Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus No. 6 Washington on March 20, 2026 , Loss , 54, to, 72
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South Dakota State University Athletics
SDSU, Baylor gear up for NCAA Second Round
3/23/2009 1:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas ? The South Dakota State University women's basketball team will attempt to complete a Texas two-step Tuesday night, when it faces fifth-ranked Baylor in second-round action of the NCAA Tournament.
Tipoff is set for 8:40 p.m. at United Spirit Arena on the Texas Tech University campus. The game is scheduled to be televised regionally on ESPN2, with the game available in other markets on ESPN Full Court and online at ESPN360.com.
The Jackrabbits, seeded seventh in the Raleigh Regional, enter the matchup with a 32-2 overall record following a 90-55 drubbing of Texas Christian in first-round action Sunday night. SDSU was ranked 15th in last week's USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll and is 16th in the most recent Associated Press poll. The Jackrabbits enter Tuesday's matchup with an 18-game winning streak.
Second-seeded Baylor advanced to second-round play with an 87-82 overtime victory over Texas-San Antonio in Sunday's late game. The Bears, who won the Big 12 Conference Tournament earlier in the month, upped their overall record to 28-5.
The winner will advance to regional semifinal action in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday, March 28.
THE SERIES: Tuesday's matchup between South Dakota State and Baylor will mark the second time the two schools have met in women's basketball.
In the initial meeting, Nov. 25, 2006, at the Junkanoo Jam in Freeport, Bahamas, Baylor handed the Jackrabbits a 71-53 defeat.
Jessica Morrow led Baylor with 14 points, followed by 12 from Angela Tisdale and 10 by Bernice Mosby. Rachel Allison added nine points and 11 rebounds.
For SDSU, future WNBA draft pick Megan Vogel led the way with 24 points. Ketty Cornemann came off the bench to score eight points and Courtney Grimsrud tied a school record with eight blocked shots.
Since moving to Division I at the start of the 2004-05 season, the Jackrabbits have compiled a 6-3 record against Big 12 Conference opponents. SDSU has won the last four meetings versus Big 12 opposition.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: Although the Jackrabbits are making their inaugural appearance in the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level, SDSU has plenty of postseason experience.
The Jackrabbits qualified for the Women's NIT each of the previous two seasons, including making a trip to quarterfinals in 2007. SDSU posted home victories over Illinois State (61-48) and Indiana (60-53), before falling at eventual WNIT champion Wyoming (70-59) in 2007. Last year, SDSU dropped a 76-69 home decision to Creighton (Neb.).
In addition, the Jackrabbits compiled an 18-8 record in nine postseason appearances at the NCAA Division II level. SDSU wrapped up its tenure in Division II by making three
consecutive Elite Eight appearances from 2002-04, including winning a national championship in 2003. The Jackrabbits completed their national championship season with a 32-3 overall record.
JACKRABBITS ONLINE: Free audio coverage of all Jackrabbit games in the NCAA Tournament is scheduled to be available via the Jackrabbit Extra at GoJacks.com.
Local radio and Internet coverage begins on the Jackrabbit Radio Network a half hour prior to scheduled tipoff. Tyler Merriam will call the play-by-play. Brookings-based KJJQ 910 AM will serve as the flagship station of the network, with coverage of the Jackrabbits' games also available on WNAX 570 AM in Yankton, KSDR 1480 AM in Watertown and KJAM 103.1 FM in Madison, S.D.
TOURNAMENT OPENER: Talk about an auspicious debut.
South Dakota State tied an NCAA Tournament record with 16 three-pointers, matching its own school record in the process, as the Jackrabbits rolled in their inaugural D-I tournament game with a 90-55 victory over Texas Christian Sunday night.
The Jackrabbits tied a school record with their 32nd victory of the season, while TCU ended its season at 20-11.
SDSU used the three-ball early and often, racing out to a 28-4 lead in the first nine and a half minutes behind seven three-pointers. Redshirt freshman Jill Young came off the bench to drain her first four three-point attempts of the night.
The Jackrabbits continued to shred TCU's 1-3-1 defense, racking up 11 three-pointers in the first half en route to a 52-22 halftime advantage. SDSU's 52 first-half points were the most the Jackrabbits have scored in any half this season.
While SDSU was shooting the lights out at United Spirit Arena, TCU was firing blanks. The Horned Frogs opened the first half 1-of-15 from the field and the second half with a 1-of-14 stretch. The second-half drought allowed the Jackrabbits to open the final frame with a 15-1 run as they built their largest lead of the night ? 44 points ? at 67-23 on a Kristin Rotert three-point play.
Rotert and Young shared game-high honors with 17 points. Young canned five three-pointers, while Rotert nailed four from ling distance. Jennifer Warkenthien posted her 13th double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Maria Boever added 13 points and seven rebounds. Stacie Oistad was the fifth player in double figures for SDSU with 10 points.
The Jackrabbits were efficient offensively, finishing the game 34-of-63 overall from the field, 54 percent, including 16-of-31 from three-point range. SDSU recorded assists on 28 of its 34 baskets and committed only 10 turnovers. Seven different Jackrabbit players hit at least one three-pointer in the game as SDSU tied its school record set on two different occasions: Feb. 1, 2005 at Northern State and Feb. 14 of this season versus UMKC. The Jackrabbits also tied their school record for three-pointers in a season with 288, matching the total set by the 2001-02 squad which reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
At the line, the Jackrabbits made 6-of-8 attempts, 75 percent.
TCU, meanwhile, ended the night 20-of-63 from the field, 31.7 percent, and 3-for-16 on three-point attempts. The Horned Frogs also converted 12-of-17 attempts at the free throw line, 70.6 percent.
The Horned Frogs' leading scorer, Helena Sverrisdottir, was held scoreless in the first half, but led TCU with 12 points and eight rebounds. Emily Carter tallied 11 points and TK LaFleur contributed 10 points.
Rebounding was nearly even, but the Jackrabbits held a 37-35 rebounding advantage.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: Since moving to Division I at the start of the 2004-05 season, the Jackrabbits have faced eight nationally ranked opponents. SDSU has compiled a 2-6 record, including a 1-1 mark this season. The Jackrabbits lost to 10th-ranked Maryland, 68-56, on Nov. 26 in Cancun, Mexico, then scored a 65-55 victory at 25th-ranked Minnesota on Dec. 9.
The Jackrabbits' other win over a ranked opponent came at home against Southern California (ranked 19th by the AP and 20th in the coaches' poll), 67-63, in the 2006-07 home opener. Later that season, SDSU fell to 15th-ranked Baylor, 71-53, at the Junkanoo Jam in The Bahamas, and dropped an 80-63 decision to No. 20/22 Marquette in December.
During the 2004-05 season, SDSU was defeated by Rutgers (N.J.) (17th in AP, 18th in coaches' poll), 68-50, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and lost 57-50 at Purdue (Ind.) (ranked 19th in AP, 20th in coaches' poll) later in the year.
Baylor will be the highest-ranked team the Jackrabbits have faced at the Division I level.
100 D-I WINS: Since moving up to the NCAA Division I ranks at the start of the 2004-05 season, the Jackrabbits have posted a winning record against D-I opponents. In its first four-plus seasons competing at the Division I level, SDSU has compiled a 102-31 mark (.767 winning percentage) versus D-I opposition. The Jackrabbits have posted victories over 48 different Division I teams representing 17 conferences plus independents.
32 AND COUNTING: The Jackrabbits' 32 victories this season are the most by an SDSU team at the Division I level and is tied for the most victories in a season in program history. The 2002-03 NCAA Division II national championship team posted a 32-3 record.
STREAKING: SDSU extended its current winning streak to 18 games, which is the sixth-longest current winning streak in Division I women's basketball. The Jackrabbits also had a 10-game winning streak earlier this season.
The Jackrabbits ended both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 regular seasons with 12-game winning streaks. The 2006-07 squad extended its streak to 14 wins in a row with two victories in the Women's NIT. The 2007-08 streak ended with a first-round WNIT loss to Creighton (Neb.).
TOEING THE LINE: South Dakota State has held a big advantage at the free throw line this season, making 37 more free throws than the opposition has attempted (550-523).
Overall, the Jackrabbits have outscored their opponents by 194 points at the free throw line (560-366), making 73.5 percent (560-of-762) of their attempts. Their opponents are shooting 70.0 percent (366-of-523).
On Nov. 23 against Oregon, SDSU put together the second-best free throw shooting performance in the program's history, making 21-of-22 attempts, 95.5 percent. SDSU was a perfect 12-for-12 in the second half.
The Jackrabbits recorded another solid performance at the free throw line on Jan. 10, converting 23-of-26 tries, 88.5 percent, against IUPUI.
SDSU made a season-best 27 free throws in both the semifinal and championship games of the Summit League tournament.
SHARING THE WEALTH: SDSU set a season high with 28 assists in their opening-round victory over Texas Christian, a total six more than any previous game this season.
Senior forward Stacie Oistad led the Jackrabbits with a career-high seven assists, while Jennifer Warkenthien and Macie Michelson each were credited with six assists without a turnover.
For the season, SDSU is averaging 15.2 assists per game. The Jackrabbits have tallied double digits for assists in 13 consecutive games, including three with more than 20.
THREE-POINT BARRAGE: South Dakota State has been on a shooting spree from three-point range in recent weeks.
The Jackrabbits have made 10 or more three-pointers in six of the last nine games and nine times this season. SDSU leads the Summit League with an average of 8.5 three-pointers per game and enters the tournament ranked fifth among Division I teams.
In its Feb. 14 game versus UMKC, SDSU tied a school record with 16 made three-pointers, previously set Feb. 1, 2005, at Northern State. Eight different players connected on three-pointers, led by Jill Young's 4-for-6 shooting performance as the Jackrabbits ended the game 16-of-28 (57.1 percent) from long range.
The Jackrabbits matched the 16 three-pointers in their tournament opener against TCU, also tying the single-season record with 288 three-pointers in the process, matching the total established by the 2001-02 squad which reached the 2001-02 NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
SDSU's 16 three-pointers in a game is tied for the fourth-highest single-game total at the Division I level this season.
The Jackrabbits' previous season high came in their Dec. 12 matchup at Gonzaga (Wash.), when they sank a 14 three-pointers in 28 attempts.
Eleven different SDSU players have made a three-pointer this season, with Vanessa Johnson joining the group Feb. 14 versus UMKC. The Jackrabbits are led by Young with a freshman-record 81 made three-pointers and Kristin Rotert with 60. Young began the tournament ranked third nationally for three-point accuracy at 45.2 percent, and increased that mark to 46.0 percent with her 5-of-8 shooting effort on Sunday.
100 GAMES: Four Jackrabbit seniors have reached the 100 games-played mark this season, with Stacie Oistad becoming the latest to accomplish the feat March 22 in the NCAA Tournament opener against TCU.
With a start in the Dec. 12 game at Gonzaga (Wash.), senior guard Ashlea Muckenhirn played in her 100th career game. A native of Osceola, Wis., Muckenhirn's 123 appearances have included 84 starts. A starter in 21 of 33 games this season, she ranks second on the team with 65 assists and third with 34 steals. Muckenhirn also leads active Jackrabbit players with 139 career steals and ranks second with 113 three-pointers.
Fellow senior Morgan Meier played in her 100th collegiate game Jan. 3 at IPFW. In her 118 appearances, Meier has made nine career starts ? all of which came last season.
Jennifer Warkenthien currently leads the team in scoring (15.1 ppg), rebounding (8.7 rpg), field goal shooting (51.7 percent), free throw shooting (82.8 percent), assists (82), steals (51) and blocked shots (41). She has been in the starting lineup in 101 of her 116 career games at SDSU.
The fourth Jackrabbit senior, Stacie Oistad, has made 10 starts ? all this season ? among her 100 games played. Oistad ranks third on the team with 37 three-pointers, shooting at a 37.4 percent clip (37-of-99) from long range for the season. Her career totals include 93 three-pointers.
In addition, the Jackrabbit senior class will be in search of its 100th victory Tuesday night against Baylor. SDSU has compiled a 99-24 record over the last four seasons.
Only one other senior class ? the quartet of Shannon Schlagel, Sarita DeBoer, Stephanie Bolden and Brooke Dickmeyer ? has reached the 100-win plateau during their careers in a Jackrabbit uniform. That group went 107-26 between the 2001-02 and 2004-05 seasons.
MICHELSON MAKES A DIFFERENCE: Sophomore guard Macie Michelson has played a key role for the Jackrabbits since rejoining the starting lineup Jan. 31 against Oakland (Mich.). Michelson missed 10 games in November and December due to a hand injury.
In the 13 games since she rejoined the starting lineup, Michelson has averaged 6.8 points and 3.3 assists per game. In three Summit League tournament games, Michelson averaged 10 points, 3.67 assists and 2.67 steals per game.
Michelson set a single-game career high with eight assists ? against one turnover ? in the Summit League Championship opening round against Oral Roberts, then added a career-high six steals in the semifinal victory over IUPUI. She tallied a season-high 13 points in the championship game against Oakland.
The Jackrabbits are 16-0 in games Michelson has started this season.
To read the entire game preview, as well as comments from Jackrabbit head coach Aaron Johnston and players, download the documents below.
Players Mentioned
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