Sioux Falls, South Dakota: South Dakota Beats Creighton 54-49 at the Pentagon

South Dakota beat Creighton 54-49 on Wednesday night at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in a game both teams spent most of the night trying to shoot their way out of. The Coyotes won it with defense, rebounding and free throws, and they held the lead from the first quarter to the final minute.

South Dakota moved to 3-0 with the win. Creighton fell to 2-1 and lost for the first time this season. The Argus Leader reported that South Dakota has now beaten Creighton for the second year in a row.

Defense sets the tone

Creighton made one of its first 11 shots and trailed 12-5 after the first quarter. Creighton Athletics reported that the Bluejays opened 2 for 18 over the first 14 minutes and fell behind 19-8, then closed the half on an 11-1 run to trail 20-19 at the break.

The full game numbers stayed low. South Dakota shot 34.1 percent from the field, 14 for 41, and made two of eight shots from deep. Creighton shot 13 for 57, or 22.8 percent, and 5 for 24 from three point range, or 20.8 percent. South Dakota forced 14 Creighton turnovers, nine of them in the first half, and scored 11 points off those turnovers, the Argus Leader reported.

South Dakota had its own problem. Creighton forced 29 Coyote turnovers, 18 of them live ball steals, according to the Argus Leader. Creighton rarely turned those mistakes into clean shots.

Rebounds and free throws carry South Dakota

South Dakota won the rebounding count 44 to 24. Williamson pulled down 11 rebounds to go with her 12 points, for her first double double of the season, South Dakota Athletics reported through KCAU 9. Livi Downs added seven points and six rebounds, and she made both of South Dakota's three pointers.

Joyce led South Dakota with 14 points. Eight of her points came at the free throw line, KCAU 9 reported, and the Argus Leader noted she shot 3 for 10 from the field. Bri Robinson scored seven points and went 5 for 5 at the line. As a team, South Dakota made 24 of 32 free throws on the night, and KCAU 9 reported the Coyotes have attempted 25 or more free throws in all three games this season.

Neleigh Gessert led Creighton with 12 points. Ava Zediker and freshman Mya Moore scored 10 points each for the Bluejays.

Creighton pushes late, Coyotes close it

South Dakota scored the first six points of the third quarter and stretched the lead to 10 on a Williamson layup and free throw with 5:53 left in the quarter. Creighton cut the margin to three at 31-28, but South Dakota took a 40-34 lead into the fourth quarter.

Downs opened the fourth quarter with a three pointer, and Joyce free throws put South Dakota ahead by nine, at 48-38 with four minutes left. Creighton used a full court trap, forced two 10 second calls and cut the lead to 50-45 with 1:23 to play, KCAU 9 reported. South Dakota broke the press twice in the final minute and closed the game out.

What comes next

South Dakota plays at home on Sunday, November 15, against Idaho State, with tip set for 1 p.m., the Argus Leader and KCAU 9 reported. Creighton plays on the road the same day at Northern Iowa, with a 2 p.m. start on ESPN+, Creighton Athletics reported.