Strong second half lifts SDSU past Bison

Saturday, January 16

Fargo, N.D.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

North Dakota State

1/16/2010 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

FARGO, N.D. - South Dakota State shot better than 50 percent in the second half and displayed stout defense throughout to defeat North Dakota State, 67-49, in Summit League women's basketball action Saturday night before a crowd of 2,743 at the Bison Sports Arena

The Jackrabbits improved to 9-8 overall and 5-2 in The Summit League. SDSU also extended its winning streak against the Bison to nine games. NDSU dropped its third consecutive Summit League game, falling to 9-8 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

SDSU strung together a 12-4 run in the first five minutes of the second half to take their first double-digit lead of the night at 35-25. The Bison trimmed the lead back to seven with just under 14 minutes to play, only to see the Jackrabbits build the lead back to double digits by scoring the next seven points. SDSU maintained a double-digit lead the rest of way, pulling away by shooting 52.4 percent (11-for-21) from the field and 17-of-21 at the free throw line in the final 20 minutes.

Neither team was able to get into much of a rhythm offensively in the first half as it took more than eight minutes before either team reached double figures on the scoreboard. Trailing 13-12, the Jackrabbits scored six consecutive points and held NDSU scoreless for a six-minute span to build their largest lead of the first half at 18-13. NDSU inched back to within one, 20-19, on a basket by Katie Birkel late in the half, but Ketty Cornemann buried a three-pointer from the left wing on the next trip down the floor to keep SDSU in the lead - one they would not relinquish. The Jackrabbits led 23-21 at the half as each team's shooting percentage hovered around the 30 percent mark.

Ketty Cornemann paced a balanced offensive attack for SDSU with 16 points. Maria Boever tallied 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds to lead the Jackrabbits 44-36 advantage on the boards. Macie Michelson added 11 points and freshman Leah Dietel chipped in with 10 points, going 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

SDSU finished the game 20-of-50 from the field, 40 percent, including 8-for-22 from three-point range. The Jackrabbits finished the game 19-of-24 from the line, 79.2 percent.

Turnovers continued to plague the Jackrabbits, however, as they committed 24 miscues compared to 16 by the Bison.

Defensively, SDSU held the Bison to 25.8 percent shooting from the field, 16-of-62, including 2-for-16 from three-point range. The Jackrabbits contested nearly every NDSU shot in the final 30 minutes, recording a season-high 12 blocked shots. Jennie Sunnarborg posted a career-high six blocks, with Boever adding four.

NDSU, which was led by 12 points from guards Katie Birkel and Inger Hodgson, was an efficient 15-for-16 at the line, 93.8 percent.

Ashley Samuelson was the top rebounder for the Bison with eight.

The Jackrabbits return home next Saturday (Jan. 23) to face Oakland in a rematch of last season's Summit League championship game. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. at Frost Arena, with the men's game to follow at 7:30 p.m.

NOTES: NDSU leads the all-time series 37-32 ... SDSU's nine-game winning streak matches the longest by either team in the series (NDSU from the 1989-90 through 1993-94 seasons) ... the Jackrabbits' 23 points in the first half marked their lowest point total in an opening half this season ... Sunnarborg replaced Jill Young in the SDSU starting lineup, making her first start since the Arizona State game on Nov. 15 ... Cornemann has scored in double figures in all seven Summit League games this season ... Cornemann became the third active Jackrabbit player to tally 100 career three-pointers, joining Kristin Rotert (151) and Jill Young (114) ... Dietel scored in double figures for the first time since the season opener Nov. 13 against Gonzaga (Wash.) ... SDSU held a 21-10 advantage in bench points