Women set for Cancun Challenge

GAMES 7-9: South Dakota State (3-2); No. 21/20 USF (5-1); Notre Dame (4-2); FGCU (5-1)

When	Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019 \| vs. South Florida \| 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET	Friday, Nov. 29, 2019 \| vs. Notre Dame \| 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET	Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 \| vs. FGCU \| 12:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. ET
Where	Cancun Challenge \| Cancun, Mexico	Cancun Challenge \| Cancun, Mexico	Cancun Challenge \| Cancun, Mexico
Live Radio	WNAX 570 AM \| Scotty Kwas	WNAX 570 AM \| Scotty Kwas	WNAX 104.1 FM \| Scotty Kwas
Live Audio	Jackrabbits All-Access \| Jackrabbit Sports Network
Live Video	FloHoops.com	FloHoops.com	FloHoops.com
Live Stats	CancunChallenge.net	CancunChallenge.net	CancunChallenge.net
Game Notes	South Dakota State
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| #PERFORM

The South Dakota State women's basketball team travels to Mexico this week to compete in the Cancun Challenge, Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 28-30.

The Jackrabbits will meet No. 20/21-ranked South Florida on Thursday at 10 a.m (11 a.m. ET). State will face Notre Dame, Friday at 10 a.m (11 a.m. ET) and will close the week oout on Saturday with Florida Gulf Coast (12:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. ET).

The Jackrabbits, under the direction of head coach Aaron Johnston, who is in his 20th season at SDSU, are 3-2 on the season after capturing a pair of home wins over Montana State (60-50) and Wyoming (67-40).

Last Time Out
The South Dakota State women's basketball team defeated Wyoming 67-40 on Saturday night at Frost Arena to advance to 3-2 on the season.

Myah Selland led all scorers with 16 points. Tori Nelson recorded eight points and a career-best five rebounds. The pair of Rylie Cascio Jensen and Paiton Burckhard turned in seven points apiece, while Burckhard held a team-best six rebounds.

Tylee Irwin added five boards to help the Jackrabbits outrebound Wyoming 36-30.

12 Jackrabbits saw the court in the contest, 10 of which scored, with 25 points coming off the bench. State converted 17 points off the Cowgirls' 10 turnovers.

The Jackrabbits shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field, while holding Wyoming to 34 percent.

Wyoming held an early 6-2 lead at the 6:30 mark of the first quarter. However, the advantage didn't last long as a basket by Cascio Jensen started what would be an 18-7 run by the Jacks to lead 20-13 at the end of the opening frame.

The Jackrabbits carried its momentum into the second quarter, stretching its lead to 14 with over seven minutes remaining in the half. SDSU experienced a five-minute scoring drought as Wyoming went on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 27-23. A Lindsey Theuninck 3-pointer helped the Jacks outscore the Cowgirls 5-2 in the remainder of the half to lead 34-25 at the break.

SDSU held Wyoming to just five points in the third quarter, building its lead back up to 16 points.

The Jackrabbits opened the final frame with a 13-4 run to extend its advantage to 59-34 at the final media timeout. Kallie Theisen posted five points in the final stretch to help seal the victory for the Jacks.

About South Dakota State
South Dakota State remains undefeated at home as it topped Wyoming, 67-40.

Paiton Burckhard has found a place in the starting lineup. Through four games, she is averaging 15 points, after reaching double figures in four games, including a career-best 23 points to lead the Jacks to a win over Dakota Wesleyan. She holds a team-best 54.9 field goal percentage. The sophomore was named to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team a season ago.

Myah Selland is shooting 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the field as she averages 11 points per game. The junior leads the team on the boards, averaging 6.0 rebounds per game. An All-Summit League Preseason First Team honoree, the junior averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while ranking second on the team in assists (108) and blocked shots (18) last season.

After an early season-best of 14 points in the win over Montana State, Tagyn Larson is averaging 8.3 points per game. The senior holds a team-best four blocks, three of which came against Montana State, and is averaging 5.5 rebounds per game. A 2018-19 All-Summit League Second Team and Summit League Championship All-Tournament Team selection, Larson was named to the All-Summit League Preseason First Team. She led the team last season in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and blocked shots (43). The senior averaged 10.5 points per game.

Averaging 6.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game is Tylee Irwin. The junior scored nine points against Drake in the season opener and led the Jacks on the boards with a career-best seven rebounds in the home opener victory over Montana State. Last season Irwin ranked third on the squad with 15 blocked shots and was fourth in steals (33), rebounding (3.7 rpg), and 3-pointers (22). She was named to the All-Summit League Preseason Second team.

Rylie Cascio Jensen has quickly settled into the starting lineup early this season. She is averaging 6.4 points per game and leads the team with 2 assists per game. Cascio Jensen recorded a career-best seven boards in the season opener and is averaging 3.3 rebounds per game. Through four games, the senior has gone 8-of-20 from beyond the arc to hold a 40 3-point percentage. She ranked third on the team with 105 assists and fifth on the squad with 20 3-pointers last year, averaging 19.2 minutes per game off the bench.

Rounding out the senior class is Megan Bultsma who has appeared in 2 games for the Jackrabbits.

Lindsey Theuninck is averaging 20.4 minutes and 3.4 points per game off the bench. She averaged 12.1 minutes and 2.6 points a game for the Jacks last season.

The trio of Sydney Stapleton, Addison Hirschman and Jordan Ferrand round out the sophomore class. Stapleton appeared in 23 games, while Hirschman and Ferrand each saw playing time in 17 games.

Stapleton is averaging 12 minutes and 2.8 points off the bench for the Jacks.

Completing Jackrabbit roster is a trio of new faces to South Dakota State and a redshirt freshman.

The duo of Kallie Theisen and Tori Nelson have been routinely playing for South Dakota State off the bench. Nelson is averaging 19.2 minutes per game and Theisen is averaging 11.8. Nelson recorded nine points and went 2-of-2 from the 3-point range in the win over Montana State. Against Wyoming, Theisen weng 2-of-2 from long distance and tallied nine points.

Lauren Rongisch readshirted last year and will make her collegiate debut in the 2019-20 season. She was a three-time All-State honorable mention selection, a second-team All-Metro pick in 2016 and honorable mention in 2015 and 2017 at Millard West High School. Rongisch finished her high school career with 595 points, averaging 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 32 percent from beyond the arc and 77 percent from the free-throw line.

Regan Nesheim helped lead Johnston High School to three consecutive state tournament appearances. She earned second-team all-state recognition as a senior after averaging 13.1 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocked shots per game.
The Jackrabbits are averaging 15.4 assists per game and outrebounds its opponents 38.2-33.4. The squad averages 63.8 points per game and holds its opponents to 54.2. State is shooting 42.8 percent from the field.

Scouting No. 21/20 South Florida
No. 20/21-ranked South Florida is off to a 5-1 start on the season with its only loss coming to No. 2/2 Baylor (58-46). Its most recent win came over Saint Francis (Pa.), 62-23).

Bethy Mununga and Enna Pehadzic lead the offense for USF, averaging 12.5 and 11.8 points per game, respectively.

Mununga also leads the rebounding efforts with 10.2 rebounds per game. The junior is shooting 66 percent from the field.

Elisa Pinzan adds depth to the squad as she averages 9 points and a team-leading five assists per game.

The bulls are shooting 39.7 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from beyond the arc. The team averages 14.5 assists per game and holds a 0.9 assist/tournover ratio.

Jose Fernandez is in his 20th season at USF with a record of 358-270.

Thursday marks the first meeting between the two teams.

Scouting Notre Dame
After making its way to the national championship game a season ago, Notre Dame returns almost an entirely different squad to the court.

Notre Dame is 4-2 on the season and on a two game win streak, defeating Toledo (54-51) and Michigan (76-72).

The Fighting Irish are led by the pair of Katlyn Gilbert and Same Brunelle who are averaging 15.3 points per game apiece. Destinee Walker and Anaya Peoples are also averaging double figures with 15 and 12.3 points per game, respectively.

On the boards, Mikayla Vaughn is averaging a team-best 9 rebounds per game. Brunelle adds to the defensive efforts as she averages 7 boards per game and holds a team-high 10 blocks.

Marta Sniezek has started in all six contest for the Fighting Irish and is averaging 5.3 assists per game.

As a team, Notre Dame is shooting 41.2 percent from the field and is averaging 67.7 points per game, while holding its opponents to 64 points. The Fighting Irish is being outrebounded by its opponents, 45.2-35.7.

Muffet McGraw is in her 33rd season as head coach at Notre Dame and boasts an overall record of 835-234.

Jackrabbits are 0-2 all-time against the Fighting Irish. In the last meeting, Notre Dame defeated State 75-64 at Frost Arena.

Scouting Florida Gulf Coast
Florida Gulf Coast is 5-1 with its only loss coming at Princeton, 67-53. The team is undefeated at home and most recently topped Saint Francis (Pa.), 97-64.

The Eagles have a pair players averaging double digit points, led by Davion Wingate with 19.7 points per game. The redshirt senior is shooting 67.1 percent (47-of-70) from the field including 56.3 percent from long distance. Keri Giles-Jewett is averaging 15 points per game and holds a team-high 15 steals.

Tytionia Adderly grabs 9.8 boards per game, while Kerstie Phills is averaging 5.5.

The Eagles are averaging 85 points per game while holding its opponents to 56.5. FGCU has a negative 2.8 rebounding margin.

Head coach Karl Smesko is in his 18th season at the helm of Florida Gulf Coast and has compiled a record of 524-119.

Against the Eagles, the Jackrabbits are 1-2 all-time. Last year, SDSU picked up its first win against Florida Gulf Coast, earning an 80-62 victory at home.

1,000 Wins on the Horizon
The Jackrabbits are rapidly approaching a large milestone in the history of their program. State is just two wins away from 1,000 program wins. The team will join an elite 13 teams in NCAA Division I schools who have reached the mark.

Tough Slate
The Jackrabbits will face two Power Five (ACC, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, PAC-12)
opponents during the 2019-20 season, including Oregon and Notre Dame.

Oregon, who SDSU fell to in the Sweet Sixteen, made it to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament where it fell to the 2019 National Champions, Baylor, 72-67. The Ducks were have continuously been ranked No.1 in the polls early this season.

Notre Dame came up short in the National Championship game to Baylor, 82-81. The Fighting Irish are receiving votes in both polls

South Florida, who the Jackrabbits fill face next ranked No. 21 in this week's AP poll and 21 in the coache's poll.

Preseason Recognition
Tagyn Larson and Myah Selland were named to the All-Summit League Preseason First Team, while Tylee Irwin earned All-Summit League Preseason Second Team accolades.

Jacks Tabbed Second In Preseason Poll
The Jackrabbits claimed a total of 496 points and 13 first place votes in the preseason poll. South Dakota was voted the favorite with 20 first place votes and 527 points, while Denver rounded out the top three with 394 points and a lone first place vote.

2019-20 Summit League Preseason Poll
Rk	Team	Votes (1st)
1	South Dakota	527 (20)
2	South Dakota State	496 (13)
3	Denver	394 (1)
4	Oral Roberts	370
5	Western Illinois	332
6	North Dakota	213
7	North Dakota State	181
8	Omaha	147
9	Purdue Fort Wayne	85

Summit League Titles

South Dakota State won its Summit League-leading sixth regular-season title in the program's 12 years in the league with a 15-1 record.
The Jackrabbits last won the regular-season title in 2013-14, finishing the league schedule 13-1.
SDSU also claimed titles in 2007-08, 2008-09, 2011-12 and 2012-13.
State has claimed nine Summit League tournament titles in the past 11 years.

Against Ranked Opponents

South Dakota State is 10-28 vs. ranked foes since 2006-07. It is 6-5 in Frost Arena, 3-14 on the road and 1-9 at neutral sites.
The Jackrabbits' 75-67 win over 12th-ranked Syracuse ties for the highest ranked team they have beaten in program history.
Syracuse was also the highest team South Dakota State has defeated on the road.
SDSU faced its highest-ranked opponent Jan. 2, 2014, when it played then-No. 2 Notre Dame (L, 94-51) in South Bend.

Postseason Awards

Three returning Jackrabbits earned Summit League postseason awards.
Tagyn Larson picked up second-team accolades and Myah Selland was on the honorable mention team.
Rookie Paiton Burckhard was named to The Summit League All-Newcomer Team.
At The Summit League Championship, Larson was named to the all-tournament team.

-GoJacks.com-

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Megan Bultsma

Paiton Burckhard

Rylie Cascio Jensen

Jordan Ferrand

Addison Hirschman

Tylee Irwin

Tagyn Larson

Tori Nelson

Regan Nesheim

Lauren Rongisch

Myah Selland

Sydney Stapleton

Kallie Theisen

Lindsey Theuninck

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Augustana (Exhibition) on October 29, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at Creighton on November 3, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Rice on November 7, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Murray State on November 11, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Montana on November 15, 2025 at 6 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. CT

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Gonzaga on November 20, 2025

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at No. 2 [#3/3] UConn on March 24, 2025 , Loss , 57, to, 91

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus No. 7 [#17/19] Oklahoma State on March 22, 2025 , Win , 74, to, 68

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus No. 2 Oral Roberts on March 9, 2025 , Win , 84, to, 68

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus No. 5 North Dakota on March 8, 2025 , Win , 84, to, 55

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus No. 8 Omaha on March 6, 2025 , Win , 87, to, 67

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus St. Thomas on March 1, 2025 , Win , 79, to, 46

South Dakota State University Athletics