VERMILLION, S.D.–Season and home openers against NCAA Tournament teams, eight nonconference home games and a Thanksgiving tournament in Cancun highlight the 2017-18 South Dakota women's basketball schedule announced Monday by head coach Dawn Plitzuweit.
 
This year's schedule features eight opponents whom reached the postseason in 2017 and four who qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Coyotes face two of those programs right off the bat by opening the season at Iowa State on Nov. 10 and opening at home against Creighton on Nov. 14. The Cyclones averaged more than 9,000 fans per game inside the Hilton Coliseum a year ago, which ranked third in the nation. In recent history, the Coyotes ended the Bluejays' season twice in the first round of the WNIT in 2015 and 2016 inside the DakotaDome.
 
"Each year, we welcome the challenge of playing the best teams across the country and this year is no exception," said Plitzuweit. "Our first two games are against successful regional teams, which will give our fans a chance to watch our team match up with a successful Big 12 team on the road, and then welcome the co-Big East champions to the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. We are very excited to see our team compete at the highest level versus some top teams from the Midwest."
 
After a game at Wichita State on Nov. 18, the Coyotes fly to Mexico for the Cancun Challenge (Nov. 23-25). USD is slated to play Oklahoma State, Indiana State and Tennessee in the three-day tournament.
 
"In building the schedule, we wanted to find a balance between preparing our team for the rigors of the Summit League while helping give our student-athletes a first-class experience," said Plitzuweit. "We feel that the Cancun Challenge is one of the premiere basketball tournaments at an unbelievable destination and fully achieves both of our scheduling goals. We are excited to see our team compete against top competition. It is awesome for our program to take part in such a prestigious tournament."
 
A return trip to Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 2) and a game at Incarnate Word (Dec. 4) in Texas wrap up nonconference road trips as the Coyotes close out 2017 with a five-game home stand.
 
The Coyotes welcome 2016-17 opponents CSU Bakersfield (Dec. 9), Tulsa (Dec. 16) and UC Riverside (Dec. 19) to the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. Co-Big Sky champion North Dakota (Dec. 21) also returns to Vermillion for the second-straight year. The Coyotes have taken four of the last five against the Fighting Hawks, including a 78-55 victory in the first round of the WNIT last season.
 
The 14-game Summit League slate kicks off with the Coyotes hosting Denver on Dec. 30. Defending Summit League champion Western Illinois visits Vermillion on Feb. 1. Game one of the USD-SDSU series takes place in Brookings on Jan. 25. South Dakota goes for four-straight at home against the Jacks on Feb. 21, which will also serve as senior day and wrap up the regular season.
 
The Summit League Tournament will be held March 3-6 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as all eight league teams compete for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.