BROOKINGS South Dakota State outscored North Dakota 13-4 in the final four and a half minutes of the game on Saturday and that pushed the Jackrabbits to an 87-73 victory at First Bank & Trust Arena.
SDSU led 14-10 just past the midway point of the first quarter. The Jacks then closed the opening quarter with a 12-4 run and took a 26-14 lead into second.
SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston said defense was the difference in the end of the first quarter.
We were just getting stops. So many of those were transition plays. We got a stop, got a rebound and turned that into a transition three or a quick bucket. I thought our defense was really good early and then it was good late [as well], Johnston said.
The Jacks looked like they were going to pull away in the second quarter. They led 30-22 and then used a 10-0 run to push the lead to 40-22 with 5:36 to play in the half. However, UND outscored SDSU 15-9 in the final five and a half minutes and the Jacks led 49-37 at halftime.
That 12-point lead would stick for most of the third quarter and the Jacks led 68-57 heading into the fourth. UND then used an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 74-69 with 4:28 to play.
Brooklyn Meyer then took over. She went on a 9-2 run on her own and that pushed the lead to 81-69 with 2:54 left in the game and put the game away. She scored 30 points and 13 of them came in the fourth.
Johnston said if youre going to play her one-on-one, Brooklyn Meyer is going to make you pay.
Brooklyn had a great finish to the game, Johnston said. Going into every game we never really know how people are going to play Brooklyn. Some people front, some people double, some people play behind [her] one-on-one. I think you have to get into the game and see whats happening. She was obviously playing well and is just a force.
Youre going to play her one-on-one because you dont want the threes and the other stuff [from other players], but if youre going to do that, and Im not saying shes going to get 30 points every game, but shes really hard to stop.
SDSU shot 53.2% from the field and was 6-of-18 from three. Madison Mathiowetz had 14 points and Haleigh Timmer had 12 points. Paige Meyer had 11 points and 10 assists. It was Paige Meyers first career double-double and Johnston said the coaching staff has been telling her to control the game because shes a veteran point guard.
We talk to her a lot about controlling the game because shes not just a passer. Shes better than that. She took open shots when she had them, which I thought was great. She found a lot of open people today, which was good. She was just controlling the game at that point guard spot and she does it as well as anybody out there. She played really well today, Johnston said.
UND shot 47.4% from the field and was 8-of-21 from three. The Fighting Hawks were led by Jocelyn Schiller who had 19 points. Kiera Pemberton had 15 points and Walker Demers had 13 points.
Johnston said his team needs to become more consistent on the defensive side of the floor.
Some games I think weve been really good. This game I think we struggled with our plan with how we wanted to handle some of those early ball screens. We didnt start the possession great, so we have to do a better job with some of those early choices. We didnt guard dribble penetration well at times. Its not just perimeter to the rim. Some of those posts are getting to the rim. We just have to guard one-on-one a little bit better, Johnston said.
SDSU had a 34-26 advantage in rebounding. The Jacks had six turnovers and the Fighting Hawks had 10. SDSU was 15-of-17 at the free throw line and UND was 11-of-14.
The Jacks have now won 52-straight games against Summit League opponents and are now 69-1 in conference games dating back to the start of the 2020-21 season. This was the second conference game that was within five points with under five minutes to go this season as SDSU beat Oral Roberts 81-76 on Jan. 2. Johnston said its good that his team has faced some adversity in the Summit League this season.
I think weve always had some challenges. Weve had some games where weve played well, but weve always had some close ones. We had a close one at Oral Roberts this year and we had a close one today. Kansas City played us really well and I would assume were going to get that at St. Thomas and [South Dakota]. I think our team has responded really well, Johnston said.
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