SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — March Madness is still going strong, but the number of basketball teams vying for an NCAA championship is dwindling by the day.
South Dakota State’s 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament started with a Summit League Tournament championship and Selection Sunday.
“It never gets old. Every season obviously is unique, has it’s own challenges, the high points, the low points, you work your way through it but to have this be the end result and to see these student-athletes who work so hard year-round to have an opportunity to come play in the big dance is always really exciting,” SDSU Director of Athletics Justin Sell said.
“I think there’s no other way to go out than here at the big dance,” SDSU senior Mesa Byom said.
SDSU earned a 10-seed in the Spokane Region, landing the Jackrabbits in Storrs, Connecticut for a first round matchup with seventh-seeded Oklahoma State.
“They play really fast, they have a lot of athleticism on their team, they have some size and they also shoot the ball really well,” SDSU redshirt junior Haleigh Timmer said.
It was a tale of two halves Saturday afternoon in Connecticut as SDSU held its own against Oklahoma State in the first half, but trailed by seven at the break. But the Jackrabbits owned the second half, outscoring OSU by nine in the third quarter and four in the fourth, en route to a 74-68 win and a trip to round two of the NCAA playoffs.
“Really proud of our team. Obviously you get a chance to play again in the NCAA Tournament, and to make it to the Round of 32 is an incredibly difficult thing to do any time, and we’ve had a chance to do it a couple of times. It’s great. Winning is fun,” SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston said.
The victory propelled the Jackrabbits into the round of 32 for third time since 2019, and a showdown with Connecticut.
“They have the ability to pressure you full court, they can pressure you in the half court, they’ve got size where they can block shots and challenge things, they rebound really well, and then they just turn so many of those defensive possessions into quick offense,” Johnston said.
It was a sizeable challenge for the Jacks, but UCONN felt they’d have to go out and earn the win.
“You have to beat them. You can’t go in expecting that they’re going to make enough mistakes to lose. Teams like that are dangerous in the NCAA Tournament,” Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma said.
A promising start didn’t result in victory for South Dakota State University Monday night in Storrs, Connecticut, as the Jackrabbits saw their season come to an end with a 91-57 loss to the 11-time champions from UCONN.
SDSU jumped out to an 8-2 lead and didn’t trail until there were 75 seconds left in the first quarter. That’s when Minnesota native Paige Bueckers scored ten straight points on her way to a game-high 34.
“You almost felt sorry for the other team because you know when Paige is locked in, there’s nothing you can do to stop her. It doesn’t matter what shot she takes, the ball’s going to go in,” Connecticut senior Azzi Fudd said.
It was a 34-point margin, but that didn’t change Geno Auriemma’s opinion of the Jacks.
“Their sense of who they are, what they’re trying to do, every possession down the floor, how determined they are is second to none,” Auriemma said.
“I wish it was a different outcome but still to be able to compete on this stage with a great group of young women is exactly where I think we all want to be, so I’m proud of them,” Johnston said.
“Take away the experience of getting to play with the people I love. The big win we had the other day was super fun and obviously today didn’t go the way we wanted but just another game getting to play with my best friends definitely meant a lot and just the whole experience was really memorable,” SDSU redshirt senior Kallie Theisen said.
“Being a Jackrabbit has been the best thing. Playing the last game with them all sunk in there. I just love this group so much. It’s been a really special year and I’m just really going to miss being a Jackrabbit,” SDSU senior Paige Meyer said.
A number of Jackrabbit players mentioned during the week watching UCONN growing up. Aaron Johnston took the opportunity to share a message of his own.
“I reminded them that there are young girls at home watching them that want to be Jackrabbits. The takeaway is, yeah, we’re going to figure out some basketball stuff and try to keep moving forward in our plan, but not to forget the impact that our women have on our communities and our state and our young people back home and I think that’s an incredibly powerful statement,” Johnston said.
And it’s how a second round exit is helping pave the way for the future of women’s basketball.
After beating SDSU in the round of 32, Connecticut will continue its quest for a 12th national championship Saturday against Oklahoma in Spokane, Washington. The women’s Final Four begins Friday, April 4th, in Tampa, Florida.
