VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota women's basketball has cracked the top-20 in the USA Today Women's Basketball Coaches Poll, coming in at No. 18 in the rankings released Tuesday afternoon.
 
It marks the highest ranking the Coyotes have received in either top-25 poll.
 
No. 18 South Dakota (17-2, 6-0) climbs three spots from a week ago. The Coyotes have been ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll for eight-straight weeks.

In addition, the Coyotes moved up to second in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Coaches Poll. South Dakota stood at fourth in the mid-major poll for four weeks. It marks the 43rd consecutive week in the mid-major poll for USD. The Coyotes have been in the top-five for the entirety of the 2019-20 season.
 
The Coyotes ran past a pair of Summit League foes last week, defeating North Dakota State 80-36 on the road and South Dakota State 83-48 at home. South Dakota has now held three-straight Summit foes to less than 50 points. Senior guard Ciara Duffy averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds for the week to earn the Summit's weekly honor.
 
South Dakota is also ranked 24th in the Associated Press Top-25 this week. It marks the fourth week this season the Coyotes have landed in the AP Top 25.
 
Next on the slate for No. 24/18 South Dakota are a pair of home Summit games. The Coyotes host Purdue Fort Wayne at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by Oral Roberts at 1 p.m. Sunday inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. Tickets are available here.