MUNCIE, Ind. – South Dakota State basketball knocked down a season-high 11 3-pointers in a 63-55 win at Ball State Sunday afternoon at Worthen Arena.
SDSU, rated eighth in the latest mid-major poll, improves to 5-2 on the year while Ball State, ranked third, moves to 5-3.
Freshman Katie Vasecka paced the Jackrabbits with a career-high 17 points on the afternoon. She was 5-of-8 from the floor and hit on all three 3-point attempts. Vasecka also tallied three rebounds, one assist and one block. Haleigh Timmer was also in double figures with 12 points, all from the 3-point line and all in the second half.
Brooklyn Meyer and Madison Mathiowetz added nine points apiece for the Jacks and Mesa Byom chipped in seven. Meyer and Byom each grabbed six rebounds. Paige Meyer had six points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals.
The Jacks started hot from the 3-point line, connecting on three triples in their first four possessions. SDSU went 5-of-6 from deep in the opening quarter and led 20-18 after 10 minutes. Ball State took its first lead of the game at 27-26 following an and-one bucket, then finished the half with six straight to lead 33-27 at halftime.
The Jackrabbits came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders, outscoring the Cardinals 16-3 in the third quarter to regain the lead. Despite a strong push from Ball State in the fourth, SDSU connected on four 3-pointers over the final 10 minutes to maintain the advantage.
SDSU finished the game 40 percent from the field and 50 percent from long range. Ball State was 36 percent overall and only 17 percent from deep.
Ball State was led by 19 points and eight rebounds from Marie Kiefer and 14 from Ally Becki.
NOTES
- South Dakota State now has a 1-0 lead in the all-time series with Ball State.
- Katie Vasecka led the Jackrabbits in scoring for the first time this season.
UP NEXT
South Dakota State returns to First Bank & Trust Arena to host Eastern Washington Wednesday night in the first of two games in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge.