.–The South Dakota State women’s basketball team had two chances in the game’s final seconds to take the lead but the shots would not fall and the Jackrabbits suffered an 83-78 loss to North Dakota State Sunday.

 

Trailing 79-78 with 15.3 seconds remaining, the Jackrabbits had an opportunity to take their first lead since the opening minute but two shots inside the paint would not fall.

 

North Dakota State (6-8, 2-0 Summit) closed the game with four-straight free throws.

 

Senior Megan Waytashek (Lino Lakes, Minn.) led South Dakota State (10-5, 1-1) with 20 points. Sophomore Chynna Stevens (Clark) added 17 points, highlighted by two three-point field goals in the game’s final 93 seconds. Freshman Macy Miller (Mitchell) and senior Mariah Clarin (Princeton, Minn.) scored 16 and 14 points, respectively. Clarin snared a game-high nine rebounds while Miller blocked two shots.

 

Brooke LeMar scored a game-high 30 points for the Bison (6-8, 2-0). Holly Johnson added 16 points, 12 in the second half. Liz Keena and Marena Whittle each scored 10 points.

 

The Jackrabbits trailed 45-34 at halftime. The Bison built a 34-12 lead with 9:49 remaining as LeMar scored 23 of her points. Stevens started the Jacks’ comeback efforts with a three-point field goal as South Dakota State closed the half on a 22-11 run.

 

South Dakota State opened the second half on a 22-12 run to trail 57-56. However, the Jackrabbits failed to take the lead as they did not score on three consecutive possessions.

 

The Bison went on a 13-4 run for a 70-60 lead with 5:40 left. Stevens almost single-handedly brought the Jackrabbits back, making two free throws and back-to-back three-pointers to make it 78-74 with 1:09 remaining. The teams traded free throws before Waytashek hit a corner three-pointer with 27 seconds left to make it 79-78.

 

South Dakota State continues on the road, playing at Fort Wayne Friday at 6 p.m.