Brittany Westerberg

While most of the rest of SDSU students were on Christmas break, student athletes were hard at work competing. Women’s basketball players played six games between Dec. 29 and Jan. 14, improving their record to 11-6 overall record and 4-2 in Summit League play.

On Dec. 29, the lady Jacks played their first home game in over a month against the University of Northern Iowa. The Jackrabbits played at full strength for the first time all season as they beat the visiting Panthers 63-53. Starting forwards Jennifer Warkenthien and Maria Boever combined for 36 points, and both teams combined for 53 turnovers. SDSU ended the game 19-of-49 from the field, 38.8 percent, and dominated at the free throw line by making 22-of-28 attempts, 78.6 percent, compared to 6-of-7, 85.7 percent, by UNI.

New Year’s Day saw four SDSU players in double figures, and the Jackrabbits shot a season-best 55 percent from the field in defeating Minnesota-Duluth, 91-57. The Jacks never trailed during the game and with the win, improved to 8-5 overall. Maria Boever contributed 14 points, while Warkenthien and Muckenhirn each added 10. Muckenhirn’s scoring total also was a season-high. Twelve of the 13 Jackrabbits to play scored, and all 13 tallied at least one rebound.

That was the final non-conference game for the Jackrabbits. The women’s basketball team hosted their first ever Summit League home game against IPFW on Jan. 5 and won, a 68-62 victory, which saw them improve to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in Summit League play. The Jackrabbits never trailed in this game, though the Mastadons came close a couple times.

The SDSU women won their fourth consecutive home game on Jan. 7, 81-71, over Summit league rival Oakland (Mich.) Golden Grizzlies. The Jackrabbits made a season-high 11 three-pointers as they improved to 10-5 overall and 3-1 in the Summit League. The victory also extended SDSU’s home-court winning streak to 15.

The Jacks faced IUPUI Jan. 12 and won a 56-46 victory in Summit League action Saturday afternoon. This was their fifth consecutive win overall and their fourth in league play. The women improved to 11-5 overall and 4-1 in the Summit League. Warkenthien led all players with 18 points and nine rebounds as SDSU held a 36-32 rebounding advantage.

The lady Jacks recorded their first loss over the break against the Summit League-leading Western Illinois Westerwinds, 67-60, on Jan. 14. The Jackrabbits held a 37-31 rebounding advantage and committed only 14 turnovers, compared to 17 by WIU.