The University of South Dakota used a 47-22 rebounding advantage to help the Coyotes defeat Wayne State 82-53 Monday evening in a women's college basketball exhibition contest played at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion, South Dakota.
            Wayne State stayed close to the Coyotes early in the contest.  USD took a 22-16 lead in the first quarter with junior Maya Fitpatrick scoring seven points for the 'Cats followed by junior Delaney Clark with a pair of 3-pointers and six points.
            The 'Cats closed to within two points early in the second quarter at 24-22 following a basket by Tate Norblade.
            But South Dakota held the Wildcats scoreless the remainder of the quarter and the Coyotes built a 37-22 lead at intermission.
            The host Coyotes held a 23-11 scoring advantage in the third quarter and ended with a slim 22-20 fourth quarter scoring edge to finish with an 82-53 win over the Wildcats.
            Clark and Fitzpatrick led Wayne State in scoring with 12 points each.  Graduate student Britney Ho added nine with Norblade scoring six.
            Wayne State made 21 of 48 shots for 43.8 percent, going 7 of 21 behind the arc.  The 'Cats were 4 for 6 at the free throw line.
            Grace Larkins poured in 27 points for South Dakota with Tori DePerry adding 16 points and 10 rebounds.
            South Dakota shot 44.4 percent from the floor making 32 of 72 shots, but was only 6 of 32 from 3-point range.  The Coyotes made 12 of 21 free throws.
            USD held a commanding 47-22 edge in rebounding thanks to 24 offensive boards.  The Coyotes scored 50 points in the paint and forced 26 turnovers on the Wildcats.
            Fitzpatrick had four steals for WSC while Carsyn Boswell and Meg Reitz each had two assists.
            Wayne State opens the 2023-24 regular season on Friday, November 10^th hosting Buena Vista at 6 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.