The South Dakota State women’s basketball team (24-9) used a 28-0 run to defeat Creighton (20-14), 62-51, in the second round of the Women’s NIT Sunday in front of 2,152 fans in Frost Arena.
The Jackrabbits trailed 25-13 after Creighton’s Lauren Works sank a three-point field goal with 7:07 to play in the first half. SDSU’s Megan Waytashek (Lino Lakes, Minn.) got the Jackrabbits started by sinking two foul shots with 6:32 remaining. Six different Jackrabbits scored as SDSU closed the half with a 16-0 run to take a 29-25 lead. The SDSU defense forced Creighton to miss its last nine shots of the half.
The Jackrabbits opened the second half with a 12-0 run to make it 41-25. Creighton broke the streak by scoring with 15:38 left.
Senior guard Steph Paluch (Pierre) scored 19 points to lead the Jackrabbits. Waytashek added 11 points while junior guard Gabby Boever (Worthington, Minn.) added 10 points and a game-high four steals.
Creighton, a member of the BIG EAST Conference, was led by Sarah Nelson’s 15 points and nine rebounds.
The Jackrabbits have now won 16 games this season in Frost Arena and 19 overall.
SDSU will now face Minnesota in the WNIT’s Sweet Sixteen on Thursday in Brookings with a 7 p.m. tipoff on WNAX.
