Women host Omaha Saturday

Game 25 | South Dakota State (17-7, 9-1) at Omaha (6-16, 1-8)

When	Saturday, Feb. 8 \| 2 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 \| Omaha
Social Media	Twitter I Facebook

South Dakota State women's basketball returns home to begin a three-game homestand as it welcomes Omaha Saturday. The contest is part of the 2020 Pork Classic with a doubleheader with the Jackrabbit men. The women will tip at 2 p.m. followed by the men at 4:15 p.m.

Saturday's game is sponsored by Merck Animal Health. Established in 1972, the Pork Classic provides scholarships for SDSU animal science students interested in pursuing careers in pork production. Funds are raised through a pregame barbeque meal and a pork bundle auction.

Supporters of the swine industry and SDSU Department of Animal Science prepare and serve the meal. Smithfield Foods donates the pork loin for the barbecue, as well as pork bundles to be auctioned during the halftime events of the men's game. Individuals who have pre-purchased bundles (with proceeds going to scholarships) include: Paul and Joel Brandt - Brandt Farms, Inc., Rufus and Patty De Zeeuw, President Barry and Jane Dunn, Al and Irene Kurtenbach, Jim Woster, and Dick and Jo Waldner. Additionally, a live hog will be auctioned, with proceeds going to scholarships for Jackrabbit student-athletes.

Fans in attendance can purchase a Pork Classic meal that includes pork loin sandwiches, chips, applesauce, SDSU Ice Cream and a water for $8.

The Jackrabbits (17-7, 9-1 Summit League), under the direction of head coach Aaron Johnston, return home after earning a pair of Summit League road victories last week. State defeated Western Illinois, 89-48, and Oral Roberts, 76-61.

Omaha is 6-16 and 1-8 in Summit League action. The Mavericks are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak after most recently falling to North Dakota State, 74-65.

South Dakota State holds a 44-30 advantage in the all-time series over Omaha. Last season, the Jackrabbits topped the Mavericks on both occasions. SDSU and the Mavericks met in the Summit League opener this season where the Jacks earned a 68-51 win.

About South Dakota State
Paiton Burckhard is averaging a team-best 14.7 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 17 contests, including 20-plus points in six games. She ranks third in the Summit League with a 54.7 field goal percentage on a team-high 339 total points. So far in Summit League play she has scored 172 points (17.2 ppg) and pulled down 77 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 11.4 points on the season after reaching double figures in 12 games, including a season-best 22 points against Marquette. She averages 5.8 rebounds per game, while adding 13 steals and a team-leading 21 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 51.8 percent from the field and ranks fourth in the Summit League with 44 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 24 games for the Jacks as she averages 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and a team-best 3.8 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 7.2 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 19 games and is turning in some impressive minutes off the bench for SDSU as she's averaging 7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. In the win over 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 117 points and is shooting 53.4 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 4.9 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 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 6.4 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 12 and 11 games, respective, while redshirt freshman Lauren Rongisch has played in nine.

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 22.1 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 44.6 percent from the field, while averaging 39.2 rebounds per game. The Jackrabbit defense holds their opponents to 59.9 points and a 37.3 FG percentage. State averages 16.9 assists per game, while holding an assist/turnover ratio of 1.1.

Scouting Omaha
The Mavericks are led on offense by Mariah Murdie who is averaging 9.9 points per game. Murdie also leads the rebounding efforts averaging 5.9 boards per game. She holds a team-best 50.6 field goal percentage.

Claire Killian is averaging 8.3 points per game and leads Omaha with 35 3-pointer. Ella Ogier and Josie Filer are turning in 7.3 and 6.8 points per game, respectively.

The Mavericks are being outscored by their opponents, 66.5-59.2. The squad is shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 28.2 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 79-117.

Jackrabbits' Last Time Out
TULSA, Okla. - South Dakota State women's basketball topped Oral Roberts 76-61 on Saturday afternoon at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Okla. to advance to 17-7 on the season with a 9-1 mark in Summit League action.

The Jackrabbits were led by Tagyn Larson who registered her first double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-best tying 14 rebounds. Megan Bultsma and Sydney Stapleton also scored in double figures with 15 and 11 points, respectively.

Paiton Burckhard and Tylee Irwin added nine points apiece to the offensive efforts, while Burkhard also pulled down seven boards. Lindsey Theuninck dished a team-best five assists.

The Golden Eagles, who were led by Keni Jo Lippe with 24 points, fell to 9-13, 4-5 Summit League.

The Jackrabbits shot 44.6 percent from the field compared to ORU at 35.6 percent. State held the Golden Eagles to just 12.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc, while also holding a 50-27 advantage in rebounds.

Oral Roberts dominated play to begin the contest, leading 12-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Jackrabbits opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 17-12 advantage. State outscored ORU 16-9 throughout the remainder of the frame to hold a 33-21 advantage at the half.

SDSU carried its momentum out of the locker room as a Stapleton 3-pointer extended the lead to 24 points with just over two minutes to play in the third.

The teams traded punches throughout the beginning of the fourth quarter, but a Larson 3-pointer pushed the Jacks' lead to 72-45. ORU closed the game with a 14-2 run, but the deficit was too great as SDSU earned a 76-61 Summit League win.

Opponents Last Time Out
OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's basketball program fell 74-65 inside Baxter Arena against North Dakota State Thursday evening.

The Mavericks fall to 6-16 overall and 1-8 in league play. North Dakota State improves to 7-15 overall and 4-6 in league action.

Rayanna Carter posted a career-night with 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting three assists and two boards. Mariah Murdie recorded 13 points on 6-for-12 shooting.

The Bison had four double-digit scorers on the night. Sofija Zivaljevic and Michelle Gaislerova posted 15 points apiece, while the duo of Ryan Cobbins and Rylee Nudell posted 12 points each. Gaislerova went a perfect 9-for-9 at the charity stripe in her team's win.

North Dakota State went high volume at the free throw line with a 30-for-33 (90.9%) performance. The Mavericks went 11-for-15 at the charity stripe. Omaha committed 13 turnovers to the Bisons' 15 and won the battle in the paint 36-25. The Mavericks shot 25-for-60 (41.7%) from the field and 4-of-15 from beyond the arc (26.7%). NDSU went 21-for-43 from the field (48.8%) and was 2-for-7 (28.6%) from three.

Three minutes into the game both teams were tied at 7-all. With 50 seconds to go in the quarter, Claire Killian made a layup that gave Omaha a 20-15 lead. Despite a pair of free throws from NDSU, the Mavericks held on to a 20-17 lead after one. NDSU outscored Omaha 19-15 in the second quarter. Both team traded buckets throughout the frame. A pair of Pilakouta free throws cut the NDSU lead to just one at the half (36-25).

Only a combined 18 point happened in the third quarter – even at 9-9. NDSU's Ryan Cobbins at the 3:45 mark in the third, but Ella Ogier answered with a three of her own. After three, the Bison held a 45-44 lead. Omaha regained its first lead of the half at the 9:34 mark in the third when Murdie made a layup in the paint (46-45). The Bison, however, scored four-straight, but a Josie Filer three put the Mavericks back ahead 51-49 with 7:48 to go. Omaha tied the score at 51-51 with 7:11 to go, but NDSU never relinquished the lead from there as they closed out the game with 11 made free throws.

The Mavericks hit the road for a trip to Brookings with a Saturday, Feb. 8, showdown against South Dakota State at 2 p.m. For more information, visit OMavs.com.

A Win Would...

Improve South Dakota State to 45-30 in the all-time series
Advance the Jackrabbits to 18-7 on the season and 10 -1 in the Summit League
Give the Jackrabbits their fourth straight win over the Mavericks

Loss Would...

Improve Omaha to 31-44 all-time against South Dakota State

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. 22 in the AP poll and 17 in the Coaches polls

Florida Gulf Coast is ranked No. 24 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.

-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

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