Jacks stifled by K-State

Saturday, December 10

Frost Arena

5:00 PM

South Dakota State University

Kansas State

12/10/2011 8:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Scroe

By: SDSU Sports Info

The South Dakota State University women's basketball team could never get on track offensively Saturday afternoon, falling 63-46 to Kansas State before a crowd of 3,302 at Frost Arena.

The Jackrabbits, who were held to a Division I-era worst 21.6 percent shooting from the field, fell to 6-4 overall in having their three-game winning streak snapped. K-State improved to 6-2 overall.

The Wildcats led 11-0 before SDSU finally broke into the scoring column on a Steph Paluch free throw with 11 minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the first half. All of the Jackrabbits' first five points came at the line before Jennie Sunnarborg ended an 0-for-16 drought from the field with a three-pointer that cut the deficit to 20-8 with 7:12 to play in the half.

It would be the closest the Jackrabbits would get the rest of the night as SDSU managed only one more field goal in the front half — a basket by Katie Lingle with under two minutes to play. K-State led 31-14 at halftime in limiting the Jackrabbits to 2-of-25 shooting — 8 percent — from the field.

The two teams, which both qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season, played even in the second half. K-State stretched its lead to 24 points, 46-22, midway through the second half, before the Jackrabbits put together a spurt in the closing minutes.

Brittany Chambers led three Wildcat players in double figures with a game-high 18 points. Branshea Brown added 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds, with Mariah White contributing 10 points.

K-State ended the game 24-of-54 from the field, 44.4 percent, including 6-of-14 from three-point range. At the line, the Wildcats made 9-of-14 attempts, 64.3 percent.

Lingle was the lone Jackrabbit in double figures, scoring 10 points and grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. Ashley Eide chipped in with nine points — all of which came in the second half.

Despite trailing in the rebounding category most the night, the Jackrabbits managed a 39-37 advantage on the boards.

SDSU finished 11-of-51 from the field, including 4-of-10 from three-point range. The Jackrabbits continued their strong shooting from the free throw line, making 20-of-25 attempts for 80 percent.

The Jackrabbits wrap up their two-game homestand by hosting Arkansas-Little Rock on Dec. 16. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

NOTES: Kansas State leads the all-time series, 4-1 ... SDSU dropped to 6-7 against Big 12 Conference opponents since moving to the Division I level at the start of the 2004-05 season ... the 17-point margin tied the largest home loss for the Jackrabbits during the D-I era (80-63 defeat against Marquette (Wis.) during the 2006-07 season) ... SDSU's previous shooting percentage low was a 21.7 percent (10-of-46) effort against Cincinnati (Ohio) at the Cancun Challenge on Nov. 24 ... the Jackrabbits held a 14-7 advantage in bench points, including a career-high five points from freshmen Gabby Boever and Rachel Walters ... the Jackrabbits' two top scorers on the season, Jennie Sunnarborg (3) and Jill Young (4), combined for seven points on 1-of-17 shooting from the field