BROOKINGS, S.D. – The South Dakota State women’s basketball team used a fourth-quarter surge to beat Northern Iowa 68-53 Saturday evening at First Bank & Trust Arena.
SDSU outscored UNI 25-13 in the final period behind eight points from freshman Katie Vasecka. The Jacks were 33 percent from the floor over the first 30 minutes, but shot 62 percent in the final ten.
SDSU trailed for only 13 seconds of the entire contest but UNI remained within striking distance until the final stretch. Every time the Jacks created some separation, the Panthers had an answer.
The Jacks used a 10-2 run from the first into the second quarter to lead by 12, 20-8, and force a Panther timeout. Out of the break, UNI immediately rattled off a 14-2 run to tie the game. SDSU led 24-22 at halftime.
SDSU again went ahead by 13 with a 13-2 stretch in the third. UNI scored 12 of the next 14 to trail by just three, 43-40, heading into the fourth.
A 12-2 start to the fourth quarter by SDSU finally put UNI away for good as the Jackrabbits never let the visitors back within single digits. Haleigh Timmer scored SDSU’s first four in the period, then Vasecka put together a personal 8-0 run with consecutive and-one buckets.
The Jacks improve to 9-2 on the season and have won six straight games. Saturday’s loss by the Panthers (5-5) is their fifth of the year, but first defeat by more than six points.
Four Jackrabbits scored in double figures, led by 18 points from Brooklyn Meyer. She was 6-of-9 from the field and connected on 6-of-8 free throw attempts. Paige Meyer added 12 points and hit her season average with five assists.
Timmer and Vasecka finished with 10 points and six rebounds apiece. Madison Mathiowetz chipped in nine points, five rebounds and three assists. Mesa Byom tallied team highs of seven boards and two blocks.
SDSU finished the game shooting 43 percent from the floor and 32 percent from the 3-point line. The teams were fairly comparable across the stat sheet, however the Jacks had a 7-1 advantage in 3-pointers made. The Panthers entered the day ranked third in the country in 3-point percentage (42 percent) but connected on only one trey on 15 attempts.
The Jackrabbits held UNI’s Maya McDermott, who averages 23.0 points per game, to a season-low 12 points on the afternoon. Kayba Laube also scored 12 points for the Panthers. Katy Reyerson led all players with eight rebounds.
NOTES
- SDSU’s 9-2 record is the program’s best start since going 21-2 in the regular season during the 2020-21 season.
- The Jacks improve to 13-5 all-time againt the Panthers.
UP NEXT
South Dakota State hosts Dakota State Tuesday night in the Jackrabbits’ final home game of 2024. Tip against the Trojans is set for 7 p.m.