Jackrabbits wrap up nonconference schedule in Wyoming

Landon Dierks, Sports Reporter

After going 2-1 over a three-game stretch that included two ranked opponents, the South Dakota State women’s basketball team heads west for a game that will conclude the Jacks’ nonconference slate for 2018-19.

Conference play for the Jackrabbits starts Dec. 28.

On Tuesday, Dec. 18, SDSU traveled to Bozeman, Montana to take on the Bobcats of Montana State. The Jacks downed the Bobcats 88-67.

Tylee Irwin and Madison Guebert led the way for the Jacks both scoring 18 points.

Before the Jackrabbit women can enjoy their brief holiday break, they will take on the Wyoming Cowgirls.

Wyoming

At face value, a Dec. 20 trip to face a 6-2 Wyoming team that is undefeated at home would appear to be a tall task, but a closer look reveals the Jacks may be the ones putting the opposition to the test.

The Cowgirls have not faced a team ranked in the AP top 25 or the EspnW mid-major poll, so SDSU (ranked No. 2 in the latest mid-major poll) will be Wyoming’s best opponent to date.

Wyoming is led by a pair of senior forwards in Bailee Cotton and Marta Gomez.

Together, the frontcourt duo is averaging more than 27 points a game to go along with 13 rebounds.

“Wyoming has great balance offensively,” Johnston said. “Their good outside shooting spreads you out and opens up the inside and they’ll hurt you both ways.”

Wyoming has beaten both Montana State (66-58) and fellow Summit League foe Denver (78-74).

Last Week’s Recap

Drake

SDSU welcomed then-No. 21 Drake to Frost Arena Saturday, Dec. 8 and made the most of an opportunity to get a win over a quality opponent in front of the home crowd.

Behind a 21-point performance from senior guard Madison Guebert and exceptional play from frontcourt starters Tagyn Larson and Myah Selland, the Jacks upset the nationally-ranked Bulldogs 80-71.

Oregon

In what Oregon head coach Kelly Graves described an “amazing atmosphere” inside Frost Arena, SDSU played host to the No. 7 ranked Ducks Wednesday, Dec. 12 with more than 2.500 people in attendance.

SDSU led for more than half of the contest but failed to close out the game as the Ducks avoided the upset with an 87-79 win.

Savannah State

Off a short turnaround from the Oregon game, the Jacks came out with a dominant performance against Savannah State on Friday, Dec. 14.

SDSU never trailed and blew out the Lady Tigers 97-49.

Early in the first quarter, senior guard Macy Miller broke the SDSU women’s basketball scoring record, eclipsing 1,900 points for her career by the end of the night.

“It was great to have her break the record at home,” Johnston said. “To have her break the record is quite simply amazing. There can only be one all-time leading scorer in program history and now Macy is it.”