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Women's Basketball
vs Augustana (Exhibition)
South Dakota State University Athletics
Jacks host rematch with UALR
12/14/2011 4:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
For the second time in 10 days, the South Dakota State University women's basketball team will take on Arkansas-Little Rock.
This time, the Jackrabbits will be the home team for the 7 p.m. matchup Friday night at Frost Arena.
SDSU enters the matchup with a 6-4 overall record, including a 60-49 win over UALR Dec. 6 in Little Rock. The Jackrabbits had their three-game winning streak snapped in their last outing, a 63-46 home loss to Kansas State on Dec. 10.
UALR, meanwhile, is in the midst of a three-game losing streak during which it has fallen to 3-7 overall. The Trojans, who have played in the NCAA?Tournament each of the past two seasons, are 0-2 against Summit League squads this season. Besides their loss to the Jackrabbits earlier this season, the Trojans dropped a 78-63 decision at Oral Roberts Dec. 13 in Tulsa, Okla.
This time, the Jackrabbits will be the home team for the 7 p.m. matchup Friday night at Frost Arena.
SDSU enters the matchup with a 6-4 overall record, including a 60-49 win over UALR Dec. 6 in Little Rock. The Jackrabbits had their three-game winning streak snapped in their last outing, a 63-46 home loss to Kansas State on Dec. 10.
UALR, meanwhile, is in the midst of a three-game losing streak during which it has fallen to 3-7 overall. The Trojans, who have played in the NCAA?Tournament each of the past two seasons, are 0-2 against Summit League squads this season. Besides their loss to the Jackrabbits earlier this season, the Trojans dropped a 78-63 decision at Oral Roberts Dec. 13 in Tulsa, Okla.
THE SERIES: Friday's matchup will mark the second meeting - both of which will have have occurred during the 2011-12 season - between SDSU and UALR?in women's basketball.
UALR is the second Sun Belt Conference team the Jackrabbits have faced this season. SDSU dropped a 59-49 decision at Middle Tennessee State on Nov. 17.
Since moving to NCAA?Division I at the start of the 2004-05 season, South Dakota State has posted a 6-6 record against Sun Belt opponents.
Following is a list of records versus Sun Belt foes:
* Arkansas-Little Rock 1-0
* Arkansas State 1-1
* Florida International 1-0
* Middle Tennessee State 3-3
* Western Kentucky 0-2
MEDIA COVERAGE: Audio and video coverage of Friday's game is scheduled to be available via the Jackrabbit Extra subscription service at GoJacks.com, the official website of SDSU Athletics. Monthly subscriptions for the Jackrabbit Extra, which includes live audio and video streaming of select contests are available for $11.95 per month or $99.95 for an entire year of coverage.
Local radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. Central Time on the Jackrabbit Sports Network, with J.J. Hartigan calling the play-by-play. Besides network flagship WNAX 570 AM, the game can be heard on the following Jackrabbit Sports Network affiliates:
* KJJQ?910 AM-Brookings
* KRKI 99.1 FM-Rapid City
* KGFX 1060 AM-Pierre
* KSDR 1480 AM-Watertown
JACKRABBIT INSIDER: Throughout the 2011-12 women's basketball season, head coach Aaron Johnston will be a guest on the "Jackrabbit Insider," a weekly behind-the-scenes look at South Dakota State University athletics.
The half-hour television show which features interviews with Jackrabbit coaches and student-athletes, airs Sundays at 10:30 p.m. on Sioux Falls-based KTTW?FOX?7. The show is also broadcast on FOX Sports North at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and on FOX?College Sports Central at 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Online, the show can be viewed at GoJacks.com.
FIRST MEETING: The Jackrabbits overcame a cold-shooting night, managing to pull away down the stretch for a 60-49 win Dec. 6 in Little Rock, Ark.
After taking an early 8-4 lead, the Jackrabbits' struggles hit their peak as they missed 10 consecutive shots en route to a 4-for-26 start from the field. UALR took advantage of SDSU's shooting woes to grab its largest lead of the night, 15-8, with 6 minutes, 45 seconds remaining in the front half.
Freshman Mariah Clarin ended the Jackrabbit drought with a putback basket and free throw, and Jill Young drained a pair of three-pointers as SDSU countered to take a 19-17 lead with a little more than four minutes to play in the half.
The Jackrabbit defense followed suit, forcing UALR into several turnovers and missed shots to hold a 21-20 lead at intermission.
In the second half, the Trojans took a 29-23 lead in the first three-plus minutes and maintained the advantage until Steph Paluch knotted the game at 31-all with a layup at the 13:50 mark. The game would be tied three more times until Ashley Eide gave SDSU the lead for good at 42-40 with a basket at the nine-minute mark.
SDSU extended the lead to seven points, 50-43, on a Jennie Sunnarborg three-pointer with just under minutes to play, and the Jackrabbits sealed the victory by going 8-of-8 at the free throw line in the final two-plus minutes.
The Jackrabbits finished the game 14-of-17 at the line, 82.4 percent, to offset a 21-of-63 -33 percent - night from the floor. SDSU made 4-of-17 attempts from three-point range.
Young paced SDSU with 13 points, followed by nine from Eide and a career-high nine off the bench by Clarin. Sunnarborg ended the game with seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds to led the Jackrabbits' 42-33 advantage on the boards.
Marian Kursh led UALR with 14 points and six rebounds. Taylor Gault added 11 points. The Trojans made 17-of-45 field goal attempts, 37.8 percent, including 1-of-7 from three-point range. At the line, UALR converted 14-of-19 tries, 73.7 percent.
OPENING SUCCESS: The Jackrabbits' 74-35 victory over St. Cloud State in the 2011-12 season opener at Frost Arena on Nov. 11 marked the 19th consecutive season SDSU opened with a win.
The last time the Jackrabbits lost a season opener was during the 1992-93 season, when they fell 74-72 to Moorhead State (Minn.).
NEW LOWS: The Jackrabbits' 22 points in a loss to Cincinnati on Nov. 24 was by far the lowest point total by an SDSU squad during the Division I era and the lowest with a shot clock in use. The previous low was 40 points - also in a 33-point loss - at Purdue (Ind.) on Nov. 18, 2010, in the semifinals of the Preseason Women's NIT.
Overall, the 22 points were the third fewest in a game in school history. Ironically, the Jackrabbits won both of the games in which they scored fewer points:?an 18-14 decision over Buena Vista (Iowa) during the inaugural 1966-67 season and a 19-6 victory over Huron during the 1967-68 campaign.
Against Kansas State on Dec. 10, the Jackrabbits could muster a shooting percentage of only 21.6 percent - their worst shooting performance in the Division I era. SDSU missed its first 16 shots from the field and finished the first half 2-of-25 from the floor.
RECEIVING VOTES: South Dakota State received votes in two different national preseason polls. The Jackrabbits received three votes in the Nov. 15 ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, and tallied 27 points in the Women's Mid-Major Top 25 poll conducted by collegeinsider.com.
The Jackrabbits dropped out of consideration in the most recent mid-major poll, which is sprinkled with SDSU opponents. In the Dec. 13 poll, Summit League favorite Oral Roberts was ranked 14th, Marist (N.Y) held the 16th spot, and Middle Tennessee checked in at No. 19. Also receiving votes were Summit League opponents South Dakota and Oakland.
798 AND?COUNTING: SDSU's victory over Oakland in the 2009 Summit League championship game was the 750th in the women's basketball program's history. Since the modern era of women's basketball at South Dakota State University began with a 6-0 mark during the 1966-67 season, the Jacks have gone on to compile an overall record of 798-362 (.688 winning percentage).
In addition, SDSU has posted 25 consecutive winning seasons between competing at the NCAA Division II and Divsion I levels.The Jackrabbits' last losing season was an 11-16 campaign during the 1985-86 season.
NEARING 150 D-I WINS: Since moving up to the NCAA Division I ranks at the start of the 2004-05 season, the Jackrabbits have posted a winning record against D-I opponents. In its seven seasons competing at the Division I level, SDSU has compiled a 148-61 mark (.708 winning percentage) versus D-I opposition. The Jackrabbits have posted victories over 54 different Division I teams representing 20 conferences plus independents.
TOUGH AT HOME: The Jackrabbit women's basketball team has gained a decisive home-court advantage at Frost Arena over the past decade.
In his tenure as Jackrabbit head coach, Johnston has led the Jackrabbits to a 139-22 record (.863 winning percentage) at Frost Arena, including an 84-13 mark (.866 winning pct.) at home during the Division I era. The Jackrabbits have put together winning streaks of 15, 15 and 22 in the process. SDSU's current home winning streak is seven games.
Since the start of the 2001-02 season, SDSU has a 128-17 home record (.883 winning percentage), losing an average of about two games at Frost Arena each full season. The Jackrabbits capped the 2008-09 regular season with a 14-0 record - a mark that stands as the first undefeated home season in school history.
A loss to Western Kentucky early in the 2009-10 campaign snapped a 35-game regular season home winning streak, as well as a 15-game overall winning streak that began after SDSU lost to Creighton (Neb.) in the first round of the 2008 Women's NIT.
SDSU's loss to Oral Roberts on Jan. 4, 2010, marked its first home loss to a Summit League opponent.
TOEING?THE?LINE: After some struggles from the free throw line early in the season, the Jackrabbits have made the most of their free throw opportunities in recent games.
SDSU entered their Nov. 30 matchup at Western Illinois shooting only 63.8 percent (95-of-149) from the free throw line, but has gone a combined 68-of-81 (84 percent) over the last four games. S
DSU has made at least 80 percent of its charity tosses in each of the last four games. The Jackrabbits were a perfect 9-for-9 in the Nov. 30 matchup at Western Illinois, then made 25-of-30 free throws at IUPUI. SDSU closed the road swing with a 14-of-17
performance, including 8-of-8 in the closing minutes, at UALR. In a losing effort against Kansas State on Dec. 1, the Jackrabbits converted 20-of-25 attempts -?80 percent - at the stripe.
The Jackrabbits feature the top two free throw shooters in The Summit League this season. Jill Young leads the way at 92.6 percent (25-of-27), followed by Jennie Sunnarborg at 88.2 percent (30-of-34).
BATTLE OF THE BOARDS: The Jackrabbits enter the weekend as the top rebounding team in The Summit League, out-rebounding their opponents by 7.3 boards per game.
SDSU has held a rebounding advantage in eight of its 10 games this season, posting a 6-2 record when winning the battle of the boards. The Jackrabbits have held a double-digit rebounding advantage five times this season, including each of their first two Summit League games. SDSU put together a dominating 46-22 advantage against Western Illinois on Nov. 30 and held a 41-29 edge versus IUPUI in their Dec. 2 matchup.
RACE TO 50?: In each of their four losses this season, the Jackrabbits have been held to under 50 points. SDSU has scored at least 60 points in each of its six victories.
BENCH POINTS: South Dakota State reserves have played a key role in the Jackrabbits starting the season with a 6-4 record. A relatively young and inexperienced Jackrabbit bench has outscored the opponents's reserves in five games this season, including holding a 24-7 advantage in a Dec. 6 victory at Arkansas-Little Rock. Overall, the Jackrabbits have outscored opposing reserves haby five points, 158-153, thus far during the 2011-12 season.
Junior forward Leah Dietel has been the top scorer off the bench four times this season for the Jackrabbits.
SUMMIT LEAGUE SUCCESS: South Dakota State has built an impressive Summit League résumé during its tenure in the 10-team conference.
Since joining the league at the start of the 2007-08 season, the Jackrabbits have
compiled a 61-13 record (.824 winning percentage) in Summit League regular season games en route to outright league titles with records of 16-2 in 2007-08 and 17-1 during the 2008-09 season. In addition, SDSU has gone 31-5 at home against league foes and has won at least one game on every other Summit League member's home court.
YOUNG REACHES 1,000: Senior guard Jill Young became the 30th member of the Jackrabbit Women's Basketball 1,000-Point Club when she sank a first-half three-pointer during South Dakota State's win over Washington State on Nov. 20.
Young enters Friday's game against UALR in 28th place on the Jackrabbit career scoring chart with 1,054 points, after passing former Ketty Cornemann, who tallied 1,042 points from 2007-10, in the Dec. 6 game at Arkansas-Little Rock. Next on the list is Dawn Hull, who scored 1,125 points from 1993-96.
Young has been a top-notch long range shooter for the Jackrabbits throughout her collegiate career and enters the week in sole possession of third place on the SDSU career three-point field goal chart with 242. She also ranks sixth in Summit League history for three-pointers made after canning 20 treys through the first 10 games of the season. Young tied a career high with seven three-pointers in the Nov. 11 season opener against St. Cloud State and added three triples two days later in a home victory over Utah State.
The Mitchell native ranked third among NCAA?Division I players during the 2008-09 season by shooting at a 46.1 percent (82-of-178) clip from three-point range. Young's 82 made three-pointers also set a Jackrabbit freshman record.
For her career, Young is shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range, 242-of-592, including a team-best 78-of-188 - 41.4 percent - last season to rank 21st nationally for three-point percentage.
SUNNY SIDE UP: Senior forward Jennie Sunnarborg has led the Jackrabbits in scoring in six of their last eight games, averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds during that span. In her best outing of the season, Sunnarborg recorded a season-high 23 points and added five rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot in an SDSU victory at IUPUI on Dec. 2.
Also during the streak, Sunnarborg compiled 22-point, four-rebound performance against Washington State on Nov. 20, in which she made the go-ahead basket with 1:05 remaining in the game. She also was 12-for-14 at the free throw line in the Jackrabbit victory.
A native of Osseo, Minn., Sunnarborg enters the weekend leading the team in scoring at 11.7 points per game. She also is shooting 88.2 percent (30-of-34) from the free throw line and contributing a team-best 6.0 rebounds per game.
On the career charts, Sunnarborg ranks seventh in blocked shots at South Dakota State with 102. She also is on pace to reach the 1,000-point mark, starting the weekend with 875 career points.
EIDE ON THE MARK: Junior guard Ashley Eide put together a strong opening weekend for the Jackrabbit women's basketball team.
The Sioux Falls native tied a career high with six assists in the season-opening win over St. Cloud State on Nov. 11, then poured in a career-high 27 points with eight rebounds in the Jackrabbits' victory over Utah State. Eide did not miss a two-point shot in the two games, going a combined 11-for-11. She also was 3-of-8 on three-point attempts to finish the weekend 14-of-19 (73.7 percent) overall from the field.
Eide continued her strong play by averaging 11 points and 3.5 rebounds during the opening week of Summit League play. She scored nine points at Western Illinois on Nov. 30, then went 5-of-7 from the field en route to 13 points in the Dec. 2 victory at IUPUI.
PALUCH AT THE POINT: Junior Steph Paluch has handled the bulk of the point guard duties for the Jackrabbits through the first month of the 2011-12 season.
A Pierre native, Paluch leads the team with 22 assists (2.2 apg), including recording a career-high eight assists in SDSU's 63-58 win over Washington State on Nov. 20. Paluch also has contributed averages of 6.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Her five steals Dec. 2 at IUPUI established a new career high and are the most by a Jackrabbit player this season.
Paluch scored a season-high 13 points in SDSU's victory over Utah State on Nov. 13, making all six free throw attempts.
COACH AARON JOHNSTON: Now in his 12th full season as head coach of the South Dakota State University women's basketball team, Aaron Johnston has taken the Jackrabbit program to the top of NCAA Division II and is leading SDSU to national prominence at the Division I level.
Johnston enters Saturday's game against Kansas State with a career record of 272-94 (.743 winning percentage), ranking second on the SDSU career victories list behind his predecessor, Nancy Neiber, who compiled a 301-140 record in 16 seasons from 1985-2000. Johnston posted his 200th career victory on Dec. 4, 2008, against Centenary (La.) and No. 250 on Nov. 24, 2010, versus Illinois State. His career totals have included a 61-13 record (.824 winning percentage) in Summit League regular season games and a 16-7 mark (.696 winning percentage) in postseason games. He is 1-0 against UALR.
The Summit League Coach of the Year in each of the Jackrabbits' first two seasons in the 10-team league, Johnston was named a finalist for the 2009 Naismith Award as the nation's top coach. SDSU tied a school record for victories in a season with 32 during the 2008-09 campaign and gained national attention by vaulting into the top 25 in December after non-conference victories over the likes of Wisconsin, Utah, Minnesota and Gonzaga (Wash.). The Jackrabbits were ranked in the final 13 USA Today/ESPN regular season coaches' polls, climbing as high as 14th in the coaches' poll and 16th in the Associated Press poll. SDSU finished the 2008-09 season ranked 19th in the coaches' poll.
Along the way to a 32-3 overall record, the Jackrabbits received national media coverage from CBS Sports, USA Today, ESPN.com and The New York Times.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS: The South Dakota State women's basketball team continued to make the grade during the 2010-11 season.
For the fourth time in its six-year history at the Division I level, the Jackrabbits posted the highest grade-point average in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Academic Top 25 Honor Roll, topping the chart with a 3.666 team GPA. Overall, SDSU ranked second across all divisions of women's college basketball.
"This is a really exciting accomplishment for the team," Jackrabbit head coach Aaron Johnston said. "This group has talked about getting back to that top spot over the past couple years and it is good to see this group of new players help us reach that goal. I'm proud of all the sacrifice and effort the players have put forward to accomplish this goal."
Individually, 11 Jackrabbit women's basketball players were honored on the all-Summit League Academic Team.
To be honored on the Academic All-Summit League Team, student-athletes must have a 3.0 or better grade-point average in the semester of their championship event and must use a year of eligibility. Student-athletes are recognized as a Distinguished Scholar by compiling a 3.6 GPA or higher, with nine Jackrabbit players earning that distinction.
Overall, Jackrabbit student-athletes garnered a conference-best 148 Academic All-Summit League awards during the spring semester.
In addition, eight Jackrabbits players were honored on the Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence by The Summit League. With the eight selections - 64 percent of the squad - the Jackrabbits were honored with a Team Academic Achievement Award from the league.
In order for a student-athlete to be selected to the Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence, he or she must carry at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, achieve sophomore academic standing at the institution, have used a year of eligibility and be on the squad list in the sport in which he or she is nominated. Transfers, graduate students and junior college graduates must have completed one academic year at the nominating institution. True freshmen, redshirt freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible for the award.
THE ROSTER: The 2011-12 SDSU women's basketball roster features 13 players from two different states. Of the 13 players, seven are from Minnesota and six are from South Dakota. By class, two are seniors, four are juniors, three are sophomores, one is a redshirt freshman and three are incoming freshmen.
A LOOK AHEAD: The Jackrabbits close out the non-conference portion of their schedule with a pair of road games next week. SDSU will travel to Milwaukee, Wis., for a matchup Monday (Dec. 19) at Marquette. From there, the Jackrabbits will move on to Lincoln, Neb., for a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Wednesday (Dec. 21).
SDSU resumes Summit League action Dec. 29 by hosting Oakland in a 7 p.m. matchup at Frost Arena. The Jackrabbits complete the homestand New Year's Eve with a 2 p.m. contest against IPFW.
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