RAPID CITY - The University of South Dakota women's basketball team made a solid debut in NCAA Division I last year with an 18-11 record and an eye-opening performance against a top 25 team, but some of the biggest news surrounding the program is the renewal of the rivalry with South Dakota State next season.

"It's a great thing for our program and the state," USD head coach Ryun Williams said Friday at a golf event at the Golf Club at Red Rock. "SDSU has obviously proven what kind of program they are and we're excited to get back to competing with our biggest rival to see how we match up."

South Dakota State is ahead of USD in its move to Division I - the Jackrabbits made the move in 2004 - and qualified for the women's NCAA tournament last season in its first year of eligibility as the Summit League champion. The Coyotes are ineligible for NCAA tournament play until the 2012-13 season.

The excitement of playing the Jackrabbits isn't simply limited to the women's basketball program. Head football coach Ed Meierkort told a room full of supporters and alums that the Coyotes "only

have one real rival, and that's the Jacks."

The Jackrabbits are coming off a remarkable season that saw them go 32-3, win their second straight Summit League title and come within seconds of the Sweet 16. After that kind of success it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that their coach sounded like the "established program" when talking about getting his school's biggest rival back on the schedule.

"The opportunity to play USD fit the scheduling criteria we have for our women's basketball team," SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston said in a press release. "We really needed a home date and we were looking for a single game."

The two teams will meet Feb. 15, 2010 at Frost Arena in Brookings. SDSU holds a 37-21 lead in the series, and while some might feel the Jackrabbits will be a prohibitive favorite in the match-up, the Coyotes proved themselves quite capable of dealing with top Division I teams on the right night. USD lost its season finale 75-69 at No. 11 North Carolina after leading by as many as 15 early in the second half.

The Coyotes lose three starters off of the 2008-09 team, but with a couple of transfers and ultra-athletic red-shirt Amber Hegge coming back next season, Williams sounds pretty confident about his team.

"I think we're going to be all right," Williams said. "The State game is going to be a great measuring stick for us. That's a game in February where both teams should have the kinks worked out and be playing at a high level. I think some people think (State is) a long ways out in front of us - and maybe they are. But we're hoping to show people that maybe we're a little closer to them than they might think.

"The great thing about next season is that we have a great schedule filled with a lot of good teams in addition to getting a huge game that our fans and most of the rest of the state are very excited for. I'm excited too."

Williams, a native of Gillette, Wyo., said that he is also very interested in trying to get a game scheduled in Rapid City against an opponent like Wyoming or Montana State some time in the future. While that's a long way from ever happening, Williams obviously liked the idea.

"I love the Hills and sometimes it seems like we get a little isolated from this part of the state and our fans out here," he said. "I think it would be great to get out here and play a game."