Summit League Preview: South Dakota State Women at Omaha
The South Dakota State women's basketball team rolls into the second half of the 2017 Summit League schedule with the conference's longest current winning streak and just one game on the docket this week.
The Jackrabbits (16-4/7-1) have won six straight heading into Saturday's (January 28) game at Omaha.
At the midway point of league play, SDSU's defense has been tops in the Summit - number one in fewest points allowed per game and in opponents' field goal and three-point shooting percentages. Ellie Thompson and Kerri Young are in the top ten in rebounding.
The Jackrabbit offense is third in scoring, second in field goal accuracy. Madison Guebert and Young are both in the top ten in scoring.
The Mavericks are led offensively by senior Mikaela Shaw. The forward is third in the conference in scoring, averaging 17 points per game. She also is the team leader in rebounds and assists. Wichita State transfer Michaela Dapprich is averaging 13 points per game.
UNO is fifth in scoring and fifth in points allowed. They take the second most three-pointers per game in the league.
Both teams defend the three-point line well. SDSU's opponents are shooting just 28 percent from three-point range. The Jackrabbits rank first in three-point defense in the Summit League and 32nd nationally. Omaha is second in the Summit, allowing just 29 percent from behind the arc.
Tipoff is 2:00 PM in Omaha.
The Jackrabbits won the first meeting (January 7 in Brookings), 76-64, as Young and Sydney Palmer both had career-high scoring games. Young hit for 27 points and Palmer added 20, while Thompson chipped in a double-double (14 points/12 rebounds).
Omaha was led by Dapprich’s 18 points, Shaw added 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Jackrabbits used a 12-2 run midway in the first quarter to take a ten-point lead. That advantage was extended to 20 in the third quarter, but Omaha got as close as six in the fourth before Guebert and Young made back-to-back three-pointers to help seal the victory.
Last week, SDSU ran its win streak to six with a pair of victories.
Wednesday (January 18) in Denver, Guebert had a career night, with 32 points on 11-of-12 shooting, as the Jacks defeated the Pioneers, 72-63. Thompson added 22 points and eight rebounds.
The Jacks used a 14-2 first half run and a 11-0 third quarter run to stay in control all night. SDSU out shot Denver 53 to 37 percent from the floor.
Saturday (January 21), the Jacks returned home to battle Western Illinois.
SDSU's defense limited the Leathernecks to just eight first quarter points and 29 percent shooting for the entire game, winning 73-58.
Guebert (18 points), Young (18 points), and Thompson (16 points) combined for 52 of the Jackrabbits' 73 points.
South Dakota State put the game away early with an 18-0 run that began with seven minutes to play in the first quarter.