South Dakota women’s basketball will face Tennessee, Oklahoma State and Indiana State at the 2017 Cancun Challenge, announced Thursday by tournament officials.
The tournament is slated for Nov. 23-25 at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Mexico.
South Dakota is coming off its seventh consecutive postseason appearance with a 23-9 overall record. The Coyotes return three starters including first-team all-Summit League honoree Allison Arens who averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Jaycee Bradley and 2017 Summit League Freshman of the Year Ciara Duffy started all 32 games alongside Arens.
Tennessee won eight NCAA Championships and played in 22 NCAA or AIAW Final Fours under legendary head coach Pat Summitt. The Lady Volunteers (20-12) received their 36th NCAA Tournament berth this past season and was receiving votes in the postseason AP and Coaches Polls. Tennessee will be the second SEC opponent the Coyotes will face in program history after facing Arkansas in 2016-17.
Oklahoma State has reached the NCAA Tournament four times since winning the 2012 Women’s National Invitation Tournament, including reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2014. The Cowgirls (17-15) return their top-three scorers from last season including two-time all-Big 12 honoree Kaylee Jensen.
Indiana State finished 12-18 overall and 6-12 in the Missouri Valley Conference last season. The Sycamores return leading scorers in Ashley Taia, MVC honorable mention, along with MVC Newcomer of the Year Wendi Bibbins.
