VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — The South Dakota Coyotes used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the Air Force Falcons, securing a 75-50 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Friday afternoon at a boisterous DakotaDome.

Playing in their home opener before a crowd of 1,592, the Coyotes improved their early-season record to 2-0, while the Falcons, coming off a season-opening win, evened their mark at 1-1. The final score belied a contest that was competitive for three quarters before South Dakota’s depth and interior strength proved overwhelming.

The game’s trajectory was decisively altered in the final period. After building a 49-41 lead through three quarters, the Coyotes erupted for 26 points in the fourth, nearly matching their total from the entire first half. Air Force, meanwhile, managed only nine points in the final frame, their offensive struggles culminating in the team’s lowest-scoring quarter of the afternoon.

South Dakota’s offense was fueled by a relentless attack in the paint, where they outscored Air Force 54-28. This interior dominance was a key factor in overcoming a surprisingly tight contest that, according to Interstat’s ELO system, had slightly favored the visiting Falcons with a 53 percent probability to win.

Angelina Robles, a dynamic 5-foot-5 guard from San Diego, led all scorers with 22 points in 35 minutes of action. Her scoring punch was crucial in steadying the Coyotes’ offense throughout the game.

However, it was the near-triple-double performance of Patience Williams that exemplified South Dakota’s all-around effort. The 6-foot-1 forward from Minneapolis fell just one rebound short, tallying 14 points and nine boards in an efficient 22 minutes, consistently challenging the Falcons in the key.

Tori Schlagel provided a significant third scoring option for the Coyotes, adding 12 points and seven rebounds. The balanced attack continued with Molly Joyce contributing 11 points off the bench, while Elise Turrubiates directed the offense with a team-high four assists to go with three points and four rebounds.

For Air Force, the offensive execution that propelled them to a 59-50 road win at Denver just four days prior was absent. The Falcons showed flashes, particularly in the second quarter where they posted their best output with 18 points, but they failed to sustain any momentum against South Dakota’s persistent defense.

Emily Adams, a 6-foot forward from Lebanon, Ohio, was a bright spot on the glass for the Falcons, hauling in nine rebounds to go with six points in 30 minutes. Fellow starter Jayda McNabb, a Rapid City native playing in her home state, added six points and five rebounds.

The game began with South Dakota establishing an early advantage, closing the first quarter with a 19-10 lead. Air Force battled back in the second period, outscoring the Coyotes 18-15 to narrow the gap to 34-28 at the halftime break. The third quarter was a defensive stalemate, with both teams scoring 15 points, setting the stage for South Dakota’s decisive fourth-quarter explosion.

The victory extends South Dakota’s strong start to the season, following a 104-33 rout of York in their opener. The Coyotes will look to maintain their momentum when they host Buena Vista on Monday before embarking on a challenging road trip to Kansas State and Idaho State.

Air Force, after splitting its first two games, faces a quick turnaround and a significant step up in competition. The Falcons travel to face Oregon State on Monday as part of a stretch that will see them play seven of their next eight games away from home.

Other contributors for the deep South Dakota squad included Jenna Hopp with five points and five rebounds, and Josie Hill, who matched McNabb as a Rapid City product on the court, pulling down five rebounds in 12 minutes of play.

The loss underscores the challenges ahead for Air Force, which will need to find more consistent scoring sources as it navigates a difficult non-conference schedule. For South Dakota, the win reinforces the team’s depth and versatility as they continue to build towards their Summit League campaign.