SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KWSN.com) – Here’s your morning sports update for Friday, April 1, 2022.
– South Dakota women’s basketball head coach Dawn Plitzuweit is leaving the program to take over as head coach of West Virginia. The move became official yesterday. Plitzuweit led USD to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament this year, the program’s first two wins at March Madness. It was the fourth straight year the Coyotes qualified for the Big Dance. Plitzuweit went 158-36 in six seasons at South Dakota, the best overall winning percentage in Summit League history. She won three Summit League Coach of the Year awards. Plitzuweit replaces Mike Carey at West Virginia. He retired two weeks ago after 21 seasons. Her contract lasts five years, worth a total of $3 million with a starting salary of $550,000 plus incentives. West Virginia has made one NCAA tournament appearance in the past five seasons. South Dakota says they’re conducting a national search to find Plitzuweit’s replacement.
– The Minnesota Wild had their seven-game winning streak snapped against Pittsburgh last night. Evgeni Malkin scored 3:57 into overtime to win it for the Penguins, 4-3. Kirill Kaprizov scored his 38th goal for Minnesota to tie the franchise record for points in a season with 83. Matt Dumba and Frederick Gaudreau also scored for the Wild. Cam Talbot stopped 35 shots. The Wild travel to Washington for their next game on Sunday. Hear it on 98.1 FM, AM 1230 and KWSN.com.
– USD diver Stella Fairbanks has been named the Summit League’s Women’s Diver of the Year. The sophomore from Michigan won her second Summit League Championship on the one-meter board this year and finished runner-up on the three-meter board.
– Aliyah Boston of South Carolina beat out Iowa’s Caitlin Clark to win the AP’s women’s basketball player of the year award. Clark finished second in the voting.
– Wisconsin basketball star Johnny Davis is ready to turn pro after delivering a superb sophomore season. Davis announced he’s entering the NBA draft and hiring an agent.
– The Sioux Falls Stampede are at Tri-City tonight for a 7 p.m. puck drop. You can hear every Stampede game on KELO AM 1320 and FM 107.9.
(Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.)
