VERMILLION, S.D.—The South Dakota women's basketball team is gearing up for a 12-day expedition of Australia, where the Coyotes will face three Australian opponents.
 
"This is an incredible opportunity for our program," said South Dakota head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. "We are thrilled to have this time together while we prepare to depart and especially while we are traveling as a group down under. The time that we are fortunate enough to spend together in basketball is tremendous and will be greatly enhanced by our bonding off the court. This truly is a trip of a lifetime!"
 
The Coyotes depart for Australia on Aug. 7 and return to Vermillion on Aug. 18. The foreign tour includes sightseeing along the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Eureka Tower, Healesville Sanctuary and the Dandenong Ranges.
 
South Dakota will visit the cities of Melbourne, Cairnes and Sydney to experience Australian culture. They will see Sydney's most iconic landmark in the Sydney Harbor Bridge, head to the top of the southern hemisphere's tallest building in the Eureka Tower and explore several natural wonders of Australia highlighted by the Great Barrier Reef.
 
Between the exploration and team building, the Coyotes will also find time to play three Australian teams. Over the course of the trip, South Dakota will face the Melbourne Boomers of the Women's National Basketball League, the Hornsby Spiders and the Victoria Metro Elite.
 
Coverage of the team's trip will be available on GoYotes.com. Follow @SDCoyotesWBB on Twitter or add SDCoyotes on Snapchat for an even more inside look at the Yotes.
 
South Dakota Women's Basketball Trip Itinerary
 
Aug. 7 – Depart Vermillion, S.D.
 
Aug. 9 – Arrive in Melbourne, Australia
            Experience Queen Victoria Market
            Team dinner at Meat and Wine Co.
 
Aug. 10 – Visit to Healesville Sanctuary
            Sightseeing tour across the Dandenong Ranges
            Game 1: South Dakota vs. Victoria Metro Elite, 7 p.m. local (Aug. 10, 4 a.m. CT)
 
Aug. 11 – Clinic with Melbourne's underprivileged youth
            Game 2: South Dakota vs. WNBL's Melbourne Boomers, 7 p.m. local (Aug. 11, 4 a.m. CT)
 
Aug. 12 – Visit Melbourne Aquarium
            Visit the Eureka Tower
            Australian Rules Football Game: Collingwood Magpies vs. Western Bulldogs
 
Aug. 13 – Travel to Cairns, Australia
            Explore Palm Cove Beach
 
Aug. 14 – Great Barrier Reef Cruise
 
Aug. 15 – Cairns Wildlife Dome
            Travel to Sydney, Australia
            Sydney Sightseeing Tour
 
Aug. 16 – Game 3: South Dakota vs. Hornsby Spiders, 7:30 p.m. (Aug. 16, 4:30 a.m. CT)
 
Aug. 17 – Visit Sydney Harbor Bridge
 
Aug. 18 – Depart Sydney, Australia, for trip home to Vermillion, S.D.