South Dakota connects from long range to drop Mountain Lions

COLORADO SPRINGS â€" Annie Roche had a career-high 17 points to lead the South Dakota Coyotes to a 66-58 victory over the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Monday evening at the Lionsâ€^TM Den.

South Dakotaâ€^TMs Ashley Wiemann went 5-for-8 from 3-point range, accounting for her 15 points. As a team, the Coyotes (12-3) hit 50 percent (9-for-18) of their 3-point attempts.

Ironically, forcing the Coyotes to the perimeter was exactly what the Mountain Lions (5-6) were hoping for. UCCS came into the game looking to put the brakes on South Dakotaâ€^TMs dynamic post player, Bridget Yoerger, who came in averaging 18.4 points per game. They were successful, holding the all-American candidate to just five points.

“We knew that (Yoerger) was a really strong post and (Jasmine Mosley, who finished with 10 points) was really good also,” said UCCS coach Jessika Caldwell. “We wanted to double-team their posts.”

Unfortunately for UCCS, South Dakotaâ€^TMs perimeter game was able to meet the challenge.

“Their guards really came to play and came to shoot and they made us pay,” said Caldwell.

Mallory Lowe led the Mountain Lions with 15 points, while Jazzmin Awa-Williams added 12 and Payden Ackerman had 11. Nancy Hoist grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, matching her career high, as UCCS held 50-31 edge on the glass. That advantage was lost as the Mountain Lions were outshot 44.2 percent to 31.9 percent. UCCS shot a meager 4-for-15 from 3-point range with Ackerman (3-for-5) being the only threat.

“Theyâ€^TMre big and physical defensively,” said Caldwell. “Because we werenâ€^TMt hitting our outside shots, we werenâ€^TMt able to pull the defense out to open up the inside.”

Neither team led by more than four in a back-and-forth first half that saw nine ties. UCCS went into the break holding a 35-33 lead.

South Dakota came out aggressively in the second half, scoring the first seven points and opening with a 13-2 run. UCCS whittled the deficit down to five twice, but were answered by 3-pointers â€" one by Wiemann and one by Roche â€" each time.

“I thought we played them tough. Give South Dakota credit; they made big shots when they needed to make big shots,” said Caldwell. “Weâ€^TMd cut the lead close and then over-help and theyâ€^TMd make the big three.”