STORRS, Conn. — The South Dakota State women’s basketball team remained unfazed by a double-digit second-half deficit, utilizing an aggressive approach to secure a 74-68 victory against the seventh-seeded Oklahoma State in the NCAA tournament. This win marked the Jackrabbits’ fifth NCAA tournament first-round victory in their program’s history.
Madison Mathiowetz put on a stellar performance, scoring all 17 of her points in the second half, while Brooklyn Meyer contributed 19 points. Their combined efforts propelled the Jackrabbits to advance and face second-seeded UConn in the second round on Monday.
“The opportunity to play again is excellent,” stated Aaron Johnston, the South Dakota State women’s basketball coach. “We are anticipating a good challenge against Connecticut, but I am delighted that our team can unite and celebrate something we have worked hard for.”
During the first half, South Dakota State managed only 24 points and suffered from 11 turnovers. However, they turned things around in the second half, committing just five turnovers and shooting 56% from the field.
“I felt we needed to dig in defensively and continue rebounding,” said Meyer. “Offensively, once we started moving better without the ball and played cohesively, things began to click for us.”
Oklahoma State saw Stailee Heard leading the charge with 20 points, followed by Anna Gret Asi, who added 16 points, including two late 3-pointers, keeping the Cowgirls within striking distance.
**Takeaways**
South Dakota State has now progressed past the first round five times, the most recent instance before this year being 2023. The team has advanced beyond the second round only once, in 2019.
Oklahoma State, on the other hand, now stands at 12-18 in NCAA Tournament history. Although they reached the Sweet 16 in 1991, 2008, and 2014, they have lost their opening tournament game in the past two seasons, with their last NCAA Tournament win occurring in 2021 against Wake Forest.
**Key Moment**
A key turning point in the game came when Mathiowetz drove to the basket for a layup just before the third-quarter buzzer, breaking a 50-50 tie. She followed up by scoring again at the start of the fourth quarter, with Paige Meyer’s consecutive baskets pushing the team’s lead to eight. Oklahoma State’s Micah Gray reduced the gap with a three-pointer, but the Cowgirls could not get closer than three points.
**Jackrabbit Nation Rallies**
“We adore Jackrabbit Nation,” remarked senior guard Paige Meyer. “We’ve consistently had strong support from our fans, and their presence here means a lot to us. Over the years, their support has been unwavering.”
**Up Next**
South Dakota State will prepare to face No. 2 seed UConn, aiming for a significant upset. The Huskies showcased their prowess by decisively defeating Arkansas State 103-34 in their opener.