Jackrabbit women set for Saturday quarterfinals

Game 31 | No. 2 Seed South Dakota State (21-9) vs. No. 7 seed North Dakota (15-14)

When	Saturday, March 7 \| 2:30 p.m.
Where	Denny Sanford PREMIER Center \| Sioux Falls, S.D.
Live Audio / Radio	Jackrabbits All-Access \| Jackrabbit Sports Network I WNAX 570 AM \| Brad Peterson & Scotty Kwas
Live Video	Midco Sports Network \| ESPN + \| Tom Nieman, Brad Newitt & Alex Heinert
Live Stats	GoJacksLive.com
Game Notes	South Dakota State \| North Dakota
Social Media	Twitter I Facebook

No. 2 seed South Dakota State begins the quest for its 10th Summit League Championship title in 12 years this weekend against seventh-seeded North Dakota Saturday in the quarterfinals. Tipoff at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls is slated for 2:30 p.m.

The Jackrabbits finished their regular season 21-9 overall with a 13-3 mark in Summit League play, good for second in the league. State concluded its conference slate with an 85-58 road victory over North Dakota State.

North Dakota (15-14) dropped a 76-47 contest at South Dakota to finish the league slate at 6-10.

North Dakota holds a 42-27 advantage in the all-time series over the Jackrabbits. The Jackrabbits have claimed the last seven contests against the Fighting Hawks. SDSU defeated UND both at home (99-64) and on the road (74-61) this season.

About South Dakota State
Paiton Burckhard is averaging a team-best 14.5 points and ranks second with 5.8 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 24 contests, including 20-plus points in seven games. She ranks third in the Summit League with a 53.5 field goal percentage on a team-high 420 total points. In Summit League play she scored 253 points (15.8 ppg) and pulled down 99 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 11.6 points on the season after reaching double figures in 16 games, including a season-best 22 points against Marquette. She pulls down a team-best 6.2 rebounds per game, while adding 17 steals and a team-leading 26 blocks. The senior also dished a career-best nine assists in the win over Purdue Fort Wayne and is averaging 3.2 assists per game. Larson is shooting 52.4 percent from the field and 38.1 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 is the only Jackrabbit this season to earn the starting assignment in all 30 games as she averages 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and ranks third in the Summit League with a team-best 3.9 assists per game. The senior leads SDSU with 42 3-pointers this season. 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 8.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game is Tylee Irwin. The junior scored a season-best 16 points in the win over Purdue Fort Wayne. Against North Dakota, Irwin pulled down a season-high 10 boards. She blocked a career-best three shots against Omaha and Western Illinois. In Summit League play, the junior is averaged 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. 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 25 games and is turning in productive minutes off the bench for SDSU as she's averaging 7.5 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 had a total of 169 points and is shot a team-high 53 percent from the field in Summit League play. She scored 10-plus points in 10 contests this season. In the win over North Dakota, the senior tied a career-best nine rebounds and three blocks.

Lindsey Theuninck is averaging 24.4 minutes and 4.8 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. At 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 17.3 minutes and 5.8 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 ranks second on the squad from beyond the arc with a total 38 3-pointers.

Sophomores Jordan Ferrand and Addison Hirschman have appeared in 16 and 15 games, respective, while redshirt freshman Lauren Rongisch has played in 13.

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 28.6 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 16 games for the Jackrabbits and averaged 10.1 points per game in Summit League action.

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 45.2 percent from the field, while averaging 38.5 rebounds per game. The Jackrabbit defense holds their opponents to 60.3 points and a 38.1 FG percentage. State averages 17.1 assists per game, while holding an assist/turnover ratio of 1.2.

Scouting North Dakota
North Dakota is led offensively by Julia Fleecs who is averaging 12.5 points per game. Jaclyn Jarnot and Melissa Leet are averaging 9 and 7.5 points per game, respectively. Leet also has a total of 49 blocks.

Jaclyn Jarnot paces the defensive efforts with 7 rebounds per game. Alaina Jarnot dishes a team-best 4 assists per game.

Lilly Keplin is averaging 6.9 points per game and leads the squad with 42 3-pointers.

North Dakota averages 70.6 points per game while its opponents score 71.2. The Fighting Hawks are outrebounding their opposition, 41.8-38.6. UND is shooting 39.1 from the field and 30.5 from long distance.

Travis Brewster is in his eighth season at the helm of North Dakota with a record of 128-117.

Trio of Jackrabbits Earn Summit League Honors
SIOUX FALL – Three South Dakota State women's basketball players were honored by the Summit League on Thursday, as the league announced its postseason awards at its annual Summit League Championships tip-off press conference. Tori Nelson was named Freshman of the Year and earned a place on the all-newcomer team. Paiton Burckhard and Tagyn Larson were both selected to All-Summit League teams.

"We are excited to see Paiton, Tagyn, and Tori recognized for their exceptional seasons," said head coach Aaron Johnston. "Each worked very hard throughout the year to continually improve different aspects of their games."

Nelson has started in 16 contests this season for the Jackrabbits. The freshman is averaging 9.7 points, 4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. She has scored in double figures in 11 contests this season. Nelson registered a double-double to help the Jackrabbits to a victory over Notre Dame with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Additionally, she scored a career-best 23 points to lead State to a nonconference victory over Coppin State. She ranks third on the squad with 26 steals and 17 blocks.

Burckhard, an All-Summit League first team selection, paces the Jacks this season with 14.5 points per game, including 15.8 points per game in Summit League play. She has reached double figures in 24 contests this season with seven 20-plus point scoring performances. The sophomore is shooting a team-best 53.5 percent from the field and averaged 5.8 rebounds per game.

The Aberdeen, S.D. native has registered a team-high three double-doubles this season. Burckhard has led the Jackrabbits' scoring efforts on 10 occasions this season and adds 49 assists, 19 steals and 10 blocks.

After leading the Jackrabbits with 6.2 rebounds per game and ranking third on the team with 11.6 points per game, Larson was named to the All-Summit League second team for the second time in her career. She has tallied 903 points in her time at SDSU and ranks fifth in the Summit League this season with 3.2 assists per game. Larson has blocked a team-best 26 shots and adds 17 steals.

The Sioux Falls, S.D. native is shooting 52.4 percent from the field, including 38.1 percent from beyond the arc. She has scored in double figures in 16 contests, including 10 Summit League games. Larson registered a double-double with 17 points and a career-best 14 rebounds to lead the Jackrabbits to a road win over Oral Roberts. Additionally, she dished a career-high nine assists in SDSU's victory over Purdue Fort Wayne.

Jackrabbits' Last Time Out
FARGO, N.D. - South Dakota State women's basketball cruised to an 85-58 road victory over North Dakota State on Thursday evening at the Scheels Center in the regular season finale.

The Jackrabbits finished 21-9 overall with a 13-3 Summit League mark. North Dakota State fell to 9-18, 6-9 Summit League.

Four Jackrabbits scored in double figures led by Tagyn Larson, who was just shy of a double double with 16 points and nine rebounds. Paiton Burckhard turned in 15 points, while Rylie Cascio Jensen and Lindsey Theuninck each had 10. Megan Bultsma blocked a career-best five shots, while Tylee Irwin tied her career high of four steals.

North Dakota State was led by Sofija Zivaljevic with 18 points. SDSU shot 51.7 percent (31-of-60) from the field compared to the Bison at 37 percent (20-of-54). NDSU held a 37-35 edge in rebounds.

SDSU started the contest with a 6-0 run, including four points from Burckhard. A Bultsma layup would kickstart what would be a 10-0 run to close out the first quarter, pushing the Jackrabbits ahead 26-10. South Dakota State outscored the Bison 21-10 in the second quarter. A trio of free throws closed out the first half with the Jacks leading 47-22.

The teams traded baskets coming out of the break, however State fired off nine consecutive points to end the third quarter. A Cascio Jensen 3-pointer at the buzzer capped off the run.

An 11-2 run in the final frame gave the Jacks its largest lead of 33 points. The Bison closed the game with a six-straight points, but it wasn't enough as SDSU wrapped up the regular season with an 85-58 victory.

Opponents Last Time Out
VERMILLION, S.D. - There's no question that the University of North Dakota (15-14, 6-10 Summit) closed the month of February with grit and determination unrivaled by the team since the start of Summit League play. However, the aptly dubbed Fighting Hawks could not overcome one of the top teams in the country as No. 20/12 South Dakota (27-2, 16-0 Summit) completed a perfect conference season with its 76-47 victory.

Jaclyn Jarnot led UND on the scoreboard, and the glass with eight points and six rebounds as North Dakota outboarded the Yotes, 43-38. The University of North Dakota had 11 of its 12 players get on the scoreboard. Julia Fleecs tallied seven points while Olivia Lane led the bench with six.

The Fighting Hawks were relentless defensively as they disrupted the Coyotes rhythm on the offensive end of the floor, forcing South Dakota to shoot 16.7-percent from the field. UND won the battle of the boards at a 14-11 clip and only allowed USD to one basket on second-chance attempts.

North Dakota continued that tenacity in the second quarter, matching USD shot-for-shot in the early going as Claire Orth and Megan Zander tied the game at free throw line. Jaclyn Jarnot would give North Dakota its first lead with 7:42 remaining in the half. However, after probing around, South Dakota found its passing lane into the paint, where it scored 12 of its 18 points in the period.

Jaclyn, Fleecs, and Zander all closed the half with five points in the opening 20 minutes of play. North Dakota forced seven Yotes turnovers and finished tied in boards at 20 apiece. South Dakota recovered offensively with a 47.1 field goal percentage to finish the first half at a clip of 31.4.

Trading seven ties and two leads in the opening half, the Fighting Hawks were unable to keep that momentum moving as South Dakota began to build steam in the third period, eventually going on to lead by 32 in the fourth quarter.

The Fighting Hawks parried the South Dakota attack in the final period as they only allowed the Coyotes to shoot 35-percent in the quarter and to score 17 points.

North Dakota closes the regular season with a 15-14 record with a 6-10 Summit League register, clinching the seven seed at next week's Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.

As a result, UND will take on South Dakota State at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on Saturday, March 7, in the second game of the day at 2:30 p.m. Central.

A Win Would...

Improve South Dakota State to 28-42 in the all-time series
Advance the Jackrabbits to 22-9 on the season
Give the Jackrabbits its eighth straight win over the Fighting Hawks
Put the Jackrabbits just two games away from reaching the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time in the DI era.

A Loss Would...

Improve North Dakota to 43-27 all-time against South Dakota State

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. 17 in the AP poll and 12 in the Coaches polls

Florida Gulf Coast is ranked No. 24 in the Coaches poll and is receiving votes in the AP poll. Additionally, Central Michigan and Marquette are receiving votes in the polls.

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 11-30 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 a ranked South Dakota on two occasions.

-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

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