Lynn Stoneburner

The South Dakota State University women’s basketball team fell 93-67 in a matchup with the Division I Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday night at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.

The Jackrabbits, rated the top NCAA Division II team in the nation, kept the margin close in the first half, trading baskets at the start of the game.

The Jacks pulled out to a 23-17 lead with 12 minutes in the half, sinking four three-point field goals.

Minnesota then responded with a 7-0 run to retake the lead 24-23 and went on to clinch a 47-42 lead at the half.

Stacie Cizek, a junior from Omaha, Neb., contributed 19 points for SDSU, 16 of those points in the first half.

The Jacks found the basket on seven of 11 shots from behind the three-point line, with Cizek hitting four of five attempts.

The score remained close in the second half with the help of Brooke Dickmeyer’s three-pointer to bring the Jacks within three, 53-50.

However, the next five minutes were full of Minnesota baskets, as the Gophers netted 16 points and the Jackrabbits suffered many turnovers.

“We played well in the first half as a team, but fell apart and didn’t play together like we should have in the second half,” Dickmeyer, a sophomore from Sioux Falls, said.

Minnesota’s stifling defense kept SDSU to only 25 points in the second half.

The Gophers recorded 46 points of their own.

Melissa Pater, a senior from Holland, Minn., scored double digits for the Jacks with 12 points.

Junior Brenda Davis of Colton, SD contributed 10.

Lindsay Whalen, an All-America candidate, led Minnesota with 28 points.

“It was a neat environment to play in,” Davis said. “Whalen is probably the best player we’ll play against. She’s smart and found a way to the basket.”

The Jacks finished with 42 percent (22 of 52) from the field and 72 percent (13 of 18) from the line.

The Gophers recorded 59 percent (38 of 65) from the field and finished with 80 percent of free throw attemts (12 of 15).

Minnesota held a 37-27 rebound advantage over SDSU, with Davis and Pater each boarding four to lead the Jacks.

SDSU finished the exhibition season 0-2 against Division I teams.

The regular season gets underway Friday, Nov. 22, as the Jacks host the University of Sioux Falls at 7 p.m. in Frost Arena.