SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota continues to sit atop the league standings with an undefeated record through four weeks of league action. The Coyotes have won their last 12 games and look to extend that streak with another week of league play ahead.
 
Oral Roberts and North Dakota both have won the last four league games and rank among the top half of the league standings heading into the week.
 
The fifth week of league play tips off Thursday with all ten teams taking the court at 7 p.m. CT.
 
Around The Summit League (TV/Streaming) | All Game Times Central
Thursday, January 20
Denver at Omaha | 7 p.m.
Oral Roberts at North Dakota | 7 p.m.
Western Illinois at South Dakota (MS) | 7 p.m.
Kansas City at North Dakota State (WDAY/E+) | 7 p.m.
St. Thomas at South Dakota State (MS2) | 7 p.m.
 
Saturday, January 22
St. Thomas at South Dakota (MS) | 1 p.m.
Oral Roberts at North Dakota State (WDAY/E+) | 1 p.m.
Kansas City at North Dakota | 1 p.m.
Western Illinois at South Dakota State (MS/E+) | 2 p.m.
 
Last Week In The League
Thursday, January 13
South Dakota State 72, Omaha 49
North Dakota 76, Western Illinois 65
St. Thomas 73, North Dakota State 62
South Dakota 79, Denver 51
 
Saturday, January 15
South Dakota 68, Omaha 45
North Dakota 66, St. Thomas 55
North Dakota State 63, Western Illinois 55
Oral Roberts 77, Kansas City 66
South Dakota State 87, Denver 43
 
Monday, January 17
Oral Roberts 72, St. Thomas 44
 
Tuesday, January 18
Kansas City 77, Denver 68
 
Rescheduled League Games | All Game Times Central
Monday, January 10
Oral Roberts 62, Denver 53
Kansas City 73, Omaha 64
 
Monday, January 17
Oral Roberts 72, St. Thomas 44
 
Tuesday, January 18
Kansas City 77, Denver 68
 
Monday, January 31
Western Illinois at Kansas City | 6 p.m.
 
Monday, February 14
St. Thomas at Kansas City | 6 p.m.
 
Tuesday, February 15
Western Illinois at Oral Roberts | TBA
 
#BeatType1

• The New Year brought Summit League Basketball play into the primary focus of the league’s ten men’s and women’s programs, but 2022 also brings another important matter back into their focus: type 1 diabetes. All 20 programs will designate a game throughout January to team up with Sanford Health and bring awareness to the disease that more than 1.25 million Americans are currently battling.

 
#BeatType1 Games

Date	Host	Opponents
1/8	North Dakota State	Omaha
1/13	St. Thomas	North Dakota State
1/15	Denver	South Dakota State
1/15	Oral Roberts	Kansas City
1/20	South Dakota State	St. Thomas
1/20	Omaha	Denver
1/22	South Dakota	St. Thomas
1/27	North Dakota	South Dakota State
1/31	Kansas City	Western Illinois

 
Things to Watch

• Preseason Player of the Year Myah Selland was named to the watch list for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Selland is also one of 50 watch list candidates on the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy preseason watch lists.
• She led the league last season with 19.2 ppg and ranked third in assists per game (3.8), field goal percentage (.515) and assists/turnover ratio (1/5) on her way to WBCA Honorable Mention All-America accolades.
• South Dakota's Chloe Lamb and Western Illinois' Danni Nichols were named to the midseason watch list for the 2021-22 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year presented by Her Hoop Stats following impressive starts to the 2021-22 season.
• Lamb is averaging 15.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game so far this season.
• Nichols is currently averaging a team-leading 17.9 points per game, shooting 54.5 percent from the field and over 70 percent from behind the charity stripe. She is also averaging 4.8 rebounds and over two assists per contest.

 
30-Plus Point Club

• On Nov. 20, Kacie Borowicz had a record-breaking showing to help North Dakota to an 89-85 win over Montana State. Borowicz went a perfect 20-for-20 from the free throw line which beats the prior UND single-game record for most free throws made in a game set back in 1990. She finished the game with a game-high 33 points.
• Denver's Anna Jackson sunk 10 threes and scored a Denver women's basketball Division I school-record 36 points to lead the Pioneers to an 87-65 win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Nov. 26.
• On Nov. 27, South Dakota defeated the ACC's Pitt with the help of Chloe Lamb's career-high 30 points. She went 12-for-23 from the field with 10 of her career-high points coming in overtime.
• Omaha picked up its first victory of the season defeating UIC 70-58. Elena Pilakouta led the scoring effort finishing with a career-high 32 points on 14-for-18 shooting from the floor and 4-for-5 from the charity stripe.
• Kansas City defeated UT Arlington on Nov. 28 with the help of Naomie Alnatas' 38-point, seven assists performance. She went 12-for-19 from the field, including 6-for-7 from three-point range, for her second career 35-plus point game.
• On Dec. 4, Hannah Sjerven scored a career-high 35 points to lead the Coyotes to a 71-59 victory over Wichita State. She had equaled her season-high by halftime, then added on 10 second-half points to tally a career-best 35. She knocked down 11-for-17 (64.7 percent) from the floor and went 12-for-15 from the charity stripe.
• Against North Dakota State on Jan. 6, Denver's Uju Ezeudu finished a point shy of her career-high with 31 points on 13-for-20 shooting. She also notched eight rebounds, a block and a steal in a season-high 34 minutes.
• Deja Vu for Borowicz on Jan. 13 as she notched a season-high-tying 33 points in North Dakota’s 76-65 win over Western Illinois. She also secured five rebounds, dished out four assists and snatched a pair of steals in the victory.
• In St. Thomas' 73-62 victory over North Dakota State, Erin Norling contributed 34 of the Tommies' 73 points in the win. She went 6-for-9 from deep to go along with four rebounds, two assists and a block.

 
Top 25 National Rankings

• For the first time since the preseason poll to start the season, South Dakota is receiving votes in the Associated Press Poll.
• The Coyotes continue to be ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25 Poll coming in at No. 8.
• South Dakota State re-entered the top 25 after spending last week receiving votes. The Jackrabbits re-entered the poll at No. 23.
• Kansas City continues to be a topic of conversation in the CollegeInsider.com's poll. They didn't break into the top 25 but are receiving votes in the poll. It is the Roos' ninth consecutive week receiving votes.

 
Among the NCAA's Top 25
Team
Assists
(20) South Dakota State | 282
Blocked Shots
(2) Denver | 109
Block Shots Per Game
(12) Denver | 5.7
Defensive Rebounds Per Game
(11) Western Illinois | 30.4
Free Throw Attempts
(6) Oral Roberts | 365
(23) Western Illinois | 327
Free Throws Made
(2) Oral Roberts | 272
(21) Denver | 234
Free-Throw Percentage
(9) North Dakota | 79.0
Rebound Margin
(25) Kansas City | 8.2
Scoring Defense
(12) South Dakota | 53.1
Scoring Offense
(21) Western Illinois | 77.2
Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
(5) Denver | 489
(15) Western Illinois | 427
Three-Point Field Goals Made
(14) Denver | 150
(20) Western Illinois | 144
(25) South Dakota State | 137
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game
(16) Western Illinois | 9.0
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage
(15) South Dakota State | 37.1
 
Individual
Blocked Shots
(19) Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota | 35
Final Points
(17) Uju Ezeudu, Denver | 323
Free Throw Attempts
(1) Uju Ezeudu, Denver | 134
(15) Danni Nichols, Western Illinois | 100
(21) Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota | 95
Free Throws Made
(2) Uju Ezeudu, Denver | 105
(16) Danni Nichols, Western Illinois | 72
(19) Kacie Borowicz, North Dakota | 70
Free-Throw Percentage
(3) Kacie Borowicz, North Dakota | 95.9
Offensive Rebounds Per Game
(22) Brooklyn McDavid, Kansas City | 3.81
Rebounds
(25) Uju Ezeudu, Denver  | 160
Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
(5) Anna Jackson, Denver | 136
(12) Meghan Boyd, Denver | 129
Three-Point Field Goals Made
(8) Anna Jackson, Denver | 51
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game
(23) Anna Jackson, Denver | 2.83
 
*As of 1/18/22
 
TEAM TRACKER
NOTING THE PIONEERS

• Denver fell to 0-8 in league play after suffering three losses over the week. The Pioneers dropped games to South Dakota (79-51), South Dakota State (87-43) and Kansas City (77-68).
• Ezeudu continued to pace the Pioneers in the three losses. Highlighting her efforts was her 18 point performance against Kansas City. She also finished with eight rebounds, two assists and a steal in the loss.
• Ezeudu has reached double figures in 17 of the Pioneers' 19 games this season.
• Against Kansas City, Meghan Boyd led the Pios finishing with 21 points finishing 7-for-12 from the field, 3-for-5 from behind the three-point line and 4-for-4 from the foul line. She also added four rebounds, three assists and three steals in the loss.

NOTING THE ROOS

• The Roos split the week's road competition, suffering a loss to Oral Roberts 77-66 but bounced back and defeated Denver 77-68.
• In the win over the Pioneers, Naomie Alnatas led the team finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a steal. It was her sixth 20-plus point game this season.
• Brooklyn McDavid, Mandy Willems and Paige Bradford all finished in double-figures in the win, contributing a combined 14 rebounds.
• McDavid notched 14 points and four rebounds while Bradford tallied 13 points and six boards.
• Willems contributed 11 points of her own to go with four rebounds.
• The Roos’ game against Western Illinois on Jan. 6 was rescheduled for Jan. 31. The game against St. Thomas was rescheduled from Jan. 8 to Feb. 14.

NOTING THE FIGHTING HAWKS

• North Dakota is riding a four-game win streak after hitting the road and defeating Western Illinois (76-65) and St. Thomas (66-55).
• Three Fighting Hawks reached double-figures against WIU. Borowicz led UND finishing with 33 points, matching her single game high that she earned earlier this season. She secured five rebounds, four assists and two steals in the win.
• Melissa Leet followed Borowicz with 13 points to go with eight rebounds and two steals.
• Maggie Manson rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points and a pair of assists.
• The Fighting Hawks had three reach double digits against St. Thomas. Leet led UND with a single-game career-high of 22 points to go along with eight rebounds and three blocks.
• Borowicz followed with 19 points, two assists and a steal.
• Olivia Lane ended with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds in the win.

NOTING THE BISON

• The Bison moved to 3-4 in league play after splitting the week's road competition. The Bison lost to St. Thomas (73-62) but turned around and defeated Western Illinois (63-55).
• Heaven Hamling paced the Bison in the win over the Leathernecks. She netted a season-high 25 points on 5-for-10 shooting from behind the three-point line. She also grabbed a career-high nine rebounds and handed out four assists.
• Hamling's 25 points against WIU marked her third 20-point game of the season.
• Olivia Skibiel was the only other Bison in double figures against the Leathernecks. Skibiel notched her second straight double-digit scoring performance with a season-best 16 points and eight rebounds.
• The squad shot 87.5 percent from the free throw line in the win. Skibiel paced NDSU going a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the line. Abby Schulte followed going 6-for-8 from behind the charity stripe.

NOTING THE MAVERICKS

• Omaha moved to 2-6 in league play after falling to Kansas City (73-64), South Dakota State (72-49) and South Dakota (68-45).
• In Omaha's tough nine-point loss to Kansas City, Mariah Murdie led the scoring efforts finishing with a career-high 25 points. She was 11-for-16 from the field and hauled down six rebounds.
• Grace Cave followed her lead finishing with 14 points, including sinking three shots from beyond the three-point line.
• Defensively, Josie Filer grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, marking her third double-digit rebound effort of the season.
• Against South Dakota State, Elena Pilakouta notched 16 points to lead the Mavericks coming off the bench after missing the previous two games to injury.
• She was the only Maverick in double digits.
• In the loss to South Dakota, three different Mavericks reached double-figures including Cave and Murdie who both finished with a team-high 12 points.
• Filer rounded out the double-digit scorers finishing with 10 points to go along with her seven boards.

NOTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES

• The Golden Eagles moved to 4-2 in league play after picking up wins over Kansas City (77-66) and St. Thomas (72-44).
• Tirzah Moore led ORU against the Roos as she posted a career-high 21 points in the win.
• Keni Jo Lippe followed with 20 points, including 10 from the free throw line. Katie Scott rounded out the double-figure scoring effort finishing with 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
• Against St. Thomas, Delaney Nix led all scorers with a new career-high 16 points.
• Scott followed Nix with 15 points of her own to go along with a game-high eight rebounds.
• Moore was the final Golden Eagle in double digits against the Tommies finishing with 12 points and six rebounds.
• Oral Roberts' games against Western Illinois on Jan. 8 have been rescheduled to Tuesday, Feb. 15 due to COVID-19 protocols.

NOTING THE TOMMIES

• St. Thomas moved to 3-3 in league play after picking up a victory over North Dakota State (73-62) and losing to North Dakota (66-55) and Oral Roberts (72-44).
• In the win over North Dakota State, the Tommies were led by Erin Norling and Jade Hill. The duo combined for 56 of the Tommies' 73 points.
• Norling finished with a game-high 34 points going 6-for-9 from deep. She also pulled down four rebounds, dished out a pair of assists and notched a block.
• Hill notched 22 points and was 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
• Kaia Porter fell just short of a double-double as she finished with nine points and 10 rebounds in the win.
• The Tommies game at Kansas City on Jan. 8 has been rescheduled to Feb. 14 due to COVID-19 protocols.

NOTING THE COYOTES

• South Dakota extend its win streak to 12 straight games and moved to 7-0 in league play after defeating Denver (79-51) and Omaha (68-45) on the road.
• Against the Pioneers, four Coyotes reached double-digits with Chloe Lamb, Hannah Sjerven and Maddie Krull scoring 14 points apiece to pace USD. Grace Larkin rounded out the double-figure scorers finishing with 12 points.
• The squad was efficient from the floor having shot 50 percent (29-for-58) from the floor and 44.4 percent (8-for-18) from behind the three-point line. The Coyotes also scored 35 points off 24 Pioneer turnovers.
• Liv Korngable led the Coyotes against Omaha finishing with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the floor and a season-best four three-pointers.
• Lamb was the only other Coyote in double-digits finishing with 12 points to go along with five assists, three steals, two rebounds and a block.

NOTING THE JACKRABBITS

• South Dakota State is now 6-1 in league play after picking up two road wins over Omaha (72-49) and Denver (87-43).
• In the Jacks' win over the Mavericks, Paiton Burckhard and Tori Nelson led SDSU as the only two Jacks to finish in double-figure scoring.
• Burckhard led with a team-high 16 points with five rebounds and an assist. Nelson finished with 13 points, six rebounds and a pair of assists.
• The Jackrabbits knocked down 13 three-pointers on 50 percent shooting with eight different players hitting at least one triple against the Mavericks.
• Against Denver, four Jacks finish in double-digits led by Myah Selland's 14 points to go with four rebounds and three assists.
• Kallie Theisen was 6-for-8 shooting en route to 13 points while Nelson and Haleigh Timmer chipped in 11 points apiece.

NOTING THE LEATHERNECKS

• Western Illinois moved to 2-3 in league play after suffering losses to North Dakota (76-65) and North Dakota State (63-55).
• Against North Dakota, three Leathernecks finished in double-figures led by Evan Zars who finished with a season-high 17 points, eight rebounds and a block.
• Jada Thorpe and Samantha Pryor followed behind Zars. Thorpe chipped in 12 points while Pryor finished with 11 of her own.
• It was a well-rounded effort against North Dakota State with four Leathernecks finishing in double figures.
• Danni Nichols paced the efforts finishing with 14 while Zars and Thorpe contributed 11 apiece and Lutz chipped in 10.
• Zars also grabbed 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.
• The Leathernecks' game at Kansas City scheduled for Jan. 6 has been rescheduled to Jan. 31 due to COVID-19 protocols.
• Western Illinois' game against Oral Roberts on Jan. 8 was rescheduled to Tuesday, Feb. 15 due to COVID-19 protocols.