March Madness 2022: South Dakota women beat Ole Miss 75-61 for 1st NCAA victory

Hannah Sjerven appeared round as the ultimate seconds wound down and the vocal batch of South Dakota followers chanted “U-S-D” in anticipation of the varsity’s first NCAA Event victory.

The senior middle tried to narrate it to a different feeling she’s had, however needed to catch herself.

“Simply wanting round in that final 15 seconds once we knew that we had executed it,” Sjerven mentioned after a 75-61 first-round victory over Mississippi on Friday. “It was a extremely good feeling, just like … really it’s not just like something we’ve skilled earlier than. It was an important feeling, although.”

Sjerven had 20 factors and 7 rebounds and fellow senior Chloe Lamb additionally scored 20 because the Tenth-seeded Coyotes (28-5) broke via of their fourth consecutive event look and fifth in 10 eligible seasons.

The distinction in expertise confirmed with the Rebels (23-9) making their first NCAA look in 15 years as seventh-seeded Ole Miss by no means led whereas taking pictures 27% within the first quarter and 39% for the sport.

Shakira Austin, the main scorer for the Rebels, was 3 of 16 from the sphere and completed with 9 factors and 11 rebounds. Angel Baker was the one Ole Miss participant in double figures with 23.

“I wasn’t in a position to make photographs,” Austin mentioned. “They had been calling some flops and that undoubtedly allowed it to get into my head for just a few moments. It was irritating. It was robust. It was undoubtedly robust.”

Sjerven and Lamb had been regular from the beginning, with Sjerven opening the sport by swishing a 3-pointer and screaming towards the rafters on the house of Baylor, the No. 2 seed within the Wichita Regional. The Coyotes play the Baylor on Sunday.

Lamb and Korngable, who had 10 factors and 7 assists, embraced as the ultimate buzzer sounded and their teammates converged for a gaggle hug on one of many Bear logos.

Coach Daybreak Plitzuweit smiled broadly because the band performed the varsity and she or he and her gamers sang whereas dealing with the followers throughout from the crew bench.

“We don’t even know what this appears to be like like as a result of we haven’t executed this earlier than,” Plitzuweit mentioned. “Are we supposed to remain and watch the following crew, the sport? Are we purported to get better? How a lot time do you get with your loved ones? These are all issues we instructed them, ‘We’re going to determine this out.’ However our children are fairly good I believe in that second.”

The Rebels had been down six and had the ball early within the third quarter when Liv Korngable knocked the ball out of Snudda Collins’ arms and took off the opposite method. Kyah Watson hit a shot, Lamb related on a 3 and Watson scored once more after one other Ole Miss turnover for a 46-33 lead.

The Coyotes took management with a 13-0 run within the second quarter for a 32-16 lead. Lamb had a pair of buckets, and Korngable scored the final 5 factors.

For Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Sjerven’s opening 3 began all of it.

“We had mentioned we did not need her to hit that 3, as a result of it might give everyone on their crew confidence,” McPhee-McCuin mentioned. “As soon as she hit that, it gave them that momentum, and it sort of felt prefer it did up to now, possibly once we did not win a recreation. That is simply the signal of a younger crew. I believe skilled groups know who they’re.”

BIG PICTURE

South Dakota: Freshman Maddie Krull confirmed no nerves in her NCAA debut, operating the offense at occasions, whereas ending with 13 factors, 4 assists and no turnovers. The Coyotes had 19 assists on 29 buckets with 9 turnovers and outscored Ole Miss 13-9 in factors off turnovers.

Mississippi: Austin’s struggles epitomized the sport for the Rebels. The 6-foot-5 senior was 1 of seven from the sphere on the half, then missed three straightforward photographs within the first minute of the third quarter. McPhee-McCuin took her out and the pair had an prolonged chat on the sideline earlier than Austin went to the bench. She quickly returned.