VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — South Dakota defeated Texas-Rio Grande Valley 68-56 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game at DakotaDome. The Coyotes improved to 2-0. The Vaqueros fell to 1-1. Attendance was 2,102.

South Dakota received a strong all-around effort from Latazia Williamson, who scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Olivia Downs added 10 points and five rebounds, and Bri Robinson came off the bench to score 11 points with four assists. Molly Joyce finished with 12 points, Tori Schlagel had six points and three assists, Jenna Hopp scored six points with four rebounds, and Katy Reyerson added three points and three rebounds. South Dakota shot 19 of 42 from the floor, 6 of 16 from 3-point range and 24 of 35 from the free-throw line. The Coyotes scored 68 points from 69 possessions for an offensive rating of 99.1. South Dakota also had six offensive rebounds, five assists and two blocks while committing 16 turnovers.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley was paced by Janette Aarnio, who scored 16 points and handed out three assists. Kamryn McLaurin added 15 points and three rebounds, and Lina Fimbo scored six points with 10 rebounds. The Vaqueros shot 19 of 49 from the floor, 3 of 12 from beyond the arc and 15 of 20 from the free-throw line. Texas-Rio Grande Valley scored 56 points from 70 possessions for an offensive rating of 80.6. The Vaqueros had four assists and four offensive rebounds while committing 15 turnovers. South Dakota’s defense made scoring difficult for long stretches, and the Coyotes controlled the glass enough to keep the Vaqueros from building momentum.

The first half was tightly contested, with both teams trading baskets and runs. Texas-Rio Grande Valley got early production from Aarnio and McLaurin, while South Dakota answered with Williamson in the paint and Joyce from the perimeter. The Vaqueros used a late second-quarter push to take a narrow lead into halftime, but the Coyotes responded after the break. South Dakota opened the third quarter with free throws from Robinson and a pullup jumper from Downs. The Coyotes kept attacking inside and got a 3-pointer from Hopp and free throws from Schlagel to build separation. South Dakota’s defense also tightened in the third, limiting Texas-Rio Grande Valley’s clean looks and forcing the Vaqueros to work deep into possessions.

The most important stretch came in the third quarter, when South Dakota turned a close game into a double-digit cushion. Robinson’s free throws tied the game early in the period, and Downs followed with a pullup jumper to give the Coyotes the lead. After Texas-Rio Grande Valley answered, South Dakota went back ahead on free throws from Joyce and Schlagel. A 3-pointer by Hopp and two free throws from Schlagel helped push the margin to nine by the end of the quarter. South Dakota kept the Vaqueros at arm’s length the rest of the way.

In the fourth quarter, Texas-Rio Grande Valley tried to rally. Fimbo hit a 3-pointer early in the period, and McLaurin scored on a layup to cut into the lead. The Vaqueros pulled within 63-54 on Elise Horne’s free throw with 2:37 remaining. South Dakota answered with two free throws from Robinson. Madison Huhn scored for Texas-Rio Grande Valley with 48.8 seconds left, but Downs sealed the result with a 3-pointer at the 18.8-second mark. South Dakota’s late free-throw shooting and defensive stops kept the Vaqueros from completing the comeback.

South Dakota’s victory followed a season-opening 95-38 win over York of Nebraska. Texas-Rio Grande Valley had opened its season with a 114-47 win over Arlington Baptist. The Vaqueros next play at Kansas State. South Dakota next hosts Creighton in Sioux Falls.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas-Rio Grande Valley 65, South Dakota 64. Interstat’s ELO system had projected South Dakota with an 84.7 percent probability to win. South Dakota had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -9.5. The total score of 124 went over the over/under line of 129.5.