After numerous offseason departures, USD women’s basketball reloads with eight transfer additions

VERMILLION, S.D. — University of South Dakota women’s basketball head coach Carrie Eighmey had no easy task in her first full offseason with the Coyotes.

After numerous departures due to graduation and the transfer portal, Eighmey and staff needed to fill a lot of spots vacated by those who left. Only two players with significant playing time return for next season in South Dakota natives Olivia Kieffer and Coral Mason. But after months of work, USD brings in an eight-member class out of the portal, with Eighmey pleased with the talent heading to Vermillion.

After an 11-20 season last year, USD saw a large group of significant departures, including do-everything senior Grace Larkins as one of four graduating, plus Gabby Wilke (Butler), Addison Klosterbuer (North Dakota) and Carley Duffney (Green Bay) leaving for other Division I programs, just to name a few. Replacing so much production would be no easy task.

Eighmey said that as important as finding proven players was, finding players who fit USD’s culture was just as important. Outside of those factors, the Coyotes were looking for specific skill sets to add.

“We felt like we needed to be a little bit more athletic in some positions after going through the Summit League last year,” Eighmey said. “We looked to add some of that. Obviously, we lost a ton of experience both through graduation and some transfer situations. We really needed to make sure that we filled in some of the gaps with some players who had playing experience.”

Two of USD’s most impactful incoming players not only bring experience, but also conference experience as well. The Coyotes added two Summit League guards in Denver’s Angelina Robles and South Dakota State’s Jenna Hopp.

Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic

Robles appeared in 87 games and made 53 starts with the Pioneers. She averaged 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Meanwhile, Hopp played in 52 games over two seasons in Brookings, averaging 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds. Even though she saw limited action during her sophomore season, she was named an all-conference freshman selection during the 2023-24 season, playing more minutes when the Jacks were riddled with injuries and still reached the NCAA tournament.

“Obviously, college experience in general is really valuable, but college experience in your league specifically is even more valuable,” Eighmey said. “Having been in the conference, having done the travel, understanding different teams and what their styles are and knowing the scouting reports of all of those teams, I think it gives them a huge advantage.”

USD also added size to its class. Eighmey said that additions such as Chicago State and Rapid City’s Josie Hill, Northern Iowa’s Katy Reyerson and Tarleton State’s Elise Turrubiates give the Coyotes athletic forwards who can stretch the floor.

USD also added a bonafide scorer in Molly Joyce. At Division II Truman State in Missouri, the 5-foot-7 guard averaged 15.2 points per game last season and in just two years, Joyce compiled 774 points, 105 assists, and 70 steals.

The key for Joyce will be about adjusting to a higher level of play, but Eighmey is confident she’ll make the jump and become a key player.

“She can really score it and can create her own shot,” Eighmey said. “One of the things that helps players like her make that jump is just playing against players at this level. They might be a little bit more athletic, they might be maybe a little bit longer. For her, it’s just figuring out, ‘How do I do what I do against maybe a little bit longer, more athletic defender.’ But at the end of the day, it’s really, really hard to teach a player to score like she does.”

Although not a part of the transfer class, the Coyotes added a local product to their recruiting class.

Trent Singer / Sioux Falls Live

After originally committing to Augustana last year, Sioux Falls Washington product Grace Peterson flipped her commitment and signed with the Coyotes during the spring. In 93 varsity contests, she scored 891 points, grabbed 429 rebounds and dished out 99 assists. She also earned all-state honors in each of her final three seasons at Washington.

“We really liked her and felt like she was going to be a good college basketball player,” Eighmey said. “Then she has all the intangibles, too. She’s just a great human, works hard, has a great motor and is going to be one of those kids that’s a gym rat. And she takes a ton of pride representing her state, the flagship, and also playing within an hour of home.”

The Coyotes still have one scholarship available and Eighmey said if they find the right fit, it’s possible there could be another addition to the class. But overall, she said this portal class is a step in the right direction for USD. Even though the effectiveness of the class will be judged on the court, she said the Coyotes found the players they wanted.

“I’m really pleased, especially considering the environment right now of the transfer portal,” Eighmey said. “I felt like we did a really good job of figuring out players that fit us right and fit what we’re going to try to do and the style that we want to play. There’s a lot of options in the portal and I think the programs that do the best job in the portal are the ones that kind of just stay focused and locked in on what are we trying to accomplish.”

Nathan Swaffar is a sports reporter for the Mitchell Republic. He joined the Mitchell Republic in July 2024 after graduating from the University of Kansas in May of 2024 with a degree in journalism and a minor in history. He covers a variety of prep and collegiate sports throughout South Dakota including USD Football.