VASECKA NETS CAREER HIGH IN SUMMIT OPENER

Thursday, January 2

Tulsa, Okla.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

11-3,1-0Summit League

Oral Roberts

10-4,0-1Summit League

South Dakota St.

Oral Roberts

1/2/2025 10:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

TULSA, Okla. - The South Dakota State women's basketball team opened Summit League action with an 81-76 win over Oral Roberts Thursday night at the Mabee Center.

Freshman Katie Vasecka scored a career-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting to pace the Jackrabbits. She knocked down four 3-point baskets and grabbed five rebounds in her Summit League debut.

South Dakota State improves to 11-3 on the season while Oral Roberts moves to 10-4 (0-1 Summit).

The battle among the Summit's top two teams per the preseason poll came down to the wire. The Jackrabbits led by eight, 66-58, heading into the fourth quarter, but ORU opened the final period with six straight points to cut its deficit to two. SDSU scored the next five points to stretch the lead back to seven, 71-64. A 9-2 run by the Eagles tied the game at 73 with 2:20 on the clock.

The Eagles briefly went ahead, 76-75, on an and-one with 90 seconds to play. Vasecka finished an and-one on the other end to regain the lead and the Jacks held off the Eagles the rest of the way.

Paige Meyer put up a season-high 18 points to go with four assists and a steal. Haleigh Timmer was also in double figures, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds.

Madison Mathiowetz added nine points. Brooklyn Meyer and Mesa Byom tallied six points apiece and combined for 17 rebounds. Meyer also had three assists and two steals. Kallie Theisen recorded six rebounds and three blocks.

Taleyah Jones played all 40 minutes for Oral Roberts and recorded 28 points and four steals. Emily Robinson contributed 21 points, followed by Jalei Oglesby with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Oral Roberts shot 46 percent for the game compared to 44 percent shooting by the Jackrabbits. Both teams scored 28 points in the paint. Oral Roberts forced 17 SDSU turnovers, which resulted in 20 points for the Golden Eagles. SDSU forced 12 ORU turnovers for 15 points.

NOTES

The Jackrabbits connected on 11 3-pointers, matching their single-game season high.
SDSU improves to 32-6 all-time against ORU.
The Jackrabbits have won 48 straight Summit League regular season games and 41 consecutive games against Summit League opponents.
The Jackrabbits are 66-1 in the Summit League regular season dating back to the beginning of the 2020-21 season.

UP NEXT
SDSU takes on Denver Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver. Tip is set for 2 p.m. Central.

-GoJacks.com-