BROOKINGS — The South Dakota State women’s basketball team got some payback on its in-state rival, knocking off South Dakota 82-49 in both teams’ final game of the regular season.
Here’s a few reasons the Jackrabbits got their get back.
Meyer with one final home masterpiece
The Senior Day festivities before the game clearly didn’t phase the South Dakota State seniors, especially star forward Brooklyn Meyer. She dominated from the first possession, scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the first 10 minutes.
That start helped the Jackrabbits get out to a 27-8 lead through a quarter and basically put this thing on ice before it even got started.
Meyer was able to get post-up opportunities by flashing from the opposite block and spinning in front of the Coyote defenders, catching the ball in the mid-post and choosing to either attack with a post move or face and attack.
The senior also cut from elbow to block well, especially as she became the screener in the pick-and-roll more frequently.
Meyer added eight points in both the second and third quarters, and five in the fourth to close her career at First Bank & Trust Arena with a 33-point effort on 13-for-17 shooting.
Size proves to be an issue
This one encompasses both sides of the ball, as the Coyotes struggled mightily to handle South Dakota State’s size on either end of the floor.
Molly Joyce was the only South Dakota player to consistently find success, but that started way too late. Point guard Angelina Robles was constantly harassed and never got enough free space to work her magic, and the Coyotes eventually turned to contested jumpers as a way to get shots on the rim.
Joyce closed the game with 21 points for South Dakota, and Robles ended with 11.
It was the same defensive model North Dakota State used to great success, but the Jackrabbits kept the ‘Yotes in front for the most part and didn’t allow much deep dribble penetration.
South Dakota State’s length showed itself in a non-traditional way offensively, with the guards able to get their shots off frequently and in rhythm. The South Dakota guards tried to be active and available defensively, but the quick triggers didn’t let them be effective.
Meyer and Brooklyn Felchle also had a size advantage down low that helped a lot, and that showed itself in a more traditional sense. The duo got their shots up over smaller defenders, rebounded hard and disrupted shots in the paint.
Fox continues to ascend
Emilee Fox’s emergence for South Dakota State has come with this current seven-game winning streak. The sophomore has embraced her role as point guard, which coincidentally has increased her scoring output.
Fox ripped off four more 3-pointers, on only seven attempts, and dished out four assists, too.
Fox and Hadley Thul were tonight’s big-time contributors from deep on a night when Maddie Mathiowetz was particularly cold.
The sophomore point guard has added an element to this offense that it had needed in Summit League play, and the Jackrabbits might now be peaking at just the right time.
