Lady Jacks Edge Middle Tennesee St., 63-56

by Nick Lenz, Sports Anchor/Reporter
December 01, 2012 11:12 PM


BROOKINGS, S.D. – Megan Waytashek posted her first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds, leading South Dakota State to a 63-56 victory over Middle Tennessee in a battle of tradition-rich mid-major women’s basketball programs Saturday afternoon at Frost Arena.

The Jackrabbits evened their record at 4-4, while Middle Tennessee dropped to 4-3.

SDSU overcame a slow start, trailing 8-2 through the first seven minutes of the game. The Jackrabbits then reeled off a 10-0 run, highlighted by five points from Gabby Boever, to gain the lead. The Jackrabbits led 32-26 at halftime.

In the second half, the Blue Raiders tied the game at 34-all before the Jackrabbits gradually extended their lead to 10, 52-42, with 6:05 to play on a layup by Waytashek. SDSU led by as many as 13 before Middle Tennessee cut the deficit to four, 55-41, with under two minutes to play. Ashley Eide gave the Jackrabbits a much-needed cushion with a three-pointer on the next trip down the floor and the Jackrabbits made 3-of-4 free throw attempts in the final 15 seconds to seal the win.

Boever was the only other Jackrabbit in double figures with 10 points, while Eide finished the day with nine.

SDSU held a 48-31 advantage on the boards and held Middle Tennessee to 28.6 percent shooting from the field, 18-of-63. The Jackrabbits finished the game 22-of-49 from the floor, 44.9 percent.

The Jackrabbits wrap up their homestand Tuesday night with a 7 p.m. matchup against Eastern Michigan.