Coyotes earn birth in Summit championship game with win over Oral Roberts

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—South Dakota’s inside presence dominated in the Coyotes’ 65-43 win over Oral Roberts in the Summit League Tournament semifinals on Monday afternoon inside the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

No. 17/12 South Dakota (29-2) advances to its seventh Summit League Tournament Championship game in eight years. The Coyotes enter the championship match-up riding an 18-game winning streak that ranks fourth in the nation.

The Coyotes dominated the inside game, outscoring the Golden Eagles 44-14 in the paint. Senior forward Taylor Frederick and junior center Hannah Sjerven led the charge with 16 and 15 points, respectively.

Sjerven tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 15 points, 13 boards, seven blocks and three steals. She tied her career highs for both blocks and rebounds in the game. Sjerven also moved to fourth on USD’s career blocks chart.

Frederick finished 8-of-10 from the field, scoring her 16 points in 17 minutes. She also grabbed six boards.

Joining the duo in double-figures for the 30th time this season was senior guard Ciara Duffy with 10 points. Junior guard Chloe Lamb added nine points, six assists and five rebounds.

Oral Roberts was led by all-Summit guard Keni Jo Lippe as the only Golden Eagle in double-figures. She scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

The Coyotes take on South Dakota State in the Summit League Championship at 1 p.m. Tuesday.