Jackrabbit women face Pioneers Thursday

Game 26 | South Dakota State (18-7, 10-1) vs. Denver (10-14, 4-7)

When	Thursday, Feb. 13 \| 7 p.m.
Where	Frost Arena \| Brookings, S.D.
Live Audio / Radio	Jackrabbits All-Access \| Jackrabbit Sports Network I WNAX 570 AM \| Scotty Kwas
Live Video	Jackrabbits All-Access
Live Stats	GoJacksLive.com
Game Notes	South Dakota State \| Denver
Social Media	Twitter I Facebook

South Dakota State women's basketball continues its three-game homestand as it hosts Denver Thursday in a midweek matchup. The teams are scheduled to tip at 7 p.m. The game is sponsored by First Bank and Trust.

The Jackrabbits (18-7, 10-1 Summit League), under the direction of head coach Aaron Johnston, have won their last four games, most recently defeating Omaha 69-59 at home. State ranks second in the Summit League standings.

Denver is 10-14 and 4-7 in Summit League action. The Pioneers defeated Purdue Fort Wayne 83-57 last week, snapping a three-game losing streak.

South Dakota State holds a 16-1 advantage in the all-time series over Denver. The Jackrabbits and Pioneers earlier this season in Denver, where SDSU claimed an 86-79 victory.

About South Dakota State
Paiton Burckhard is averaging a team-best 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The sophomore scored a career-best 27 points to lead the Jacks to a win over North Dakota and has reach double-figures in 19 contests, including 20-plus points in six games. She ranks fourth in the Summit League with a 53.4 field goal percentage on a team-high 349 total points. So far in Summit League play she has scored 182 points (16.5 ppg) and pulled down 82 rebounds. Burckhard registered her third double-double in the win over Western Illinois with 11 points and a career-best 12 rebounds. The sophomore was named to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team a season ago.

Myah Selland is averaging 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.

Tagyn Larson is averaging 11.7 points on the season after reaching double figures in 13 games, including a season-best 22 points against Marquette. She averages 6 rebounds per game, while adding 13 steals and a team-leading 23 blocks. The senior also dished a career-best nine assists in the win over Purdue Fort Wayne and is averaging 3 assists per game. Larson is shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Sioux Falls native turned in her first double-double of the season to lead the Jacks to a victory over Oral Roberts with 17 points and 14 rebounds. 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.

Rylie Cascio Jensen has started all 25 games for the Jacks as she averages 6.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and a team-best 3.9 assists per game. Cascio Jensen tied her career-best of seven boards in the win over Western Illinois. In the Summit League opener against Omaha, the senior turned in a career-high 14 points as she went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. She dished a season-high seven assists against Denver and Western Illinois. Cascio Jensen 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.

Averaging 7.4 points and 5 rebounds per game is Tylee Irwin. The junior scored a season-best 14 points in the win at Western Illinois. Against North Dakota, Irwin pulled down a season-high 10 boards. She blocked a career-best three shots against Omaha and Western Illinois. 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.

Senior Megan Bultsma has appeared in 20 games and is turning in some impressive minutes off the bench for SDSU as she's averaging 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. In the win at Denver, the senior more than doubled her career-best (10 points) as she turned in a team-leading 24 points. Bultsma was the first player since 2015 to score 20-plus points coming off the bench. She has a total of 127 points and is shooting 53.6 percent from the field in Summit League play. She scored 10-plus points in six consecutive contests this season. In the win over North Dakota, the senior tied a career-best nine rebounds and three blocks.

Lindsey Theuninck is averaging 24.8 minutes and 5 points per game. In the win over Chattanooga, the sophomore scored a career-high 13 points in her first-ever start as a Jackrabbit. She has earned a starting assignment in 12 contests. Against Denver she made a career-best three 3-pointers. She averaged 12.1 minutes and 2.6 points a game for the Jacks last season.

Sydney Stapleton is averaging 17.7 minutes and 6.2 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 36 3-pointers.

Sophomores Jordan Ferrand and Addison Hirschman have appeared in 13 and 12 games, respective, while redshirt freshman Lauren Rongisch has played in 10.

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. Nelson has started in 10 games for the Jackrabbits.

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 44.5 percent from the field, while averaging 39.2 rebounds per game. The Jackrabbit defense holds their opponents to 59.9 points and a 37.5 FG percentage. State averages 17 assists per game, while holding an assist/turnover ratio of 1.2.

Scouting Denver
Denver has a trio of players averaging double figures led by Madison Nelson with 17.9 points per game. Nelson also ranks first in the Summit League with 11 rebounds per game. The senior has registered 15 double-doubles this season. Nelson has blocked 36 shots and adds 57 steals.

Lauren Loven and Uju Ezeudu are averaging 13.9 and 10.8 points per game, respectively. Briana Johnson has started 22 contests for Denver and averages a team-best 2.8 assists per game.

Denver averages 76.8 points per game while its opponents turn in 77.5 points per game.

The Pioneers are outrebounding its opposition 41.6-39.3. The team is shooting 39.9 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Jim Turgeon is in his third season at the helm of Denver with a record of 42-39.

Jackrabbits' Last Time Out
South Dakota State women's basketball took down Omaha 69-59 at Frost Arena Saturday afternoon in the 2020 Pork Classic doubleheader, winning its fifth-straight at home.

The Jackrabbits advanced to 18-7 overall and 10-1 in Summit League play, while Omaha fell to 6-17, 1-9 Summit League.

"Good game for us. In many ways, we played well," head coach Aaron Johnston said. "It was one of those games where we just didn't make enough shots to really feel like we played great basketball, but we did. We defended very well, we executed about as well as we could offensively. Got quality shots, had the right people taking shots and we got to the free throw line. It was just one of those games were we just had a hard time getting the ball through the basket. Sometimes that can leave a sour taste in our mouth, but I'm proud of how we played. We did a lot of really good things and got another important win."

Tagyn Larson finished a rebound shy of a double-double with a team-leading 16 points and 9 rebounds. The senior added 3 assists and two blocks on the day.

Tylee Irwin added 13 points and five rebounds, while Paiton Burckhard and Megan Bultsma each posted 10 points and five boards. Rylee Cascio-Jensen dished out a team-high six assists.

Both teams started slow until SDSU sank 5-of-7 to close the first quarter with a 15-12 lead. The Jacks carried their momentum into the next period, rattling off 18 unanswered to extend the lead to 33-14, highlighted by 3-pointers from Theuninck, Cascio-Jenson and Irwin.

SDSU maintained its double-digit lead the rest of the half with a three-point play by Nelson sending the team to the locker room with a 36-18 advantage.

Out of the break, a Burckhard layup gave the Jacks their first 20-point lead and initiated a 6-0 run to move ahead 45-21 midway through the third. A pair of Larson layups put SDSU up 55-34 going into the final 10 minutes.

The Jacks went on a 7-0 spurt to take a 67-44 lead with under five minutes to play. Omaha finished the game on a 15-2 run, but SDSU held on to win 69-59.

Opponents Last Time Out
DENVER – The University of Denver women's basketball team blew past Purdue Fort Wayne with an 83-57 win on Saturday afternoon in Hamilton Gymnasium.

The Pioneers shot a season-high 56.3 percent from behind the arc.

Senior Madison Nelson registered game-bests of 25 points and 13 rebounds for her 15th double-double of the season and 27th of her career. Nelson recorded two blocks on the afternoon, eclipsing the 100 mark in her career.

Three other Pioneers – Lauren Loven, Uju Ezeudu, and Claire Gritt – scored in double-figures in the win. Loven tallied 14, while Ezeudu had 12 and Gritt had 10.

Both teams started slow, going scoreless for the opening minute of play. Nelson scored six of Denver's first nine points as the Pioneers jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the first 4:13 of the game. DU closed the first quarter on a 10-8 run over the final 4:10 to take a 21-16 advantage to the second quarter.

DU came in to the second quarter hitting its first three field goals to take a 29-19 lead in the first 1:35 of the second quarter. The Pioneers went to the media timeout up 36-28 with 2:34 to play in the first half.

Sh'Toya Sanders closed the Mastodon gap to four with 18 seconds to play, before Briana Johnson hit a 3 at the buzzer to send the teams to half with the Crimson and Gold up 41-34.

After holding Purdue Fort Wayne to just nine third quarter points, Denver took a 62-43 lead to the final quarter.

The Pioneers kept their foot on the gas to eventually earn the 26-point victory, 83-57.

A Win Would...

Improve South Dakota State to 17-1 in the all-time series
Advance the Jackrabbits to 19-7 on the season and 11-1 in the Summit League
Give the Jackrabbits their 11th straight win over the Pioneers

Loss Would...

Improve Denver to 2-16 all-time against South Dakota State

#IPinkFor
The South Dakota State women's basketball team will be wearing pink jerseys to show support for breast cancer awareness when it hosts Purdue Fort Wayne in its #IPinkFor game on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Frost Arena.

A live auction of the Jackrabbits' pink Under Armour jerseys will take place immediately following the game with proceeds benefiting the Edith Sanford Breast Initiative. Burlage Peterson Realty & Auctioneers will run the auction.

"We are looking forward to hosting our annual #IPinkFor game in Frost Arena. Our goal is to raise awareness and resources to help support the Edith Sanford Breast Initiative and the individuals who are fighting this difficult disease," head coach Aaron Johnston said.

Last year, jerseys sold for between $475 and $2,300, raising more than $12,000, for Team Edith.

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.

A Decade of Success
As a new decade begins, the women's basketball program has a great amount of accomplishments to look back on.

247 program wins
.729 winning percentage
133 Summit League wins
30 All-Summit League Honorees
14 Individual Summit League Awards
9 wins over ranked opponents
8 Summit League Championships

1,000 Program Wins
The Jackrabbits reached the milestone of 1,000 program wins earlier this season 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. 3 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 ranks No. 21 in the AP poll and 16 in the Coaches polls

Florida Gulf Coast is ranked No. 22 in the Coaches poll and is receiving votes in the AP 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 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) and No. 25/21 South Dakota.

-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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