BROOKINGS, SD -
Hannah Strop posted her first career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, leading South Dakota State to a 69-56 victory over Omaha in Summit League women’s basketball action Thursday night at Frost Arena.
Coupled with South Dakota defeating second-place IUPUI, the Jackrabbits claimed the Summit League regular season title outright, improving to 21-7 overall and 13-2 in league play. SDSU notched its second consecutive regular season title and fourth in six seasons as a Summit League member.
The Jackrabbits put together a decisive 14-2 run over nearly an eight-minute span in the second half to secure the victory. Leading 49-47, Megan Waytashek gave the Jackrabbits added cushion with three-pointer from the left corner. SDSU finished the outburst with 11 straight points that included two baskets by Katie Lingle and a three-pointer by Gabrielle Boever.
During the Jackrabbit run, Omaha went ice-cold from the field, making only 1-of-11 field goal attempts, including missing eight in a row.
SDSU’s lead eventually ballooned to 15 points, 69-54, with under three minutes to play as Strop connected on her third three-pointer of the contest.
The Jackrabbits led nearly the entire evening, taking the lead for good at 9-8 on a traditional three-point play by Lingle bridging the first media timeout of the game. SDSU led by as many as nine points in the opening half before taking a 38-33 lead into intermission.
Waytashek added 12 points for the Jackrabbits, while the senior trio of Ashley Eide (11), Lingle (9) and Leah Dietel (8) combined for 28 points in their final regular season appearance at Frost Arena.
SDSU finished the game 25-of-54 from the field, including 8-of-16 from three-point range. The Jackrabbits went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line with all their attempts coming in the first half.
Paige Frauendorfer led all players with 24 points and added a team-high seven rebounds for the Mavericks, who dropped to 16-9 overall and 6-7 in league play. Ericka House came off the bench to score 14 points, making 4-of-7 three-point tries.
Omaha ended the night 21-of-61 from the field, 34.4 percent, with a 4-of-17 showing from three-point range. At the line, the Mavericks converted 10-of-12 attempts, 83.3 percent.
Led by Strop’s career-high 13 rebounds, SDSU held a 39-31 advantage on the boards.
The Jackrabbits close out the regular season next Saturday (March 2) at North Dakota State. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the Bison Sports Arena in Fargo, N.D.
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