Kirk Danielson

The women’s basketball team has had an exciting start to the season while playing some tough opponents. On Nov. 30, the team suffered a 67-52 loss to Arkansas State, but rebounded to crush Long Beach State, 85-41 for the home crowd on Dec. 3 at Frost Arena.

The Jackrabbits are 7-2 on the season. Although the semester is coming to an end, the team will be busy both at home and on the road with eight games throughout the holiday break.

Before the season began, head coach Aaron Johnston said one of the things he was looking for this season was more consistency in the team’s second half play. During the competition versus Long Beach State Dec. 3, the Jacks took a commanding 41-22 lead into the half. The ladies did not let up, outscoring the 49ers 44-19 in the second half. Eleven Jackrabbits saw playing time in the contest, and the team displayed a balanced offensive attack.

Senior Megan Vogel led the Jacks with 22 points and added five rebounds.

Freshman Abby Kratovil posted 12 points in 20 minutes of play. Junior guard Andrea Verdegan chipped in 10 points, and freshman Maria Boever led the team with nine rebounds and added 10 points in the contest.

In the loss to Arkansas State, the team fell behind in the first half and was unable to recover from an early double-digit deficit down in Jonesboro, Ark. The 67-52 loss was the Jack’s second in a row, following a loss to the No. 15 nationally ranked Baylor Bears. The Baylor loss was SDSU’s first of the season and put the Jack’s at 1-1 in the Junkanoo Jam Tournament in the Bahamas during the Thanksgiving weekend.

In the loss to Arkansas State, sophomore Stacie Oistad led the team in scoring with 13 points, and junior Courtney Grimsrud added 11. Vogel led the Jackrabbits with eight rebounds and three assists, while adding four points in the effort.

This week the Jackrabbits travel to Lawrence, Kan. to play the University of Kansas on Dec. 6 and compete at home again Dec 9, as the Southern Illinois Salukis travel to Frost Arena.

Dec. 13 offers a midweek break from finals and one last chance to see the Jacks in action before the semester ends. The Colorado Buffalos will be in town to take on the Jackrabbits.

Although the semester is coming to an end, the team will be busy both at home and on the road with eight games throughout the holiday break.

Highlight games for the next month are Dec. 20, when the women will defend their home turf against San Jose State. After a trip down to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to play the University of Alabama, the Jackrabbits will be at home again to take on No. 24 Marquette University, Dec. 31.

The Jackrabbits will be back in the area as they travel to Minneapolis, Minn. and challenge the Gophers Jan. 14. The first home game of 2007 is Jan. 15, when the University of Minnesota-Duluth will take on SDSU at Frost Arena.

To keep up to date with the lady Jackrabbits this holiday season, the schedule is posted at www.gojacks.com.

#1.883897:2755372414.jpg:sdsuvslbstate03.jpg:Courtney Grimsrud wins the tip off over Long Beach State’s Kaiti O’Brien on Dec. 3.:#1.883896:2572913870.jpg:sdsuvslbstate02.jpg: South Dakota State’s Megan Vogel drives into Long Beach defenders Karina Figueroa and Tyresha Calhoun before passing the ball off to an open teammate during their game on Dec. 3.:#1.883895:3741054494.jpg:sdsuvslbstate01.jpg:Andrea Verdegan of South Dakota State leaps up to score two over the hands of Tyresha Calhoun of Long Beach State during their game Dec. 3.: