 after the first quarter, standout player Grace Larkins ignited the team, scoring 24 points and entering the top 10 in career points at USD with a total of 1,486. Larkins secured her milestone with a pair of free throws that gave the Coyotes a crucial seven-point lead with just 14 seconds remaining.
The game was tightly contested, with USD holding a narrow 39-38 edge going into the final quarter. A pivotal three-pointer by teammate Adara Groman helped the Coyotes extend their lead to 53-49 with just over four minutes left on the clock. The team converted 3 of their last seven three-point attempts in the fourth, reflecting a significant improvement as they initially struggled early on.
"Of course, I’m proud of our team for finding a way to win today," remarked head coach Carrie Eighmey, who celebrated her 250th career victory with a record of 250-125. In addition to Larkins, Alexi Hempe contributed 10 points, while Carley Duffney narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
Next, the Coyotes head to Nashville for the Music City Classic, where they will face Dayton and Arizona State on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The Coyotes are looking to build on their recent success as they continue their season.
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