Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus No. 6 Washington on March 20, 2026 , Loss , 54, to, 72


2/9/2012 10:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
THE SERIES: Saturday's game will mark the 11th meeting between South Dakota State and UMKC?in women's basketball. The series dates back to a 75-73 Jackrabbit
victory at the Dial Classic in Brookings during the 1981-82 season.
The series resumed during the 2007-08 season, when the Jackrabbits joined The Summit League, and SDSU?has gone on to take an 9-1 series advantage. The Kangaroos' lone win in the series came during the 2009-10 season, when UMKC?claimed a 67-64 victory on its home floor.
SDSU has won each of the last four matchups.
FIRST MEETING: Jennie Sunnarborg scored a career-high 31 points and reached the 1,000-point mark for her career, leading South Dakota State past UMKC, 75-62, in a foul-filled Summit League women's basketball game Jan. 14 at Frost Arena.
In winning the 20th annual Lamb Bonanza, the Jackrabbits improved to 11-7 overall and strengthened their lead in the league standings with a 6-1 conference mark. UMKC, which had its six-game winning streak snapped, fell to 12-6 overall and 3-3 in the Summit League.
The pace and play of the game was ragged throughout as neither team was able to find much of an offensive rhythm. UMKC, which opened the game 1-for-12 from the field, took its only lead of the first half, 6-4, on a pair of free throws by Eilise O'Connor five minutes into the game. The Jackrabbits scored the next six points and never trailed the rest of the way.
Sunnarborg hit the 1,000-point mark with two free throws with 5 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the first half that gave the Jackrabbits their largest lead of the opening stanza at 21-12. UMKC trimmed the margin back to three points, 25-22, heading into intermission.
Jill Young hit a pair of three-pointers off inbounds plays in the first three minutes of the second half to rebuild the Jackrabbit advantage to nine points. SDSU's run to open the half grew to 16-3 as the Kangaroos opened the second half 1-for-14 from the field. Sunnarborg's layup with 11:20 remaining to put the Jackrabbits out front 41-25.
Two more free throws by Sunnarborg gave SDSU its largest lead of the night, 53-35, with under six minutes to play. From there, the Kangaroos ratcheted up the pressure in the backcourt to ignite a 15-5 run the cut the deficit to 58-50 with under three minutes to play.
The Jackrabbits stemmed the tide as Steph Paluch stole the ball and completed a traditional three-point play. SDSU scored 13 of its final 15 points at the charity stripe as the Jackrabbits went 34-of-48, 70.8 percent, for the game, setting a school record for free throw attempts. The two squads were whistled for a combined 57 fouls in the game - 35 by UMKC and 22 by SDSU.
Sunnarborg was 8-of-15 from the field and 15-of-21 at the line in recording her 31 points. Young also reached double figures with 13 points, sinking 7-of-8 attempts at the line.
From the field, the Jackrabbits were 19-of-45, 42.2 percent, including 3-of-17 on three-point tries.
UMKC ended the night 18-of-64 from the field, 28.1 percent, including 5-of-16 on three-point attempts. At the line, the Kangaroos converted 21-of-30 attempts for 70 percent.
SDSU held a 43-36 advantage in rebounding, with Sunnarborg pacing the Jackrabbits with nine boards. Kim Nezianya shared game-high honors with nine rebounds and added 13 points. Dayon Hall-Jones and Eilise O'Connor led the Kangaroos with 14 points apiece.
MEDIA COVERAGE: Audio and video coverage of Saturday'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 3:30 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.
NEW RADIO SHOW DEBUTS: South Dakota State head coach Aaron Johnston also will be a weekly guest on the "Jackrabbit Basketball Coaches Show," a radio show which will air live from Cubby's Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Brookings and will run from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays on the Jackrabbit Sports Network.
An audio stream of the show also will be available via the Jackrabbit Extra.
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 rank just outside the top 25 in the most recent mid-major poll, which is sprinkled with SDSU opponents. In the Feb. 7 poll, Middle Tennessee State checked in at No. 7, Marist (N.Y.) holds the 20th spot and Summit League favorite Oral Roberts is 24th.
809 AND?COUNTING: SDSU's victory over Oakland on Dec. 29 was the 800th 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 809-365 (.689 winning percentage).
In addition, SDSU is all but assured of its 26th consecutive winning season 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.
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-plus seasons competing at the Division I level, SDSU has compiled a 159-64 mark (.713 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 146-22 record (.869 winning percentage) at Frost Arena, including a 91-13 mark (.875 winning pct.) at home during the Division I era. The Jackrabbits have put together home winning streaks of 15, 15 and 22 in the process. Their current home winning streak is seven.
Since the start of the 2001-02 season, SDSU has a 135-17 home record (.888 winning percentage), losing an average of less than 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.
FEASTING IN FEBRUARY: The Jackrabbits have made a habit of ending the regular season strong throughout their time in Division I. In its eight-year history of competing at the Division I level, SDSU?has compiled a 46-4 record in February. That record included a 26-game winning streak in February that ended Feb. 22, 2010, at Oakland.
FEB. 18 GAME TIME CHANGED: The starting time for the South Dakota State-North Dakota State women's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 18 has been moved up two hours.
Tipoff is now set for 3 p.m. at Frost Arena.
The schedule change was made to accommodate the Jackrabbit men's basketball team's nationally televised game against Buffalo (N.Y.) as part of the Sears BracketBusters event. The men's game is slated for a noon start, with the game airing live on ESPNU.
BATTLE OF THE BOARDS: The Jackrabbits enter the week as the top rebounding team in The Summit League, out-rebounding their opponents by 5.2 boards per game overall and 6.9 per league contest.
The Jackrabbits had their streak of holding a rebounding advantage end at seven games in the Dec. 21 loss at Nebraska, but again controlled the boards in their Dec. 29 matchup against Oakland. Overall, the Jackrabbits have out-rebounded their opponents in 18 of their 23 games this season, posting a 15-3 record when winning the battle of the boards.
The Jackrabbits have held a double-digit rebounding advantage seven times this
season, including each of their first four Summit League games. SDSU put together a dominating 46-22 advantage against Western Illinois on Nov. 30 and held a 41-27 edge versus Oakland in their Dec. 29 matchup.
TOEING THE LINE: Despite some struggles early in the season at the free throw line, the Jackrabbits have been one of the most efficient teams at the stripe during Summit League action.
In 13 league games, SDSU ranks third among the league's 10 teams by shooting 76.2 percent (221-of-290) at the free throw line, starting with a 9-for-9 effort Nov. 30 at Western Illinois. The Jacks have shot above 80 percent in six games, including a 23-of-25 (92 percent) effort at IPFW?on Jan. 28, during which they started a string of 27 consecutive made free throws. SDSU leads The Summit League in made free throws and free throw attempts during league play.
The Jackrabbits set a single-game school record with 48 free throw attempts in their Jan. 14 game against UMKC. The team's 34 makes were two off the school mark.
Individually Jill Young is shooting 84.2 percent (32-of-38) from the stripe in league games, while Jennie Sunnarborg is at 80 percent (80-of-100).
BENCH POINTS: South Dakota State reserves have played a key role in the Jackrabbits sporting a 17-7 record this season. A relatively young and inexperienced Jackrabbit bench has outscored the opponent's reserves in 16 games this season, including holding a 141-42 combined advantage over the last five games. Overall, the Jackrabbits have outscored opposing reserves by 136 points, 420-284, thus far during the 2011-12 season.
Since moving into a reserve role at the close of the calendar year, junior center Katie Lingle has held at least a share of the team lead in bench points in six of the last 10 contests, including a 10-point outing Jan. 28 at IPFW.
Freshman wing Rachel Walters held at least a share of the top output off the bench for the third time in four games and seventh time this season with nine points in the Feb. 4 win over Southern Utah. Walters reached double figures for the first time in the Jan. 20 win at North Dakota State, scoring 10 points as she sank three trifectas. Walters set a career high with 12 points — all on three-pointers — in the Jackrabbits' Jan. 30 win at Oakland.
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 71-14 record (.835 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 36-5 at home (.878 winning percentage) against league foes and has won at least one game on every other Summit League member's home court.
YOUNG REACHES MILESTONES: Senior guard Jill Young has reached a pair of milestones during the 2011-12 season.
The Mitchell native 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 Saturday's game at UMKC in 21st place on the Jackrabbit career scoring chart with 1,239 points, after passing both Ann Just (1,227 points from 1993-96) and Lora Kluis (1,235 points from 1996-99) in the Feb. 6 win over Oral Roberts. Next on the list is Jodi Bergemann, who scored 1,270 points from 1991-94.
Young has been a top-notch long range shooter throughout her collegiate career and has set a new Jackrabbit standard with 281 career three-pointers, breaking the previous record of 250 held by both Brenda Davis (2001-04) and Kristin Rotert (2008-11) in the Dec. 29 game against Oakland. Her 281 three-pointers also rank as the second-most all-time in Summit League history as Young trails current IPFW standout Anne Boese (284 three-pointers).
Through the first 24 games of the season, Young leads the squad with 59 three-pointers. She tied a career high with seven three-pointers in the Nov. 11 season opener against St. Cloud State. In the 10 games since setting the new Jackrabbit standard Dec. 29 against Oakland, Young is a combined 30-for-64 (46.9 percent) from long distance. She made 6-of-11 attempts in a Dec. 31 home game versus IPFW, then went
4-of-9 Jan. 7 at Oral Roberts and 5-of-10 at Southern Utah two days later.
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 41.3 percent from three-point range, 281-of-680, including a team-best 78-of-188 — 41.4 percent — last season to rank 21st nationally for three-point percentage.
Young also has been an 82.4 percent (216-of-262) career shooter from the free throw line. She has shot well above her career average this season, making 88.4 percent (61-of-69) of her attempts.
SUNNY SIDE UP: Senior forward Jennie Sunnarborg has led the Jackrabbits in scoring throughout much of the 2011-12 season. A native of Osseo, Minn., Sunnarborg has upped her scoring average to a team-best 13.9 points per game after averaging 17.2 points per game in Summit League play. She is shooting 79.6 percent (113-of-142) overall from the free throw line and contributing a team-best 5.7 rebounds per game.
On the career charts, Sunnarborg became the 31st player in Jackrabbit women's basketball history to reach the 1,000-point mark, accomplishing the feat Jan. 14 against UMKC with a career-high 31 points. She enters the weekend with 1,092 career points, passing former teammate Ketty Cornemann (1,042 points from 2007-10) for 29th place in the Jan. 20 game at North Dakota State. Dawn Hull is 28th on the career scoring list with 1,125 points from 2003-06.
Sunnarborg also has moved into a tie with former teammate Jennifer Warkenthien (2006-09) for sixth place in career blocked shots at South Dakota State with 105.
In 13 Summit League games, Sunnarborg is averaging 17.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest, while shooting 47.6 percent (70-of-147) from the field. Prior to her career night against UMKC, Sunnarborg recorded a pair of season-high 23-point outings. In a Dec. 2 victory at IUPUI, Sunnarborg scored 23 points and added five rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot. On Jan. 7, Sunnarborg again tallied 23 points, including a perfect 9-for-9 performance at the free throw line. Two days later, at Southern Utah, Sunnarborg tallied a game-high 22 points. Her performance against UMKC marked the seventh time this season and 16th time in her career she reached the 20-point mark.
Sunnarborg also compiled a 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.
Sunnarborg broke out of a four-game slump with a 20-point, seven-rebound performance against nationally ranked Nebraska on Dec. 21, followed by a 21-point, six-rebound night against Oakland on Dec. 29.
EIDE ON THE MARK: Junior guard Ashley Eide has put together a strong season for the Jackrabbit women's basketball team, leading the team in field goal percentage (49.7 percent), ranking second in assists (54), steals (31) and three-pointers (21), and third in both scoring (10.8 ppg) and rebounding (4.5 rpg).
Eide was named Summit League Player of the Week following her 21-point, five-rebound performance at nationally ranked Nebraska on Dec. 21. She was 9-of-14 from the field, including 3-for-3 from three-point range. Eide added two assists and two steals in 30 minutes of action.
She tallied double figures for the fifth consecutive game with 12 points in the Dec. 31 win over IPFW. Eide made a pair of three-pointers, while adding nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists. On Jan. 20 at North Dakota State, Eide turned in another strong all-around performance, tallying game highs of 20 points and seven rebounds, while adding three assists and three steals.
The Sioux Falls native was impressive in the season opening weekend, tying a career high with six assists in the season-opening win over St. Cloud State on Nov. 11, then pouring 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 IN A NEW ROLE: After handling the bulk of the point guard duties for the Jackrabbits through the first half of the 2011-12 season, junior Steph Paluch has played at her more natural two-guard position the last six games.
A Pierre native, Paluch leads the team with 38 steals (1.58 spg) and 60 assists (2.5 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 6.2 points and 2.3 rebounds 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. She again reached double figures with 10 points in a Jan. 20 road win at North Dakota State.
DIETEL CLEANS THE GLASS: Junior forward Leah Dietel recently set a season high for rebounds in back-to-back games to help the Jackrabbits lead The Summit League in the category this season.
A native of Jordan, Minn., Dietel grabbed seven rebounds in a losing effort at Nebraska on Dec. 21. In her first start of the season, Dec. 29 against Oakland, Dietel pulled down nine rebounds and tied a career high with two blocked shots in a Jackrabbit victory.
Dietel currently ranks fourth on the squad with an average of 3.9 rebounds per game.
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 UMKC with a career record of 283-97 (.745 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 71-14 record (.835 winning percentage) in Summit League regular season games and a 16-7 mark (.696 winning percentage) in NCAA or WNIT postseason games. He is 8-1 against UMKC.
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, Sports Illustrated and The New York Times.
A native of Pine Island, Minn., "A.J." earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. After serving one year as an assistant coach at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, he moved on to SDSU as a graduate assistant for the Jackrabbit men's basketball team for two seasons before becoming assistant women's coach. He also coached the SDSU golf teams one year.
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.
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.
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.
EIDE REPEATS ON ACADEMIC TEAM: South Dakota State University women's basketball player Ashley Eide was named recently to the Capital One Academic All-District Team.
After earning second-team recognition in 2011, Eide received first-team honors this season. She will advance to the Division I national ballot for Academic All-America consideration later this month.
Ajunior from Sioux Falls, Eide was selected to the five-player squad with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average while majoring in health, physical education and recreation.
Selections to the Capital One Academic All-District 6 Team were determined by a vote of sports information directors in Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Candidates must be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing, a starter or key reserve and carry at least a 3.3 GPA.
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 wrap up the road portion of their Summit League schedule with a matchup Monday (Feb. 13) at the University of South Dakota. The rematch against the Coyotes?is set for a 7:05 p.m. tipoff at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, with television coverage on Midco Sports Net.