Jacks Coast Past Oakland

BROOKINGS, S.D. — The South Dakota State Unviersity women’s basketball team scored points in bunches, stringing together four differentdouble-digit scoring runs en route to an 83-48 victory over Oakland Saturday night at Frost Arena.

The Jackrabbits, who set season highs with 27 assists and 15 steals, improved to 19-6 overall and 11-1 in The Summit League. SDSU has won 13 of its last 14 games. Oakland dropped to 8-15 overall, 2-9 in league play.

After the Golden Grizzlies took their lone lead of the night, 4-2, 90 seconds into the game, SDSU broke the game open with a 24-4 run over the next six and a half minutes. Hannah Strop began the onslaught with a three-pointer, and the Jackrabbits scored 11 straight points in one stretch — six of which were by Megan Waytashek.

SDSU put together another 13-3 run later in the half to build a 43-17 advantage for their largest lead of the opening stanza. The Jackrabbits led 45-26 at intermission, tying their best scoring output in ahalf this season.

It was more of the same in the second half. SDSU scored 10 consecutive points over five-plus minutes early in the second half and went on a 14-2 binge moments later to take their largest lead of the night at 40 points, 76-36.

Ashley Eide led three jackrabbit players in double figures with 17 points. Waytashek added 16, while Katie Lingle came off the bench to record 10 points and eight rebounds. Strop was a point shy of a double-double, notching nine points and a career-high nine rebounds as SDSU dominated the glass by a 49-32 margin.

Sophomore point guard Gabrielle Boever contributed a strong floor game, posting career highs of nine assists and five steals — both of which were the most by a Jackrabbit player this season.

The Jackrabbits ended the night 32-of-73 shooting from the field, 43.8 percent, including 9-of-26 from three-point range. At the line,SDSU made 10-of-11 attempts, for a season-best 90.9 percent.

Olivia Nash paced Oakland with 14 points and seven rebounds. Victoria Lipscomb added 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Golden Grizzlies finished 18-of-52 from the floor, 34.6 percent, including 5-of-16 from long range. OU struggled at the line, going7-for-15 for 46.7 percent.

SDSU will attempt to clinch at least a share of the Summit League title Thursday night in Indianapolis. Start time for the matchup at IUPUI is 7 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. Central).

NOTES: The Jackrabbits lead the all-time series, 11-3, and have won the last six meetings … SDSU improved to 86-16 in Summit League regular season games since joining the conference at the start of the 2007-08 season … Saturday’s game was the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game in which the Jackrabbits wore pink uniforms … 11 of the 12 SDSU players to see action scored … the Jackrabbits are 10-2 this season when both Waytashek and Eide score in double figures in the same game … Eide upped her career scoring total to 980 points … Boever’s previous career highs were six assists and four steals … Boever’s nine assists were the most by a Jackrabbit player since Jennie Sunnarborg tallied nine assists in the 2011 Summit League championship game against Oakland … reserve guard Tara Heiser set a season high with seven assists … Strop was 3-for-3 on three-point attempts … SDSU held a 30-14 advantage in bench points … Lingle has led the Jackrabbits in scoring off the bench in 10 consecutive games … attendance was 2,226

-Courtesy SDSU Athletics