College women’s basketball: Jackrabbits pull away from Dordt late

BROOKINGS It wasnt until late in the fourth quarter, but the South Dakota State women were able to pull away from Dordt (Iowa) on Tuesday night and came away with a 66-54 victory.

SDSU (6-3) trailed 40-31 at halftime and was able to hold the Defenders, who are 12-1 and ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, to 14 points in the second half and four points in the fourth quarter.

The two teams went back-and-forth in the first quarter and SDSU led 20-17 at the end of the first. Dordt scored the first six points of the second quarter to take the lead but the Jacks then scored four straight to regain the lead.

The Defenders went on a 10-0 run to go up 33-26 with 4:27 to play in the first half. SDSU cut the Dordt lead to 33-31 but the Defenders scored the final seven points of the quarter to take a nine-point lead into the locker room.

SDSU trailed 47-37 just under three minutes into the second half and then got it going. The Jacks went on a 19-3 run in the final seven minutes of the third and led 56-50 heading into the fourth.

Dordt didnt just give up though as the Defenders trailed by just four with under four minutes to play. However, they missed their final 12 shots of the game and the Jacks outscored them 8-0 in the final 3:20 to come away with the win.

SDSU shot 38% from the field and was 6-of-21 from three. The Jacks were 12-of-16 at the free throw line. Madison Mathiowetz had a career-high 21 points and added five rebounds. Brooklyn Meyer had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Paige Meyer had 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. Tori Nelson had 10 points and five rebounds.

Dordt shot 33% from the field for the game. The Defenders shot 48% in the first half and 18% in the second half. Dordt was 7-of-20 from three and went 9-of-12 at the free throw line.

The Defenders were led by Bailey Beckman who had 22 points. Gracie Schoonhoven had 11 points and five rebounds. Hayden Heimensen had eight points and Macy Sievers had seven points and seven rebounds.

SDSU won the rebound battle 41-37. The Jacks had 11 turnovers and the Defenders had 14. SDSU held a 36-22 advantage in the paint.

The Jacks will play their next three games on the road. They play at No. 21 Gonzaga on Sunday at 4 p.m. and then take on No. 20 Creighton on Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. SDSU then plays at North Dakota on New Years Eve atnoon.