Jackrabbits falter at MTSU

Sunday, November 28

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Middle Tennessee State

11/28/2010 9:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The South Dakota State University women's basketball team suffered through a nightmarish Sunday afternoon, committing 38 turnovers in a 70-51 loss at Middle Tennessee State.

The Jackrabbits dropped to 3-2 on the season, while Middle Tennessee improved to 4-1 in a matchup between two squads ranked in the latest CollegeInsider.com mid-major top-25 poll. MTSU entered the game ranked eighth, with SDSU checking in at No. 13.

The first nine minutes of Sunday's game wrote the script for the Jackrabbits. In one stretch, SDSU turned the ball over on 12 straight possessions, allowing Middle Tennessee to jump out to a 19-0 lead. The drought finally ended at the 11:32 mark of the first half as Kristin Rotert sank a three-pointer.

SDSU began to show signs of making a potential comeback as the Jackrabbits reeled off a 12-3 run - highlighted by three-pointers from Jill Young and Megan Waytashek -- to pull to with 11, 33-22, in the closing seconds of the first half. However, Icelyn Elie hit a buzzer-beating jumper to end the half and give the Blue Raiders the momentum and a 35-22 lead at intermission.

In the second half, the Jackrabbits could get no closer than 12 points, the last time at 45-33 on a basket by Waytashek with 11:24 to play in the game.

Rotert was the lone SDSU player in double figures, scoring a game-high 18. Waytashek tallied nine points and shared game-high honors with Young and Katie Lingle with six boards apiece as the Jackrabbits held a 37-26 rebounding advantage.

From the field, the Jackrabbits made 17-of-42 attempts, 40.5 percent, including 5-for-16 from three-point range. At the line, SDSU made 12-of-17 attempts, 70.6 percent.

MTSU placed four players in double figures, led by Tina Stewart with 15. Ebony Rowe tallied 14 points and a team-high five rebounds, while Elie and Anne Marie Lanning each scored 12. Kortni Jones dished out 10 assists and recorded seven steals. The Blue Raiders notched 20 steals in the 38 turnovers they forced.

The Blue Raiders made 23-of-51 field goal attempts, 45.1 percent, including 7-of-15 from long range. They also converted 17-of-25 free throws, 68 percent.

SDSU will attempt to rebound Tuesday night at Kansas State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum.

NOTES: SDSU leads the all-time series, 3-2 ... MTSU defeated the Jackrabbits on its home floor for the first time ... the Jackrabbits dropped to 5-5 against Sun Belt Conference opponents ... SDSU's previous high for turnovers in a game at the Division I level was 33 in a loss at Oral Roberts last season ... with two three-pointers, Rotert moved to within one of tying Megan Vogel (194 three-pointers from 2004-07) for third place on the Jackrabbit career charts ... Rotert also topped the 1,100-point mark, ending the day at 1,114 points and moving to within 11 of tying Dawn Hull (1,125 points from 1993-96) for 26th place in SDSU history ... Macie Michelson drew her first start of the season, but did not scor in 12 minutes of action ... reserve forward Hannah Strop scored her first collegiate points with a second-half basket ... attendance was 3,227 at the Murphy Center