SDSU stumbles at Marquette

Monday, December 19

Milwaukee, Wis.

7:00 PM

South Dakota State University

Marquette

12/19/2011 11:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Katherine Plouffe scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second half to spark Marquette to a 59-51 victory over South Dakota State in non-conference women's basketball action Monday night at the Al McGuire Center.

Both teams moved to 7-5 on the season.

After SDSU grabbed an early 5-2 lead, Marquette took advantage of consecutive turnovers on five consecutive Jackrabbit possessions to reel off the next 11 points. However, the Jackrabbits recovered to knot the game at 17-all on a Tara Heiser three-pointer with 7 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the first half. The game was tied at 24 at halftime.

Ashley Eide scored the first basket of the second half to give SDSU what would be its last lead of the night.

From there, Plouffe and the Golden Eagles were in control. The 6-foot-3 freshman forward from Edmonton, Alberta, scored eight consecutive points for Marquette as the Golden Eagles broke out to a seven-point lead at 34-27.

SDSU would get back to within a basket at 34-32 moments later, but went without a field goal for the next five and a half minutes. Plouffe scored four more points in a decisive 12-2 run that put the Golden Eagles up by double figures.

Plouffe's 20 points came on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and a 6-of-7 effort at the free throw line. Frontcourt mate Sarina Simmons added 14 points and six steals, with Apiew Ojulu adding 10 points.

The Golden Eagles ended the night 20-of-42 from the field, 47.6 percent, including 2-of-10 from three-point range. Marquette made 17-of-24 free throw attempts, 70.8 percent.

Eide was the lone Jackrabbit in double figures with 10 points. Jill Young added nine points on three three-pointers as she moved to within two three-pointers of the SDSU career lead with 248. Freshman Megan Stuart tallied a career-high eight points in only seven minutes of action.

The Jackrabbits finished the game 18-of-49 from the floor, 36.7 percent, including a 7-for-24 effort from long range. At the line, the Jackrabbits connected on only 8-of-14 attempts, 57.1 percent.

Heiser tied a career high with five rebounds to lead the Jackrabbits' 32-29 advantage on the boards. Plouffe paced all players with eight rebounds for Marquette.

SDSU closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule Wednesday night at Nebraska. Tipoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Center in Lincoln.

NOTES: Marquette leads the all-time series, 5-0 ... SDSU dropped to 0-5 against BIG EAST opponents since moving to the Division I ranks at the start of the 2004-05 season ... the Jackabbits are 0-5 this season when scoring less than 60 points ... Brenda Davis (2001-04) and Kristin Rotert (2008-11) hold the SDSU career record for three-pointers made with 250 ... the Jackrabbits committed 23 turnovers, while Marquette turned the ball over 20 times ... SDSU's leading scorer, Jennie Sunnarborg, was held to four points before fouling out ... the Jackrabbits are 7-3 when out-rebounding an opponent ... SDSU held a 20-5 advantage in bench points ... attendance was 1,137