BROOKINGS – A big third quarter propelled the South Dakota State women's basketball team to a 60-50 win over Montana State in its home opener and improved to 2-2 on the season.

The Bobcats (3-1) got out to an early 7-2 lead in the first quarter when SDSU went on a 10-0 run to take a 12-7 lead and led 14-10 at the end of the quarter. The Jacks would increase their lead to seven in the second quarter and lead 27-22 at halftime.

It was a sloppy first half as each team had 11 turnovers. SDSU caught fire in the third quarter. The Jacks shot 60% in the quarter and outscored the Bobcats 24-7 to lead 51-29 heading into the fourth quarter.

“When we moved the ball there in that third quarter and really cut and pass and play together, we were really hard to guard. That’s the kind of quarter we want to try and build on,” SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston said.

MSU outplayed SDSU in the final quarter, but dug themselves too big of a hole. The Bobcats outscored the Jacks 21-9 in the fourth as SDSU cooled down and shot 1-9 in the final quarter.

Paiton Burckhard led the Jacks with 15 points and four rebounds. Tagyn Larson had 14 points and four rebounds. Tori Neslon had nine points and four rebounds and Tylee Irwin had eight points and six rebounds..

SDSU shot 38.5% from the field for the game and 25.9% from three. MSU shot 28.6% from the field and 18.8% from three. The Jacks shot 13-25 from the free throw line.

“We need to make some free throws,” Johnston said. “I don’t know what else to say. That’s just a fact. Our team is going to know that and hear that.  Not in a negative way, but that’s a reality. You can’t continue to miss as many free throws as we have the first games.”

Up next, the Jacks will stay at home and will take on Wyoming Saturday at 6 p.m. at Frost Arena.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 60, MONTANA STATE 50

Montana State (3-1)

Fallyn Freije 4-15 2-4 11, Oliana Squires 3-13 2-4 10, Darian White 2-6 5-5 9, Blaire Braxton 2-7 2-2 7, Kola Bad Bear 2-3 1-2 5, Madeline Smith 1-1 0-0 2, Gabby Mocchi 1-2 0-0 2, Tori Martell 1-3 0-0 2, Madison Jackson 0-3 2-2 2, Martha Kuderer 0-4 1-2 1, Sidney Zieske 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-57 15-21 50.

South Dakota State (2-2)

Paiton Burckhard 3-6 9-11 15, Tagyn Larson 6-9 0-2 14, Tori Nelson 3-3 1-4 9, Tylee Irwin 3-11 1-2 8, Rylie Cascio Jensen 1-5 2-4 5, Myah Selland 2-5 0-0 4, Sydney Stapleton 1-4 0-0 3, Kallie Theisen 1-3 0-0 2, Lindsey Theuninck 0-6 0-2 0. Totals 20-52 13-25 60.

Halftime – 27-22 SDSU. Three-point field goals – MSU 3-16 (Squires 2-6, Freije 1-4, White 0-1, Mocchi 0-1, Martell 0-2, Kuderer 0-2), SDSU 7-27 (Nelson 2-2, Larson 2-3, Stapleton 1-4, Irwin 1-5, Cascio Jensen 1-5, Selland 0-3, Theuninck 0-5). Rebounds – MSU 40 (White 7), SDSU 44 (Irwin 7). Assists – MSU 11 (White 3), SDSU 12 (Selland 3). Steals – MSU 11 (Squires 3), SDSU 7 (Irwin 2). Blocks – MSU 1 (Braxton), SDSU 7 (Larson 3). Turnovers – MSU 20, SDSU 17. Total fouls – MSU 17, SDSU 17. Technical fouls – none. A – 1,596