By: Bailey Zubke, Assistant Director of Communications
VERMILLION, S.D. — After putting up two all-time performances, including setting the single game scoring record, South Dakota senior Grace Larkins has won her second consecutive Summit League Peak Performer of the Week honor, announced by the conference office Monday afternoon.
After tying her career-best with 34 points in Thursday’s win over St. Thomas, Larkins took things up a notch, pouring in 45 points, the most in a single game in USD history. She also recorded back-to-back double-doubles, bringing her streak to four straight games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
In South Dakota’s 77-60 home win over St. Thomas Thursday, Larkins totaled 34 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. She also entered the top 10 in the Coyote record books for career steals in the game.
Saturday, in a 71-66 victory over Omaha, Larkins’ line was 45 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Converted 19 field goals, another school record, and became fifth all-time in points and assists in a Coyote uniform.
The 45 points is the second most by a Division I player this season, and the third most by a Summit League player in conference history. Larkins now stands at fourth in the country in points per game (24.7) and is 18th in assists (5.7), and 42 in rebounds (9.4). Her 445 points so far this season are the second most in Division I behind Arkansas’ Izzy Higginbottom, who has scored 466 points this season.
Larkins ranks inside the top 10 in USD history in career points (1,791), rebounds (771), assists (449), steals (180), and free throws made (398). She now has eight career 30-plus point scoring efforts and has scored 20 or more points in 12 of the Coyotes’ 18 games this season. She has nine double-doubles this season to bring her career total to 23.
Larkins and the Coyotes are back in action Wednesday in Grand Forks against North Dakota.