BROOKINGS, S.D. — The South Dakota State women’s basketball team (25-9) used a 16-7 run to open the second half as the Jackrabbits defeated Minnesota (20-13), 70-62, in the third round of the Women’s NIT Thursday in front of a season-high 3,320 fans in Frost Arena.
Senior guards Steph Paluch (Pierre) and Tara Heiser (Watertown) led the Jackrabbits with 17 and 14 points, respectively.
Paluch scored eight of her points to open the second half while freshman forward Chynna Stevens (Clark) and junior guard Gabby Boever (Worthington, Minn.) each sank a three-point field goal to go with a layup by Heiser to account for the Jacks’ run.
The Jackrabbits improve to 17-0 in home games this season and have won their last 20 overall in Frost Arena.
Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui recorded game-high totals with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Rachel Banham added 25 points for the Golden Gophers.
SDSU trailed 24-23 at half as Zahui scored 14 points by making all seven of her shots. Meanwhile, the Jacks struggled from the field, making only 8 of 33.
The Jackrabbits had seven different players make a three-point field goal in the contest. SDSU made 7 of 14 three-pointers in the second half.
South Dakota State faces Indiana in the WNIT quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Sunday at Frost Arena.
Season ticket holders have until 3 p.m. Friday to purchase the tickets they had during the regular season. General admission tickets are available now online at JackrabbitTickets.com. Remaining reserved tickets will go on sale at 4 p.m. Friday. All reserved and general admission tickets are $20. Youth (K-12) general admission tickets are $7.
The SDSU President’s Office is providing 500 student tickets free of charge. Students need to visit the ticket office to claim tickets.
The SDSU ticket office will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available on JackrabbitTickets.com 24/7.
