The South Dakota State women’s basketball team has been on a tear in Summit League play. The Jacks have ran the table in back-to-back years.
The Jacks have won the Summit League regular season championship for the fourth year in a row and are 10-time Summit League Champions under head coach Aaron Johnston since they joined the Summit League in 2007. SDSU hasn’t lost a Summit League regular season contest in their last 47 games. But the team had several setbacks before and during this season due to injuries the team faced. But with the additions to two walk-ons and players starting to get healthy, the Jacks are currently on an 18-game win streak.
The closest team to the Jacks are the second seeded Bison of North Dakota State. NDSU won eight consecutive contests until their loss to the Jacks last Saturday at Frost Arena. NDSU was the second seed last year but fell in the first round to Kansas City.
Round one of the Summit League Tournament is set for Friday at the Denny Sanford PREMIERE Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
No. 1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits
(24-5, 16-0 Summit League)
• Head coach: Aaron Johnston
• Key players: Forward Brooklyn Meyer is averaging 17.2 ppg on 58% shooting and 8 rpg; guard Paige Meyer is averaging 14.7 ppg on 52% shooting and 41% from deep.
• Team stats: Averaging 74.7 ppg and allowing only 60.2 ppg.
• First-round matchup: Winner of Omaha and Kansas City.
• Fun Fact: Second straight year the Jacks are undefeated in Summit League play and the only team in Summit League history to do so.
No. 2 North Dakota State Bison
(19-10, 13-3 Summit League)
• Head coach: Jory Collins
• Key players: Elle Evans is averaging 15.6 ppg on 47% shooting and Heaven Hamling is averaging 14.8 ppg on 42% shooting.
• Team stats: Averaging 76.6 ppg and allowing 69.1 ppg.
• First-round matchup: Denver
• Fun Fact: Haven’t won a Summit League Tournament Championship.
No. 3 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (20-9, 11-5 Summit League)
• Head coach: Kelsi Musick
• Key players: Sophomore guard Taleyah Jones is averaging 17.0 ppg on 43% shooting; Grad Student guard Hannah Cooper is averaging 14.7 ppg on 42% shooting.
• Team stats: Averaging 82.1 ppg and allowing 75.1 ppg.
• First-round matchup: North Dakota
• Fun Fact: First time winning 20 games in a season since 2011-2012.
No. 4 South Dakota Coyotes
(20-11, 9-7 Summit League)
• Head coach: Kayla Karius
• Key players: Junior guard Grace Larkins is averaging 15.8 ppg on 50% shooting; junior guard Kendall Holmes is averaging 11.5 ppg on 38% shooting.
• Team stats: Averaging 71.7 ppg and allowing 64.4 ppg.
• First-round matchup: St. Thomas
• Fun Fact: Leads Summit League in assists (52 more than second place).
No. 5 St. Thomas Tommies
(15-15, 7-9 Summit League)
• Head coach: Ruth Sinn
• Key players: Guard Amber Scalia is averaging 16.6 ppg on 40% shooting; junior guard Jade Hill is averaging 13.5 ppg on 37% shooting.
• Team stats: Averaging 68.2 ppg and allowing 71.2 ppg.
• First-round matchup: South Dakota
• Fun Fact: Third year in Division 1.
No. 6 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (9-20, 5-11 Summit League)
• Head coach: Mallory Bernhard
• Key players: Fifth year student Kacie Borowicz is averaging 20.8 ppg on 40% shooting;forward Kiyah Hurst is averaging 12.4 ppg on 42% shooting.
• Team stats: Averaging 66.8 ppg and allowing 76.1 ppg.
• First-round matchup: Oral Roberts
• Fun Fact: Has made one appearance in the NCAA Division 1 tournament in 2014.
No. 7 Denver Pioneers
(8-21, 5-11 Summit League)
• Head coach: Doshia Woods
• Key players: Sophomore guard Jordan Jones is averaging 14.8 ppg on 39% shooting;Sophomore guard Emma Smith is averaging 12.8 ppg on 37% shooting.
• Team stats: Averaging 64.5 ppg and allowing 69.6 ppg.
• First-round matchup: North Dakota State
• Fun Fact: Tied for most three point shots made per game.
No. 8 Kansas City Roos
(12-19, 3-13 Summit League)
• Head coach: Dionnah
Jackson-Durrett
• Key player: Sophomore guard Alayna Contreras is averaging 10.4 ppg on 37% shooting; Junior guard Nariyah Simmons is averaging 9.6 ppg on 37% shooting.
• Team stats: Averaging 64.8 ppg and allowing 66.1 ppg.
• First-round matchup: Omaha
• Fun Fact: rejoined the Summit League in 2020
No. 9 Omaha Mavericks
(7-22, 3-13 Summit League)
• Head coach: Carrie Banks
• Key players: Junior guard Grace Cave is averaging 12.4 ppg on 42% shooting; guard Aaliyah Stanley is averaging 11.8 ppg on 46% shooting.
• Team stats: Averaging 73.4 ppg and allowing 82.6 ppg.
• First-round matchup: Kansas City
• Fun Fact: Omaha was the sixth seed last year and made it to the championship game.
