Game Summary
The Valparaiso women’s basketball team faced a challenging matchup on the road, succumbing to South Dakota with a score of 85-44. This game took place on Friday in Vermillion, South Dakota.
Game Progression
The Beacons initially kept pace, with Fiona Connolly (South Burlington, Vt./Brewster Academy [La Salle]) scoring to bring the team within striking distance at 10-5. However, South Dakota responded fiercely, closing the first quarter with a dominant 13-0 run, leading 23-5.
Valpo’s offense found some rhythm in the second quarter, with Connolly and Milana Nenadic (Kitchener, Ontario/Cameron Heights [Idaho State/Maine]) contributing all of the team’s 13 points. Despite this effort, the defense held South Dakota to a mere 4-of-16 shooting, allowing Valpo to narrow the halftime gap to 32-18.
The second half saw South Dakota seize control, starting with an 11-2 run and establishing a significant lead of 60-31 by the end of the third quarter. The Coyotes continued their momentum into the fourth, scoring the first nine points.
Performance Highlights
- Connolly was the standout for Valpo, scoring 16 points on 8-of-15 shooting, marking her third double-digit game of the season.
- Mikayla Huffine (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Lutheran [Quincy/Iowa Western C.C.) delivered a season-high performance with seven points and a team-leading five rebounds.
- The Beacons struggled offensively, shooting only 26.2% from the field and converting just 2 out of 22 attempts from beyond the arc.
- South Dakota displayed superior rebounding skills with a tally of 62-34 over Valpo, translating 19 offensive rebounds into 22 second-chance points.
Looking Ahead
Currently holding a record of 0-5, Valpo is set to travel to Cleveland, Ohio, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The team will compete against Radford, Cleveland State, and St. Bonaventure across a four-day stretch starting on Wednesday.
