16th-year head coach Aaron Johnston and his staff have put together a 2015-16 schedule that will be challenging for the South Dakota State women’s basketball team.
With the Jackrabbits’ body of work, a veteran roster, NCAA tournament experience and a home winning streak, they will face:
- 2015 NCAA Tournament runner-up
- Two NCAA Final Four teams
- Six NCAA and four WNIT Tournament teams
- Four teams with 2014-15 top 50 RPI rating
“This will be an exciting year for our student-athletes and for our great Jackrabbit fans,” Johnston said. “Our non-league schedule will give us a chance to compete against some of the best teams in the country, highlighted by some great home dates in Frost Arena. Our trip to the Virgin Islands takes us back to the place we played our first Division 1 games 11 years ago. We are looking forward to the upcoming season and the chance to create lasting memories for our student-athletes and fans.”
The Jackrabbits, who are coming off their ninth 20-win season in 10 years, sixth NCAA Tournament and ninth Division I postseason appearance, host seven home nonconference games, plus two exhibitions in November and December.
Nov. 13 marks the opening of the 50th season of women’s basketball at South Dakota State when Marist College comes to town. The Jacks will be protecting the NCAA’s 25th-longest home win streak (10) and celebrating 50 Years of Women’s Athletics.
The SEC’s Arkansas and ACC’s Notre Dame make their first appearances in the friendly confines of Frost Arena Nov. 18 and 21. The Razorbacks advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and went 18-14 last year. The Fighting Irish reached the NCAA title game for the fourth time and finished 36-3.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the Jackrabbits are at the Paradise Jam Tournament in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where they play Pittsburgh Nov. 26, Maryland Nov. 27 and Old Dominion Nov. 28. The Panthers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and the Terrapins the Final Four. The Lady Monarchs finished 21-13 and fourth in C-USA.
SDSU begins a three-game homestand in December. It hosts Portland State Dec. 3, Northern Colorado Dec. 5 and Northern Iowa Dec. 9. Both the Bears and the Panthers played in the WNIT last season.
SDSU has a pair of rematches with Big East opponents in mid-December. The Jacks and WNIT qualifier Creighton University play in Omaha Dec. 12 and the Blue Demons make their first trip to Frost Arena Dec. 15. Notre Dame knocked DePaul out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round last year.
SDSU concludes its nonconference schedule when it travels to NCAA qualifier Green Bay Dec. 19 and meets first-time opponent Bowling Green Dec. 21 in Ohio.
The Jackrabbits also host a pair of exhibition games against NCAA Division II opponents St. Cloud State and University of Mary, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, respectively, to tip off the season.
SDSU earlier announced its 16-game Summit League schedule that includes eight home-and-home contests vs. Denver, Fort Wayne, IUPUI, North Dakota State, Omaha, Oral Roberts, South Dakota and Western Illinois. Four of the eight home Summit League contests fall on a Saturday at Frost Arena, including against rivals South Dakota (Jan. 17) and North Dakota State (Feb. 6).
South Dakota State went 24-9 in 2014-15, including a 12-4 mark in Summit League play. The Jackrabbits won The Summit League tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
