SDSU rallies past Texas-Pan American

Saturday, January 27

Edinburg, TX

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Texas-Pan American

1/1/1970 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

EDINBURG, Texas -- Megan Vogel scored all of her game-high 20 points in the second half as the South Dakota State University women's basketball team turned an eight-point halftime deficit into a 64-52 victory at Texas-Pan American Saturday afternoon.

The Jackrabbits, who won their fourth game in a row, improved to 15-5 overall, all but assuring SDSU of its 21st consecutive winning season. SDSU also recorded its 10th consecutive victory over a fellow Division I independent, including a 3-0 mark this season.

UTPA dropped to 9-13 overall.

After SDSU took an early 7-4 lead, Tamara Vaughn hit a pair of three-pointers to lead a 10-0 UTPA run. The Lady Broncs maintained the lead throughout the rest of the first half on the strength of 5-of-12 shooting from long range, taking a 29-21 lead into intermission.

The Jackrabbits wasted little time regaining the lead in the second half. Andrea Verdegan opened second-half scoring with a three-pointer and Vogel hit back-to-back threes to tie the game at 30-all with 17 minutes, 11 seconds remaining in the game. SDSU went 0-for-8 on three-point attempts in the first half.

SDSU took the lead for good at 34-32 with 14:27 remaining on a pair of Jennifer Warkenthien free throws, sparking 11-2 run over the next four minutes. The Jackrabbit lead eventually grew to 19, 59-40, with 3:53 remaining.

UTPA responded with an 8-0 run to get back to within 11 in the closing minutes, but Verdegan made 5-of-6 free-throw attempts in the final 80 seconds to seal SDSU’s fourth straight win.
The Jackrabbits made 21-of-28 free-throw attempts for the game, 75 percent, including 20-for-24 in the second half. From the field, the Jackrabbits finished the game 18-of-44, 40.9 percent, including 7-of-21 on threes.

Vogel made four three-pointers and was perfect on six free-throw attempts en route to her 20 points. Courtney Grimsrud scored all 11 of her points in the first half. Freshman reserve Maria Boever tallied nine points and Ashlea Muckenhirn added nine points and a career-high nine rebounds for the Jackrabbits. SDSU dominated the rebounding statistics, holding a 39-23 advantage, including 16 on the offensive end.

LeKeisha Gray led UTPA with 15 points, while Vaughn and Robin Garrett contributed nine points each.

The Lady Broncs ended the game 21-of-51 from the field, 41.2 percent, including 7-for-20 on three-point tries. UTPA attempted only six free throws, making three for 50 percent.

SDSU returns to action Feb. 3 at North Dakota State.

SDSU Notes: The Jackrabbits now lead the series against Texas-Pan American 2-0 ... the two teams are scheduled to meet again Feb. 15 at Frost Arena ... Vogel notched 20 points in a game for the 10th time this season and 26th time in her career ... SDSU is 2-5 when trailing at the half ... Boever has scored in every game this season — the only Jackrabbit reserve to do so ... the Jackrabbits played without sophomore forward Stacie Oistad, who missed her third consecutive game due to injury ... attendance was listed at 525 at The UTPA Fieldhouse

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 64 (15-5)
Andrea Verdegan 1-5 5-6 8, Megan Vogel 5-12 6-6 20, Ashlea Muckenhirn 2-5 4-4 9, Jennifer Warkenthien 1-4 2-3 5, Courtney Grimsrud 5-6 1-4 11, Alison Anderson 0-3 0-0 0, Ketty Cornemann 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Meier 1-2 0-0 2, Abby Kratovil 0-1 0-1 0, Maria Boever 3-6 3-4 9, Laura Nielsen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-44 21-28 64.
TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 52 (9-13)
LeKeisha Gray 6-14 0-0 15, MaHogany Daniel 3-8 2-4 8, Tamara Vaughn 3-11 0-0 9, Robin Garrett 4-4 1-1 9, Cinthia Ramirez 0-2 0-0 0, Rachel Jones 2-4 0-0 4, Dainielle Kostacky 0-0 0-0 0, Teshay Winfrey 2-5 0-1 5, Rose Esther Jean 0-2 0-0 0, Taylor Schneider 0-0 0-0 0, Aleeya Grigsby 1-1 0-0. Totals 21-51 3-6 52.
Halftime: Texas-Pan American 29, South Dakota State 21. 3-point goals--South Dakota State 7-21 (Vogel 4-10, Muckenhirn 1-1, Warkenthien 1-1, Verdegan 1-5, Meier 0-1, Anderson 0-3), Texas-Pan American 7-20 (Gray 3-8, Vaughn 3-9, Winfrey 1-2, Ramirez 0-1). Fouled out--South Dakota State-none, Texas-Pan American-none. Rebounds--South Dakota State 39 (Muckenhirn 9), Texas-Pan American 23 (Daniel, Vaughn 5). Assists--South Dakota State 14 (Verdegan, Warkenthien 3), Texas-Pan American 14 (Gray, Ramirez, Jones 3). Blocked Shots--South Dakota State 2 (Grimsrud, Verdegan), Texas-Pan American 1 (Daniel). Steals--South Dakota State 10 (Vogel 4),Utah Valley State 9 (Gray 4). Turnovers--South Dakota State 24,Texas-Pan American 25. Total fouls--South Dakota State 12, Texas-Pan American 20. Technical fouls--South Dakota State-none, Texas-Pan American-none. A-525.