Staff Reports

In the season opener, SDSU scored its final 13 points at the free-throw line as the Jackrabbit women’s basketball team captured a 72-61 victory at Middle Tennessee State.

SDSU won its 14th consecutive season opener after travel difficulties forced the team to indefinitely postpone its scheduled season opener Saturday at Kent State (Ohio).

The Jackrabbits converted 81.5 percent of their free throws in the second half, including 13-of-14 in the final three minutes, 18 seconds. Andrea Verdegan and Megan Vogel each went 6-for-6, and Stacie Oistad made 1-of-2 tries.

Middle Tennessee State grabbed an early five-point lead at 12-7, but SDSU responded with a 12-0 run, including two baskets by freshman Abby Kratovil.

The Blue Raiders, who forced SDSU into 13 first-half turnovers and 24 for the game, crawled back to take a momentary two-point lead before Megan Vogel hit her second three-pointer of the half to put the Jackrabbits ahead, 27-26, at halftime.

In the second half, the game remained close until the Jackrabbits took control in the final five minutes. MTSU grabbed its last lead of the game, 46-44, at the 8:28 mark, on a three-pointer by Chelsia Lymon, only to see that lead evaporate as Oistad buried a three of her own.

With the game tied at 54-all, the Jackrabbits went on a 6-0 run over the next two minutes to go ahead for good.

Vogel led all scorers with 23 points and shared team-high honors with seven rebounds. Verdegan scored all 11 of her points at the line, while adding five assists and seven rebounds as SDSU held a 37-29 rebounding advantage. Oistad contributed 10 points off the bench.

Middle Tennessee State, which took defending national champion Maryland to the wire in an 80-76 defeat last Friday, dropped to 0-2.