BROOKINGS After a slow first quarter, South Dakota State pulled away from Murray State for a 91-60 victory on Tuesday night at First Bank & Trust Arena in Brookings.
The win pushed the Jackrabbits to 3-0 as SDSU beat Creighton and Rice last week. The Racers (1-1) were picked to come in second in the Missouri Valley and SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston said Tuesdays win capped off a solid start in the first three games of the season.
Its been a great start to the year. Weve played three really great opponents and to get three wins is exactly what we would have hoped for. Murray State is going to win a lot of games this year. Theyre going to win 20 games and compete for a conference title in the Missouri Valley, so its a good win for us, Johnston said.
SDSU trailed 15-10 at the end of the first quarter. The Jacks missed their first six shots of the game and shot 29.4% from the field in the opening quarter.
The Jacks got things back on track quickly in the second quarter as they opened the quarter with a 22-2 run. They outscored the Racers 25-7 in the second quarter and took a 35-22 lead into halftime.
I was a little disappointed, we didnt have a lot of effort in that first quarter, Johnston said. There were some loose balls and some rebounds that we gave up. We were kind of jogging down the floor. In the second quarter we scored and that can give you some more pep in your step. To be honest, I just think we played a lot harder [after the first quarter].
Murray State kept up with SDSU in the first five minutes of the second half as the Jacks led 51-39 with 4:42 remaining in the third quarter. The Jacks then went on a 12-4 to push the lead to 20 but the Racers scored the final five points of the quarter to make it 63-48 heading into the fourth.
SDSU didnt mess around at the beginning of the third quarter as the Jacks went on a 13-4 run to go up 76-52 with 4:23 to go. The Jacks would cruise the rest of the way, on their way to a 31-point victory.
The Jacks shot 57.6% from the field and was 8-of-22 from three. They held the Racers to 29.2% shooting and 5-of-29 from three. Johnston said defense may be the calling card for the Jacks.
Ive been really impressed with our defense to start the year. You just never know, with a lot of new players, I feel like defense is sometimes harder than offense right away. But our defense has been fantastic these first few games. We held a really good offensive team under control out there. I was really pleased with how defended in this one, Johnson said.
Senior center Brooklyn Meyer was the top scorer yet again for the Jacks as she finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five blocks. Through three games, Meyer is averaging 26.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.6 blocks.
[Meyers start to the season] is unbelievable, Johnston said. I say that, but it is believable because weve seen her for years. But its just really amazing to see where her game is at. She just does everything. Shes a phenomenal passer. Shes great at getting to the free throw line and making free throws. She can finish and make plays. She blocked five shots tonight. Shes a vocal leader and gets people where they need to be.
SDSU had three other players score in double figures. Colbeck had 12 points, Mahli Abdouch had 11 points and Madison Mathiowetz and Hadley Thul each had 10 points. Abdouch and Thul each came off the bench. Abdouch redshirted last year and Thul is a true freshman.
Mathiowetz said both players have done a good job of inserting themselves into the rotation.
I think theyve done a great job [of taking on bigger roles]. Theyve adjusted well to how we play basketball. Theyve gotten to practice with us for the last few months or years and have just done a good job adjusting and finding their role in our team and helping us all around, Mathiowetz said.
The Jackrabbits will head to the west side of the state next as theyll take on Montana in Rapid City on Saturday. This will be SDSUs first game at The Monument. The SDSU men played in Rapid City last season.
Colbeck said her and her teammates are excited for the trip and theyre going to spend a couple days West of the river.
Theres Jackrabbit fans out there and I think theyre excited for us to come to them this time. Were going to make a little trip out of it and see Mount Rushmore. Its going to be great team bonding, Colbeck said.
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