Harrington, Coyotes hang with Creighton

VERMILLION, S.D. - Sarah Nelson scored 23 points and Creighton forced 25 turnovers during a 53-49 win against South Dakota Tuesday at DakotaDome.

Nelson shot 7-for-11 and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Bluejays (2-1).  No other Bluejay scored more than eight points.

South Dakota’s Polly Harrington scored a season-high 20 points to lead the Coyotes (1-3), while Tempestt Wilson scored a season-high 12 points. Harrington shot 8-for-10 and 3-for-3 from the three-point arc, while Wilson was 5-for-10 shooting.

Creighton forced 14 first half turnovers, seven of which coming from steals. Creighton had its largest lead of the game at 20-7 with 8:03 left in the first, but South Dakota went on a 14-3 run over the next 4:19 with 11 points in that stretch coming from Harrington.  Creighton built the lead to 31-23 for halftime.

The Coyotes shot 10-for-20 in the second half, but got back into the game on the defensive side by holding Creighton to two points over a span of eight minutes.  South Dakota got as close 42-39 with 9:19 left, but equaled Creighton’s cold streak with just one basket over the next eight minutes.  The Yotes never got closer than four points the rest of the way.

Despite the 25 turnovers, the Coyotes held Creighton to a 17-7 edge in points off turnovers, and held the Bluejays to just one second chance point. 

South Dakota recorded a 41-25 rebound advantage and an 11-7 offensive rebound edge against the taller Creighton lineup.  The Coyotes have outrebounded their opponents in all four games this season.