BROOKINGS The non-conference portion of the schedule is officially over for the South Dakota State women as the Jackrabbits will only play Summit League opponents from here on out.
SDSU opened conference play with a 74-63 win over North Dakota on Dec. 31 and that was the beginning of three wins in-a-row as the Jackrabbits beat Northern Arizona and Montana State last week.
The Jackrabbits enter conference play with an overall record of 9-5. SDSU entered the season having lost two starters to season-ending injuries before the season started in Haleigh Timmer and Kallie Theisien. SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston said he was pleased with how the first part of the season went because the Jacks had to figure out rotations and all of their players were forced to play bigger roles.
I feel good about it, I really do, Johnston said. I remind a lot of people that our non-conference record last year was the same as this year. I think a lot of people feel like were a different team. And we are in terms of our personnel and injuries, but we have a similar level of success between this year and last year. I think the difference between this year and last year is we didnt have one or two of those key signature top 25 wins.
We had some chances and we just quite didnt get it done, so thats the difference between this year and last year. But we grew a lot as a team. We managed injuries and put people in spots and figured out how we were going to play this year. So, I thought it was a really productive November and December. Were playing our best basketball right now.
The win over Northern Arizona was a 110-102 double overtime victory on the road. Junior guard Paige Meyer led the Jacks with 37 points in the win, which was tied for fourth-most points scored in a single game in program history and the most in the Division I era.
Paige Meyers scoring has increased this season due to the injuries of Timmer and Theisen and the graduation of Myah Selland and Paiton Burckhard. She averaged 10.5 points per game her first two seasons and is averaging 15.5 this year.
Johnston said he always likes when a player is able to score a lot of points but Meyers scoring output the rest of the season is going to depend on the matchup.
I think [scoring 37 points] is a reflection of Paiges talent. I think shes a really good player and very capable of those kinds of games, but it was how that game at Northern Arizona played out and how they played us in our offense and she took advantage of it. I think theres going to be really good offensive games for Paige, where she scores a ton, and then I think theres going to be some games where she doesnt score as much, but her importance to our team doesnt change, Johnston said.
Paige Meyer is just ahead of Brooklyn Meyer for SDSUs leading scorer as Brooklyn Meyer is averaging 15.4 points per game this season. Shes also averaging 9.1 rebounds and is shooting 51.7% from the field.
Johnston came into the season not sure who was going to be his third scorer after the two Meyers, but sophomore guard Madison Mathiowetz has blossomed into that role. She is averaging 10.1 points per game and has scored in double digits in seven of the last nine games.
Johnston said hes liked the way Mathiowetz has played so far this season and theyre going to need her to continue to play like this as they head into the back half of their schedule.
She has really evolved into a good offensive player. I think she always has been, but its finding that confidence. I think shes been a huge part of our offensive consistency. Shes grown and her value to the team has grown. I dont know if well be as good as we can be unless she continues to play like that, Johnston said.
SDSU will welcome St. Thomas to Frost Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m. and then will take on Denver on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Brookings. The Tommies come into the matchup with an overall record of 10-6. Theyve won five straight games and seven of their last eight.
Johnson said the Tommies play a similar brand of basketball to Montana State, who the Jacks just beat 61-53.
Theyre a really sound team and are super physical defensively. They really play a similar style to Montana State, so those that watched that game, defensively, we struggled with what they did. So, we have to have a better plan against St. Thomas because well see some of those same characteristics, Johnston said.
Despite the injuries, the Jackrabbits are once again the favorites in the Summit League. They enter Thursdays contest with a NET ranking of 84th. The NET rankings take into account game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency and the quality of wins and losses.
The next highest conference foe in the NET is South Dakota, who is 121st with a 9-5 record. North Dakota State (5-7) is 132nd and Oral Roberts (7-4) is 145th. St. Thomas is 195th.
Only three teams in the Summit League have a record of under .500 as Denver, North Dakota and Omaha are all 4-11. Johnston said he thought the conference as a whole had a good non-conference portion of its season.
I think youll see some differences in the standings because of [having no travel partners this season]. As far as how the league has done, its so early, but weve had a pretty good non-conference run. All of our teams have. You look at where our league is in NET rankings, weve improved, so I think its been really positive. I think its going to be a really competitive race, just like I feel every single year, Johnston said.
You can watch Thursdays game on Midco Sports or the Summit League Network. Saturdays game will be broadcasted on Midco Sports Two and the SL Network.
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