USD rallies past Northern Arizona to advance in WNIT
Mar. 26—VERMILLION, S.D. — Grace Larkins scored a career-high 34 points and the University of South Dakota women's basketball team turned the game around in the second half with a 79-65 WNIT victory on Tuesday over Northern Arizona at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
The Coyotes (23-12) will now play at Wyoming on Friday, March 29 in the WNIT's Round of 16.
USD outscored NAU 48-28 after halftime, including erasing a four-point lead early in the third quarter with a 13-0 Coyotes run that was extended to 18-3 over the first 7 minutes of the fourth quarter.
Larkins had 34 points on 10-for-24 shooting from the field, plus an 11-for-11 effort at the free-throw line, along with 12 rebounds and four steals. Alexi Hempe had 13 points, Nicole Avila-Ambrosi had 12 points and Carley Duffney finished with 11 points for USD.
The Coyotes won the game with their effort at the free-throw line, converting 27 of 28 attempts, compared to only six attempts for NAU. USD held the Lumberjacks to 32.5% shooting, while firing at a 37.7% clip on the offensive end. USD also forced 18 turnovers and turned those into 19 points.
For the Lumberjacks (25-10), who led by as many as 10 points early in the second half, Leia Beattie had 19 points and Sophie Glancey had 13 points.
