BROOKINGS A stifling defensive performance from South Dakota State on Thursday night led to a 71-37 victory over Denver at First Bank & Trust Arena.
The Jackrabbits held the Pioneers to 17.3% shooting (9-52) from the field and Denver was 5-of-26 from three. SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston said his forwards and centers did a good job against Denvers Jordan Jones, who was 1-of-11 from the field.
Our bigs got into a little bit of foul trouble, but they played well. The combination of Brooklyn [Meyer], Mesa [Byom] and Kallie [Thiesen] on Jones I thought made it hard. [Those three] have length, size and physicality. I thought we did a good job of helping off the right people and not giving shooters looks for the most part, Johnston said.
It took a little while for the Jacks to get things going offensively. SDSU led 13-7 at the end of the first quarter and then scored the first nine points to start the second quarter. Denver cut the lead to 22-12 with just under four minutes left in the first half and the Jacks then outscored the Pioneers 12-0 in the final 3:57 of the half.
In total SDSU outscored Denver 21-5 in the second quarter. SDSU junior guard Haleigh Timmer said the Jacks were clicking on both ends in the second frame.
I think we just settled into what they were doing and came up with a better plan on our end, and then moving the ball was effective for us, Timmer said.
SDSU pushed the lead to 42-14 with 4:45 left in the third quarter. The Jacks then led 48-19 with 2:36 to play in the quarter and Denver then went on a 6-0 run to end the third. SDSU then outscored Denver 23-12 in the final quarter.
The Jacks shot 50% from the field and was 11-of-21 from three. Denver played a zone defense during the game and Johnston said he thought SDSU did well against it at times but he didnt like the way the Jacks moved the ball for most of the game as they had 14 turnovers.
At times we did move it well, in the second quarter and fourth quarter. We just tried to find some of their slides in the zone. How can we take advantage when theyre sliding and shifting, and we did OK. We just werent establishing anything inside like were capable of. We didnt get it out of the double teams very well at times today. We were just kind of sluggish and slow with our passing, Johnston said.
Timmer led the Jacks with 22 points. She was 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
I thought Haleigh played great,” Johnston said. “The last several games shes played at a really high level. Shes making shots, shes getting to the basket, shes defending really well and she can just play forever. She has one of those motors that can just go, go, go. Really happy to see her play at this level and shes no doubt a huge part of what makes us a good team.”
Madison Mathiowetz had nine points and Paige Meyer and Mesa Byom each had eight points. Byom also had 10 rebounds.
The Jacks were without their top bench player in freshman forward Katie Vasecka. Johnston said after the game that he doesn’t expect Vaseckas injury to be long term.
I think Katie has probably a minor injury. I know she was walking around on some crutches today, but thats more precautionary and we think its day-to-day. Theres a chance we could see her again real quick, but at this time of the year, we just want her to be in a really good place and its just kind of day-to-day, Johnston said.
SDSU held a 45-30 advantage in rebounds. The Jacks were 10-of-17 at the free throw line and the Pioneers were 14-of-17.
The Jacks improved to 25-3 overall and 15-0 in the Summit League. SDSU will close out the regular season on Saturday at 2 p.m. against St. Thomas. Senior point guard Paige Meyer said the Jacks know that this is the time they need to turn it on as the Summit League Tournament is next weekend.
We want to play as consistently as we can both offensively and defensively [at the end of the season]. That just comes from working hard each day at practice and getting better each day, Paige Meyer said.
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