South Dakota pulls off 72-71 upset at Kansas State: "We’ve got to stay hungry”

South Dakota didn’t just beat a Power 5 opponent on Friday night. The Coyotes walked into Manhattan and handed Kansas State a rare home loss, edging the Wildcats 72–71 in a game that showcased the team’s resilience.

For head coach Carrie Eighmey, the win was a reflection of who this group already is.

“They play with a lot of courage and fearlessness,” Eighmey said. “For 13 new players, the chemistry is really pretty good. Someone complimented just how well they play together, and that’s credit to them and who they are as people.”

The Coyotes needed every bit of that chemistry in Manhattan, where Kansas State has dropped only a handful of games over the past several years. South Dakota battled foul trouble all night, putting K-State on the line 39 times, and still found answers each time they suffered adversity.

Two freshmen buried massive fourth-quarter shots. Rotational players stepped into bigger roles. And when the clock was ticking, patience and poise carried them through.

No moment embodied that more than the shot from senior Patience Williams – her only made field goal of the night – which happened to be the game-winning three-pointer.

“She was in and out of the game in foul trouble, and we could never really get her any touches,” Eighmey said. “But she stayed locked in and didn’t get too in her head or too frustrated with how the game had gone for her. I heard her on the bench cheering for teammates, keeping everyone locked in. The biggest thing about that moment was that she wasn’t afraid – to take that shot or to miss it…Not everybody wants that moment and she did. She was able to deliver and so I’m happy for her and happy for our team.”

The Coyotes share the ball, play connected and prepare the same way whether it’s Buena Vista they’re facing or a Big 12 opponent on the road.

“Hopefully we handle success as well as we handle adversity,” Eighmey said. “Sometimes you can get full pretty quickly when you win a game like we did tonight. We’ve got to stay hungry.”

Parity in women’s college basketball is increasing each year and South Dakota’s win on Thursday night proved that the Coyotes are a team to watch – regardless of who’s on the opposing bench.