VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — The South Dakota Coyotes, propelled by a dominant first-quarter offensive explosion and a combined 40 points from their star guard duo, defeated the Pepperdine Waves 73-57 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at DakotaDome.

A crowd of 1,596 watched as the Coyotes (25-9) seized control of the game from the opening tip, building a commanding 23-point lead after the first quarter and never looking back. The Waves (21-13), despite a valiant effort to chip away at the deficit, could not overcome the early onslaught.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably the first quarter, where South Dakota established a tone of overwhelming efficiency that Pepperdine could not answer. The Coyotes erupted for 32 points in the opening period, shooting a blistering 11 for 18 from the field, including 4 of 7 from three-point range. Meanwhile, Pepperdine managed only nine points on 4-of-15 shooting and committed four turnovers. This 32-9 quarter effectively decided the contest, as the Waves spent the remaining 30 minutes playing catch-up against a disciplined South Dakota squad.

South Dakota’s offensive clinic was led by sophomore guard Angelina Robles of San Diego, California, and junior forward Patience Williams of Minneapolis. Robles scored a game-high 20 points, adding two assists and two steals in 38 minutes. Williams was equally formidable, also pouring in 20 points while contributing three assists, seven rebounds and two steals in just 27 minutes of action. Their early scoring barrage, particularly from beyond the arc, dismantled Pepperdine’s defensive schemes.

The Coyotes’ ball movement and shot selection were exemplary, finishing with 11 made three-pointers on 23 attempts and assisting on seven of their 28 total field goals. Guard Molly Joyce of Algona, Iowa, orchestrated the offense with five assists, while Jenna Hopp of Glenwood, Iowa, provided crucial all-around play with 11 points, four assists and a block.

Pepperdine, which had defeated South Dakota 73-65 in Malibu back in December, found no such rhythm offensively this time. The Waves shot 40.4 percent from the field and were hampered by 13 turnovers, which South Dakota converted into 15 points. Senior forward Elli Guiney of Goodyear, Arizona, led Pepperdine with 16 points and two blocks. Guard Taija Sta. Maria of Toronto distributed five assists, but the Waves managed only four assists as a team against seven for the Coyotes, highlighting South Dakota’s superior defensive pressure and Pepperdine’s stagnant offense for long stretches.

After the disastrous first quarter, Pepperdine showed resilience. The Waves outscored South Dakota 19-19 in the second quarter and 13-9 in the third, narrowing the gap to 60-41 heading into the final frame. A 7-0 run early in the fourth quarter, capped by a three-pointer from reserve Irune Orio, brought Pepperdine within 63-50 with 9:22 remaining, forcing a South Dakota timeout.

However, the Coyotes responded with the composure of a veteran team. Hopp scored inside off a feed from Robles, and after a Pepperdine turnover, Molly Joyce drove for a layup to push the lead back to 67-50, effectively extinguishing the Waves’ last threat. South Dakota’s defense tightened again, holding Pepperdine without a field goal for over four minutes during the critical stretch.

For the game, South Dakota’s offensive rating of 104.6 points per 100 possessions starkly outpaced Pepperdine’s 82.3, underlining the efficiency gap. The Coyotes also won the turnover battle, committing nine to Pepperdine’s 13, and out-rebounded the Waves 34-28.

The victory extends South Dakota’s strong close to the season, having won eight of its last ten games. Pepperdine sees a two-game winning streak snapped as it concludes its regular season schedule.