Women open Summit League play at Omaha

Game 15 | South Dakota State (8-6) at Omaha (5-8)

When	Sunday, Dec. 29 \| 2 p.m.
Where	Baxter Arena \| Omaha, Neb.
Live Audio / Radio	Jackrabbits All-Access \| Jackrabbit Sports Network I WNAX 570 AM \| Brad Peterson
Live Video	Midco Sports Network \| ESPN+ \| Cox 1013
Live Stats	OMavs.com
Game Notes	South Dakota State \| Omaha
Social Media	Twitter I Facebook

South Dakota State women's basketball begins Summit League play Sunday at Omaha with a doubleheader at Baxter Arena. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. prior to the men's contest.

The Jackrabbits (8-6), under the direction of head coach Aaron Johnston, wrapped up nonconference play as it defeated Green Bay (60-55) on the road a week ago.

Omaha enters conference play with a record of 5-8. The Mavericks most recently defeated Graceland, 85-46.

SDSU holds a 43-30 advantage in the all-time series over Omaha. Last season, the Jackrabbits topped the Mavericks on both occasions.

About South Dakota State
Myah Selland is averaging a team-best 13.8 points and 3.0 assists per game. She is shooting 55.8 percent (48-of-86) from the field. Selland turned in season-bests of seven assists in the Jacks' win over Notre Dame and 20 points against FGCU. 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.

Paiton Burckhard is averaging 12.8 points and a team-leading 5.2 rebounds per game. The sophomore scored a career-best 23 points to lead the Jacks to a win over Dakota Wesleyan and has reach double-figures in seven contests. She holds a 54.4 field goal percentage on a team-high 167 total points. Burckhard tied her career best of nine rebound against both South Florida and Florida Gulf Coast. The sophomore was named to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team a season ago.

Tagyn Larson is now averaging 12.1 points after going off for a season-best 22 points against Marquette. Larson has reached double figures in six of the last seven contests. She averages 4.6 rebounds per game, while adding 7 steals and 8 blocks. The senior also dished a career-best eight assists in the win over Chattanooga and is averaging 3.2 assists 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 6.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game is Tylee Irwin. The junior scored 11 points in the win over Coppin State and 10 points at No. 3 Oregon. Against then-No. 21/20-ranked South Florida, the junior pulled down a career-best eight rebounds. 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 started all 14 games for the Jacks as she averages 6 points, 3.4 rebounds and a team-best 3.3 assists per game. Cascio Jensen recorded a career-best seven boards in the season opener. In the win over Green Bay, the senior was just one shy of her career-best as she scored a season-high 11 points. 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 nine games, averaging 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 points per game.

Lindsey Theuninck is averaging 23.9 minutes and 4.9 points per game. In the win over Chattanooga, the sophomore scored a career-best 13 points in her first-ever start as a Jackrabbit. She averaged 12.1 minutes and 2.6 points a game for the Jacks last season.

Sydney Stapleton is averaging 16.9 minutes and 6.3 points per game off the bench. The sophomore turned in a career performance against Coppin State, shooting 5-of-10 from the 3-point line and totaling 17 points. She leads the Jacks from beyond the arc with a total of 21 3-pointers.

Sophomores Jordan Ferrand and Addison Hirschman and redshirt freshman, Lauren Rongisch, have each appeared in three games for SDSU.

Completing the Jackrabbit roster is a trio of new faces to South Dakota State.

The duo of Kallie Theisen and Tori Nelson have been routinely playing for South Dakota State. Nelson is averaging 22.3 minutes per game and Theisen is averaging 15.9. Nelson posted the squads first double-double of the season in the win over Notre Dame. She also scored a career-best 23 points against Coppin State, while Theisen led the team with a career-best 12 rebounds in the contest.

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. Nesheim will be redshirting this season.

SDSU is shooting 44.2 percent from the field, while averaging 37 rebounds per game. The Jackrabbit defense holds their opponents to 60.1 points and a 39.5 FG percentage. State averages 16.4 assists per game and holds an assist/turnover ratio of 1.1.

Scouting Omaha
The Mavericks are led on offense by Claire Killian who is averaging 9.2 points per game. Killian has made a team-high 23 3-pointers so far this season.

Mariah Murdie leads the defensive efforts as she averages 6.1 rebounds per game. She is averaging 7.4 points per game on a team-best 54.2 field goal percentage. Ella Ogier and Josie Filer are turning in 6.9 and 6.5 points per game, respectively.

The Mavericks are being outscored by their opponents, 65.4-61.6. The squad is shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 30.7 percent from long distance.

Last season, Omaha finished the season at 8-21, 2-14 Summit and ranked ninth in the Summit League.

Brittany Lange is in her seventh season at the helm of Omaha with a record of 77-109.

A Win Would...

Improve South Dakota State to 44-40 in the all-time series
Advance the Jackrabbits to 9-6 on the season
Give the Jackrabbits its fifth straight victory over the Mavericks

A Loss Would...

Give the Mavericks its first win over SDSU since 2017

Jackrabbit Basketball Coaches Show
The Jackrabbit Basketball Coaches Show returns to Cubby's Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Brookings on Dec. 30. The hour-long show covering the 2019-20 basketball season tips off every Monday at 6 p.m. through March 2.

Hosted by Tyler Merriam, the weekly look at the South Dakota State basketball teams features interviews with head men's coach Eric Henderson and head women's coach Aaron Johnston, as well as segments with Jackrabbit student-athletes and members of the coaching staff.

Fans can attend in person and will be eligible for weekly drawings.

The show also airs live on flagship radio station WNAX 570 AM and Jackrabbit Sports Network affiliates, and can be heard live or on-demand for free via Jackrabbits All-Access and the Jackrabbit App.

Last Time Out
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- South Dakota State women's basketball defeated Green Bay 60-55 on Saturday evening at Kress Center to close out 2019.

The Jackrabbits wrapped up nonconference play with an 8-6 record, while Green Bay fell to 5-7.

SDSU was led by the pair of Tori Nelson and Tagyn Larson who each turned in 19 points. Rylie Casio Jensen scored a season-best 11 points and was just one point shy of her career high. Kallie Theisen and Tori Nelson each pulled down seven rebounds to lead the defensive efforts, while Lindsey Theuninck dished a team-high six assists.

The Jacks shot 47.4 percent from the field and 52.4 percent from beyond the arc in a contest that saw five lead changes and three ties. SDSU and the Phoenix were even on the boards with 34 rebounds apiece.

Green Bay held an 8-3 advantage to open the game, when Larson hit a 3-pointer to put the Jacks within two. State went scoreless for the remainder of the quarter as the Phoenix extended its lead to 6-11.

SDSU went on a 9-0 run in the second, including back-to-back 3-pointers from Nelson and Larson to gain its first lead of the game (15-14). The advantage wouldn't last as Green Bay outscored the Jacks 10-6 for the remainder of the quarter to lead 24-21 at the half.

The Jackrabbits gained momentum out of the locker room, going on a 14-0 run, which included four 3-pointers, to lead 42-35 headed into the final quarter. Green Bay fought back with a 13-2 run to come within one of the Jacks. The team traded punches as State led just 56-55 with 15 seconds to play but a pair of free throws by Casio Jensen and Nelson put it away for the Jacks.

1,000 Program Wins
The Jackrabbits recently reached the milestone of 1,000 program wins as it defeated Notre Dame, 65-59, at the Cancun Challenge. The Jacks became the 14th NCAA Division I women's team to reach the mark. Head Coach Aaron Johnston is responsible for 474 of South Dakota State's 1,000 wins.

Tough Slate
The Jackrabbits faces 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. Oregon is ranked No. 2 in both the AP and Coaches polls

Notre Dame came up short in the National Championship game to Baylor, 82-81. The Jackrabbits defeated Notre Dame, 65-59, at the Cancun Challenge on Nov. 29.

South Florida was ranked No. 21/20 when the Jackrabbits earned at 61-50 victory over the Bulls.

South Dakota recently entered the rankings as it ranks No. 22 in the Coaches poll and is receiving votes in the AP poll.

Florida Gulf Coast, Marquette and Creighton are all receiving votes.

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 votes.

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.
Most recently, South Dakota State defeated No. 21/20-ranked USF, 61-50, and fell to No. 3 Oregon (95-56).

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-

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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

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