VERMILLION, S.D.  – The University of Denver women's basketball team dropped its Summit League opener by a count of 87-47 to South Dakota in both teams' Summit League opener on Saturday afternoon at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

Inside the Box Score:

• Uju Ezeudu led the Pioneers with 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
• Denver had 10 players score and six different Pioneers make a triple in the loss.
• South Dakota had four players in double figures, including three with 16+ points.
• Hannah Sjerven had a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds in the victory for the Coyotes.

 
Significant Stats:

• Ezeudu finished in double figures for the seventh time in nine games in 2020-21, adding to her 15 games in double figures from her freshman season a year ago.

 
Turning Point:
South Dakota raced out to a 14-5 lead before the first media timeout and never looked back en-route to its fifth win of the season.  
 
As it Happened:
First Quarter:
The Coyotes raced out to a 25-8 lead in the opening 10 minutes, shooting 8-for-13 from the field and converting on seven of eight attempts from the line in the first stanza.
 
Second Quarter:
South Dakota's defense held Denver to eight points again in the second quarter to earn a 45-16 lead at the intermission. Ezeudu led Denver with 10 points in the first half on 3-of-4 shooting, to go with five rebounds and three steals in 11 minutes.
 
Third Quarter:
Denver made six of its 17 attempts from the field in the third quarter, but South Dakota was able to stretch its lead out to 70-29 with 10 minutes to play. The Pioneers had six different players score in the quarter, including a triple from Claire Gritt.
 
Fourth Quarter:
DU and USD scored 17 points apiece in the final quarter. Denver converted seven of 10 tries at the line and had a pair of triples in the period.

Up Next:
Denver and South Dakota will complete the weekend series Sunday at 12 p.m. MT.
 
CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION:
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