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Megan Waytashek scored a game-high 18 points to pace three double-figure scorers as the Jackrabbit women’s basketball team widened its Summit League lead to two games with a 63-55 victory at the University of South Dakota Wednesday night.
The Jackrabbits improved to 16-6 overall and 8-1 in The Summit League. USD dropped to 11-11 overall and 6-3 in league play.
The Coyotes held the upper hand throughout the opening minutes, leading by as many as six points, 15-9, after six consecutive points by Tempestt Wilson.
However, the Jackrabbits controlled the final 10 minutes of the first half as they began to hit their stride by scoring the next 14 points. Ashley Eide sparked the run with the first seven points and Waytashek added the next seven points, including sinking a pair of three-pointers. The SDSU run reached 20-2 as the Jackrabbits built their largest lead of the half, 12 points, on two occasions.
USD closed the opening half on a 6-2 spurt thanks to three-pointers by Wilson and Sam Mehr to pull to within 34-27 at halftime.
SDSU opened the second half by missing its first nine shots from the field, but the Coyotes couldn’t capitalize as they began the half 2-for-9. After USD drew to within 35-31, the Jackrabbits again built the margin to double digits as Waytashek scored three straight baskets in a 76-second stretch.
The Coyotes put together a run of their own to close to within a basket at 45-43 with 9 minutes, 17 seconds to play, but SDSU responded behind the play of Gabrielle Boever. The sophomore point guard stemmed the tide with a three-pointer from the top of the key and then scored two more baskets inside to put the Jackrabbits ahead 52-45 with under seven minutes to play.
USD trimmed the margin to four points on a pair of occasions in the closing minutes, but the Jackrabbits iced the game with four free throws and two baskets in the final minute.
Besides Waytashek’s game-high 18 points, the Jackrabbits received 15 points from Eide and 10 from Boever. SDSU finished 24-of-61 from the field, 39.3 percent, including 5-for-12 on three-point attempts. At the free throw line, the Jackrabbits ended the game 10-for-15, 66.7 percent.
The Jackrabbits also controlled the glass, holding 42-30 rebounding advantage. Hannah Strop led all players with seven rebounds and all 10 Jackrabbit players to see action recorded at least one board.
For USD, Wilson led the way with 15 points, followed by 13 points from Nicole Seekamp and 12 by Lisa Loeffler. The Coyotes ended the night 24-of-58 from the field, including 5-for-15 on three-point tries. USD went to the line only four times – all in the first half – and made two for 50 percent.
SDSU closes out its three-game road swing Saturday afternoon at Kansas City. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. at the Swinney Recreation Center on the UMKC campus.
