Jacks fall short again at Utah State

Monday, December 20

Logan, Utah

noon MT

South Dakota State University

Utah State

12/20/2010 4:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

LOGAN, Utah - The number of close losses for the South Dakota State University women's basketball team continues to grow as the Jackrabbits dropped a 60-57 decision at Utah State Monday afternoon in non-conference action at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The Jackrabbits, playing for the third time in five days, dropped to 4-8 overall as their losing streak reached four games for the first time since the 1994-95 season. Each of SDSU's last six losses have come in games in which the Jackrabbits either held a lead or were within one possession heading into the closing minutes.

Utah State improved to 6-5 overall.

Monday, the Jackrabbits overcame early shooting woes to take a 51-50 lead on a basket by freshman Hannah Strop with 4 minutes and 18 seconds remaining. USU regained the lead at 52-51 on two free throws by Ashlee Brown two minutes later and maintained the lead the rest of the way. SDSU missed two three-point attempts in the final 90 seconds that would have tied the game and the Aggies' Devyn Christensen made four free throws in the final 11 seconds to seal the victory.

Utah State never trailed in the first half, racing out to an early 7-0 lead. The Jackrabbits came back to knot the game at 11-all after three-pointers by Jill Young and Megan Waytashek, but the Aggies regained control to lead by as many as nine late in the half.

Neither team shot the ball well in the opening 20 minutes as Utah State was 9-of-28, 32.1 percent, while SDSU was a dismal 8-for-35, 22.9 percent. At one stretch, the Jackrabbits went 1-for-17 from the floor.

The tandem of Jennie Sunnarborg and Waytashek keyed a Jackrabbit run early in the second half. Sunnarborg scored six points and Waytashek added a half dozen more to close out a 16-4 run as SDSU gained its first lead of the game at 36-35 with 15:01 to play.

The game would be tied seven times and the lead changed hands two more times before Utah State put together its late rally.

SDSU made 14-of-27 attempts from the field in the second half to finish at 22-of-62 overall, 35.5 percent. However, the Jackrabbits made only 3-of-20 three-point tries. At the line, the Jackrabbits converted 10-of-13 attempts, 76.9 percent.

Sunnarborg scored a game-high 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, with Waytashek adding 11 off the bench.

Christensen led the Aggies with 14 points in a reserve role, followed by 12 points from Jenna Johnson and 11 by Alice Coddington. USU finished the afternoon 18-of-52 from the field, 34.6 percent, including 4-for-12 from three-point range. The Aggies held advantages at the free throw line and in rebounding, making 20-of-25 from the charity stripe, 80 percent, and holding a 42-37 edge on the boards. Ashlee Brown led all players with 11 rebounds for USU, while Sunnarborg, Jill Young and Waytashek each grabbed five rebounds for the Jackrabbits.

SDSU returns to the state of Utah on Dec. 29, traveling to Southern Utah for a Summit League matchup. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. Mountain Time (8 p.m. Central) in Cedar City.

NOTES: Monday's game was the first meeting between SDSU and Utah State in women's basketball ... the Jackrabbits dropped to 1-2 against Western Athletic Conference opponents ... USU improved to 2-1 against Summit League opponents this season, owning home wins over Southern Utah and SDSU to go along with a loss at North Dakota State ... redshirt freshman Tara Heiser was credited with a career-high nine assists - the most by a Jackrabbit player since Andrea Verdegan tallied 10 against UC Riverside during the 2007-08 season ... Sunnarborg reached the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season ... with two blocked shots, Sunnarborg took over sole possession of ninth place on the SDSU career blocks chart with 78, passing Angie Loken (76 from 1998-2001) ... Jackrabbit reserves held a 24-17 advantage in bench points ... SDSU starters Macie Michelson and Jennifer Schuttloffel did not score ... the Jackrabbits were credited with 20 assists against 17 turnovers and forced 22 Aggie turnovers ... attendance for the matinee was 685