GAME 25: South Dakota State [19-5, 8-1] vs. Denver [13-11, 4-5] |
The South Dakota State women's basketball team will be helping raise awareness of breast cancer with its Think Pink game against Denver Thursday at 7 p.m. in the friendly confines of Frost Arena.
Â
The Jackrabbits are 19-5 overall and sit second in league play, a game and half behind South Dakota, with an 8-1 mark.
Â
SDSU won its sixth road game of the season and fourth consecutive with a dominating 103-54 win at Omaha Feb. 3. Senior
Ellie Thompson recorded her 11th career double-double and first of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead four Jackrabbits in double digits in scoring.
Â
SDSU has won 13 of the last 17 games against league members, dating to last season.
Â
A much-improved Denver team is 13-11 overall and 4-5 in league play. The Pioneers, who are fifth in the league standings, snapped a three-game losing streak with an 86-65 win over last-place Fort Wayne Feb. 4.
Â
Thursday's game will be the 14th meeting between the Jackrabbits and the Pioneers. SDSU leads the series 12-1. South Dakota State won the season's first meeting, 69-58, Jan. 11, in Denver.
Â
Thursday's contest is the final Meal Deal promotion opportunity of the season, where fans can purchase a ticket, popcorn and soda for just $8 through the Jackrabbit Ticket Office. Mini plans of three Summit League games for $30 are still available.Â
VisitÂ
JackrabbitTickets.com, stop by the ticket office inside Frost Arena or call 605-688-5422. Â
Â
Noteworthy
- SDSU is wearing pink Under Armour jerseys to show support and raise awareness for breast cancer. The jerseys will be auctioned immediately after the game with proceeds benefiting the Edith Sanford Breast Foundation. Last year, the Jackrabbits raised more than $12,550 for the Foundation with the jerseys being sold for between $200 and $3,100.
- South Dakota State is 11-2 this season in the friendly confines of Frost Arena. It is also 478-121 (.797) all-time in home games, including 80-8 (.909) in home Summit League games.
- The Jackrabbits rank sixth in free-throw percentage (78.2), 13th in 3-point field goals made (212), 14th in 3-point field-goal attempts (599) and 21st in assists (399) and 3-pointers per game (8.8) in the NCAA. Junior Madison Guebert is sixth in free-throw percentage (92.6).
- South Dakota State was ranked seventh in Graham Hays' Feb. 7 espnW mid-major poll. It was ranked No. 1 in the Nov. 15 poll and second in the Nov. 29, Dec. 13, Jan. 9 and Jan. 24 polls.
- The Jackrabbits have won nine of their last 10 contests.
- nState has held 15 of its 24 opponents to 65-or-fewer points, including five to less than 50.
- There have been at least three Jackrabbits scoring in double digits in 16 of 24 games. In the last five games, four Jacks are averaging double figures, led by Macy Miller's 19.6 ppg.
- Miller has scored 20-or-more points 11 times. She averages 18.3 points per game.
- Already the Summit League's all-time wins leader, head coach Aaron Johnston is three wins away from 150 career Summit League wins. Â
Â
Jackrabbits in Mid-Major Poll
- South Dakota State was ranked eighth in the Feb. 6Â CollegeInsider Mid-Major poll.
- SDSU has been ranked in the Mid-Major Top 25 Poll 113 of the last 114 weeks.
- The Jackrabbits, who were picked No. 1 in last year's preseason poll, finished 15th at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Â
A Quick Glance at South Dakota State
- Eighteenth-year head coach Aaron Johnston's probable starters for the Denver game are:
                 -
Alexis Alexander, point guard
                 -
Madison Guebert, guard
                 -
Macy Miller, guard
                 -
Tagyn Larson, forward
                 -
Ellie Thompson, forward
- The starting lineup is 6-1 overall this season.
- Summit League Player of the Year candidate Macy Miller is currently SDSU's and The Summit League's overall (18.3) leading scorer. She is second in the league (18.0). Madison Guebert averages 15.0 points per game and ranks fourth in league scoring (16.8).
- SDSU averages 77.6 points per game and limits foes to 62.5 points per outing.
- On the boards, Ellie Thompson and Tagyn Larson are SDSU's leading rebounders, grabbing 5.8 caroms an outing. The Jackrabbits are outrebounding opponents by 6.4.
- The Jackrabbits' top 3-point threat is Guebert, who is sinking 2.6 treys per game.
- Miller is the Jacks' top playmaker, dishing 3.2 assists per game.
- The Jacks have a plus-1.2 assist-to-turnover ratio and 1.5 turnover margin.
- SDSU is shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from 3-point range and 78.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Â
Glance at Denver
- Under first-year head coach Jim Turgeon, Denver is 7-4 overall and 2-3 in Summit League in road games. It enters Thursday's game on a two-game losing streak.
- The Pioneers are led offensively by freshman Claire Gritt. The guard averages 10.6 points per game.
- Denver averages 70.8 points per game and gives up 69.0.
- Senior forward Jordyn Alt averages a Summit League and team-leading 7.7 rebounds. The Pioneers are outrebounding opponents by 2.8 caroms a game.
- Sophomore guard Briana Johnson is dishing 3.3 assists per game.
- Sophomore guard Lauren Loven is the DU's top 3-point threat, sinking 32.8 percent (39-119) of her shots. The Pioneers rank fourth in The Summit League in 3-point field goals (205, 8.5).
- The Pioneers are shooting 39.5 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from 3-point range and 69.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Â
Breaking Down the Denver Series
- Thursday's game will be the 14th meeting between SDSU and Denver. The Jacks lead the series, 12-1, after winning the first meeting of the season, 69-58. Macy Miller and Madison Guebert each scored 18 points in that win.
- SDSU has won the last five games, including two in Frost Arena.
- Denver joined The Summit League in 2013-14, State has swept the series except when the Pioneers surprised the Jackrabbits with a 77-72 win in Denver Feb. 11, 2015.
- Guebert averages 17.0 ppg and is shooting 54.9 percent from the field and 53.1 percent from long range in five career games versus Denver.
- In eight games, Ellie Thompson averages 10.5 points and is shooting 52.4 percent from the field.
- Macy Miller is scoring at a 16.3 clip against the Pioneers. She is also shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
For more information on the South Dakota State women's basketball team, follow the Jackrabbits on Twitter (
@GoJacksWBB) or likeÂ
South Dakota State women's basketball on Facebook.
Â
-GoJacks.com-
Â