South Dakota State’s Paige Meyer is a familiar face in the NCAA Tournament, having already made a mark in March Madness during previous appearances. This marks Meyer’s third straight invitation to the tourney, where she notably scored 16 points in a victory over Southern California a couple of years ago. In the three tournament games she has participated in, Meyer has averaged an impressive 13.3 points, providing her and the 24th-ranked Jackrabbits with the confidence to succeed as a mid-major program. South Dakota State, holding a 29-3 record, is set to go head-to-head with Oklahoma State, which stands at 25-6, this Saturday in Storrs, Connecticut.
Meyer, standing at 5 feet 6 inches and playing as a senior guard, led her team to their third consecutive NCAA berth. Her standout performance in the Summit League Tournament championship against Oral Roberts featured 26 points and nine assists, culminating in an 84-68 victory. This game is one of many memorable feats in her career, as she has consistently averaged double figures in scoring throughout her four seasons at South Dakota State. Meyer is currently averaging 12 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this year, with her scoring peaking in recent weeks by hitting the 23-point mark in four of the last nine games played.
“Through the whole year we’ve kind of had a lot of different weapons on the court,” Meyer said. “That kind of opened up my scoring opportunities, too.” Meyer’s excellence has also been recognized alongside her teammate Brooklyn Meyer, as both received first-team all-Summit League honors for the second consecutive year. Their contributions have propelled South Dakota State to become one of the hottest teams nationally, currently riding on a 19-game winning streak with their last defeat against Texas dating back to December 22.
Paige Meyer isn’t the only player from smaller conferences making waves in the NCAA Tournament. Ally Becki from Ball State will be showcasing her skills against Mississippi on Friday in Waco, Texas. Known for a triple-double this season, Becki has maintained a strong performance consistently. Another to watch is Emani Jefferson of Florida Gulf Coast, facing Oklahoma after a standout year as the Atlantic Sun player with averages of 14.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Diamond Johnson of Norfolk State, an influential figure with an average of 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 3.6 steals, will play against Maryland on Saturday.
Natalie McNeal from Green Bay, who has helped her team secure 22 consecutive victories, will take on Alabama in College Park, Maryland. McNeal was awarded multiple all-Horizon League honors for her remarkable contributions, including scoring 26 points in a recent championship game. Meanwhile, Trinity San Antonio of Grand Canyon boasts a 30-game win streak leading into a match against Baylor. Katelyn Young from Murray State continues to impress, with a retired jersey to her name and an invitation to face Iowa in Norman, Oklahoma. Young has shown remarkable consistency, with a scoring average surpassing 19.5 points in each of her last four seasons.
