SUU knocks off Jacks in final seconds

Wednesday, December 29

Cedar City, Utah

7 p.m. MT

South Dakota State University

Southern Utah

12/29/2010 11:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Challis Pascucci's turnaround jumper with five seconds remaining capped a 25-point, 19-rebound performance and lifted Southern Utah to a 73-72 victory over a short-handed South Dakota State squad in Summit League women's basketball action Wednesday night.

SUU recorded its sixth consecutive victory to improve to 8-5 overall and 2-1 in The Summit League. The Jackrabbits dropped their fifth straight contest, falling to 4-9 overall and 0-2 in league play. SDSU's five-game losing streak is its longest since a six-game skid during the 1986-87 campaign.

The two teams traded leads in the opening five minutes before Southern Utah went on a quick 11-2 run to open a 20-12 advantage. The Thunderbirds extended their lead to double digits at 29-18 on a layup by Kaila Goff midway through the opening half.

The final five minutes of the first half belonged to the Jackrabbits, who put together a 15-1 run to take a 40-36 lead into halftime. Despite only dressing 10 players and losing starting guard Tara Heiser earlier in the half, SDSU reserves helped key the run, led by Ashley Eide's eight points.

SDSU built its largest lead of the night in the opening minutes of the second half on a Kristin Rotert three-pointer that made the score 46-38. SUU regained the lead, 49-48, at the 13:49 mark on a basket by Caitlyn Sears, who led all players with 28 points, but the Jackrabbits recovered to push the lead to six, 62-56, with under eight minutes to play.

The lead would change four times in the final minute. Two Jennie Sunnarborg free throws with 43 seconds remaining put the Jackrabbits in the lead, 70-69. Pascucci answered with a layup nine seconds later to give the lead back to SUU. After a timeout, Jill Young gave SDSU its last lead of the night, making a layup with 21 seconds remaining.

Southern Utah called a pair of timeouts to set up a final play before Pascucci hit the game-winning turnaround jumper from about eight feet away. A desperation attempt from mid-court at the buzzer by the Jackrabbits fell short.

The Thunderbirds ended the game 30-of-56 from the field, 45.5 percent, including a 3-for-16 effort from three-point range. At the line, SUU made 10-of-14 attempts, 71.4 percent.

Eide tied a career-high with 17 points to lead four SDSU players in double figures. Kristin Rotert tallied 15 and Young added 13. Steph Paluch rounded out the Jackrabbit double-digit scorers with 12 points.

SDSU finished the night 25-of-57 from the floor, 43.9 percent, including 7-of-16 shooting from beyond the arc. The Jackrabbits struggled at times from the line, going 15-of-24, 62.5 percent.

Rebounds per even at 38. Katie Lingle led SDSU with seven boards.

The Jackrabbits close out their road trip New Year's Eve at UMKC. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. at Swinney Recreation Center in Kansas City, Mo.

NOTES: The victory was Southern Utah's first against SDSU in seven tries ... SDSU lost consecutive Summit League games for the first time since joining the league at the start of the 2007-08 season ... the Jackrabbits used their fourth different starting lineup of the season as Heiser and fellow freshman Megan Waytashek made their first career starts ... Macie Michelson, who started the last eight games at point guard, did not make the trip due to illness ... Jackrabbit reserves held a 35-11 advantage in bench scoring ... SDSU dropped to 3-2 this season when leading at the half ... the Jackrabbits are 1-6 in the month of December ... SDSU committed 19 turnovers, compared to 17 by SUU ... attendance at the Centrum Arena was 505