VERMILLION, S.D – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) women's basketball team plays at the South Dakota Coyotes at 11 a.m. Friday at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion.

UTRGV opened with a program-record 114-47 win over Arlington Baptist on Monday. Junior guard Jesslynn Jalomo and sophomore guard Kamryn McLaurin each scored 21 points off the bench, and sophomore forward Rylie Whitehair had 19 points on 8-for-8 shooting. Graduate student guard Janette Aarnio posted eight assists and eight rebounds in her UTRGV debut, and the Vaqueros shot a program-record 64.4% from the field.

South Dakota opened the season Monday with a 95-38 win over York. Four Coyotes scored in double figures, led by Molly Joyce with 15 points, and Ava Miller had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Tori Schlagel and Gabby Jackson each added 11 points. South Dakota forced 33 turnovers while committing only 14.

South Dakota leads the all-time series 3-2, including a 71-44 win Dec. 18, 2025, at the Malibu Classic in Malibu, California. Both teams reached the Women's National Invitation Tournament last season. UTRGV won its first-round game before being eliminated, while the Coyotes advanced to the Fab Four.

Friday's game will be the second meeting between UTRGV head coach Lane Lord and South Dakota head coach Carrie Eighmey since taking over their current programs, but the two have a history. Lord's Pittsburg State teams won all three Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association meetings against Eighmey's Nebraska-Kearney squads over the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. South Dakota won last season's meeting, putting Lord at 3-1 against Eighmey overall.

Fans wishing to watch the game via livestream can access the broadcast through Midco Sports Plus. A paid subscription is required to view the game.
 
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