SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (USD and SDSU) — South Dakota women’s basketball was picked as the favorites in the Summit League Preseason Poll for the first time as announced by the league office Monday, while South Dakota State — who has won 9 of the last 11 Summit League women’s tournaments — is picked second.
USD senior guard Ciara Duffy was voted the Summit League Preseason Player of the Year, while a trio of teammates joined her on the league’s preseason teams. The polls were voted by on by the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and select media members.
Duffy was joined by junior center Hannah Sjerven on the preseason all-Summit League first team. Senior guard Madison McKeever and junior guard Chloe Lamb were voted to the preseason all-Summit second team.SDSU’s Tagyn Larson and Myah Selland were named to the All-Summit League Preseason First Team, while Tylee Irwin was named to the second team.
The poll is voted on by Summit League coaches, sports information directors and select media.
South Dakota returns nearly 84 percent of its scoring from a team that earned the first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament by a Summit League program. The Coyotes received 20 of 34 first-place votes and tallied 527 points. This marks the first time South Dakota has been favored in the preseason since joining the league in 2011.
An in-state standout from Rapid City, South Dakota, Duffy is a two-time Academic All-American and two-time all-Summit League first team honoree. Duffy has started all three years for the Coyotes. The 6-foot guard averaged 14.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists to lead a balanced Coyote team last year. Duffy recorded 24 double-figure games with eight past 20-points, including a career high of 28 versus South Dakota State.
A 6-foot-3 center from Rogers, Minnesota, Sjerven was the 2019 Summit League Sixth Woman of the Year and Transfer of the Year. She averaged 11.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in her first season with the Coyotes. Sjerven notched 21 double-figure games, six over 20-points and four double-doubles. She tallied her career high of 24 points against North Dakota State.
Hailing from Erskine, Minnesota, McKeever has started for the Coyotes the past two seasons after earning the 2017 Summit League Sixth Woman of the Year honor as a true freshman. She averaged 7.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game last season. McKeever recorded 13 double-figure games throughout the season while tying her career high of 19 points against Wichita State.
Another in-state talent from Onida, South Dakota, Lamb earned Summit League honorable mention honors last season. She averaged 9.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Lamb tallied 14 double-figure games during the season while scoring a career high 23 points at Denver.
The Coyotes are under the direction of head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, who is set to begin her fourth season at South Dakota. South Dakota opens the 2019-20 season at Northeastern at 11 a.m. (CT) on Nov. 5.
Larson was named to the 2018-19 Preseason All-Summit League Second Team and earned All-Summit League Second Team honors last season. Larson started in all 35 games for the Jackrabbits, holding team-bests with 6.4 rebounds per game and a total of 43 blocked shots. She averaged 10.5 points per game while shooting 50 percent or higher from the field in 24 games. Larson ranked second in the Summit League in field goal percentage at 54.5 percent (140-of-275).
Selland earned 2018-19 Preseason All-Summit League Second Team honors and also received All-Summit League Honorable Mention last season. The junior started in all 33 games in which she appeared in. Selland averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. She also scored in double figures on 25 occasions.
Irwin, a first-time preseason honoree, started in 34 games for the Jackrabbits last season. She shot 42.5 percent from the field on the season, including 12 games of 50 percent or higher. On the season, Irwin averaged 7.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
Summit League Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. South Dakota (20) 28-6, 14-2 527
2. South Dakota State (13) 28-7, 15-1 496
3. Denver (1) 18-14, 10-6 394
4. Oral Roberts 18-13, 10-6 370
5. Western Illinois 12-18, 8-8 332
6. North Dakota 12-19, 6-10 213
7. North Dakota State 7-22, 4-12 181
8. Omaha 8-21, 2-14 147
9. Purdue Fort Wayne 7-22, 3-13 85
2019-20 Summit League Preseason Player of the Year
Ciara Duffy – South Dakota
Preseason All-Summit League First Team
Ciara Duffy, South Dakota, Sr., G (14.6 ppg/4.7 rpg/2.9 apg)
Tagyn Larson, South Dakota State, Sr., F (10.5 ppg/6.4 rpg/1.7 apg)
Lauren Loven, Denver, Sr., G (14.3 ppg/1.9 rpg/1.6 apg)
Madison Nelson, Denver, Sr., F (16.5 ppg/8.9 rpg/1.0 bpg)
Myah Selland, South Dakota State, Jr., F (12.5 ppg/5.4 rpg/3.3 apg)
Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota, Jr., C (11.8 ppg/5.9 rpg/1.9 bpg)
Preseason All-Summit League Second Team
Tylee Irwin, South Dakota State, Jr., G (7.5 ppg/3.7 rpg/1.7 apg)
Olivia Kaufmann, Western Illinois, Sr., G (16.0 ppg/5.4 rpg/3.8 apg)
Chloe Lamb, South Dakota, Jr., G (9.6 ppg/2.7 rpg/1.6 apg)
Keni Jo Lippe, Oral Roberts, Jr., G (13.3 ppg/5.2 rpg/1.9 apg)
Madison McKeever, South Dakota, Sr., G (7.8 ppg/2.9 rpg/1.9 apg)
