Jackrabbits open postseason play on Saturday

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Winner of 13 of its last 15 games, the South Dakota State women’s basketball team (23-6 overall, 12-2 Summit League) is the No. 2 seed in this year’s Summit League Championship, to be played Saturday through Tuesday at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls.

SDSU begins its quest for an eighth Summit League tournament title in the last 10 years Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against No. 7 seed North Dakota State. If the Jackrabbits win Saturday, they will play a semifinal contest Monday at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday’s championship game is at 1 p.m.

All of South Dakota State’s Summit League Championship games will air on The Jackrabbits Sports Network with Scotty Kwas and Brad Peterson calling the action. The quarterfinal and semifinal games can be seen live on the Midco Sports Network and ESPN3. The championship game will air on ESPNU and WatchESPN.

Summit League Championship

South Dakota State is the No. 2 seed for the third time (2015, 2016) in the Summit League Championships. It sports a 22-2 (.916) championship record, the best winning percentage among current league members.

It has won at least one tournament game in eight of nine Summit League Championships it has been eligible for. The Jackrabbits have won seven tournament titles (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016), the most in league history.

SDSU has played in seven of nine title games and has won titles as the top seed (2009, 2012, 2013), second seed (2015, 2016) and third seed (2010, 2011).

The Jackrabbits are 3-0 against No. 7 seeds and 8-0 in quarterfinal games.

History in Sioux Falls

The Summit League Championship will be held at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls for the fourth time. The championship was held in the Sioux Falls Arena for the first six years, starting in 2009. The Jackrabbits were 15-1 in that arena.

Two of the SDSU’s Summit League Tournament titles were won in the PREMIER Center. It won the 2015 and 2016 titles as the No. 2 seed, defeating top-seeded South Dakota, 72-57, in 2015, and 61-55 in 2016.

Five Top Storylines

North Dakota State: The Jacks have won the last seven games and 16 of the last 17 overall meetings against North Dakota State, and holds a 48-39 all-time series advantage. State, which has eight regular-season sweeps of the Bison in the last 10 years (three straight), swept the Bison this season, 83-63, Jan. 6 in Frost and 85-64 Feb. 1, in Fargo. South Dakota State is 1-0 against NDSU in league postseason play (won 62-51, 2011 Summit League quarterfinals).

Defense: Defense has been a key element in the Jackrabbits’ success, as the team is 13-2 when holding an opponent to 70 points or less, including 11-1 in Summit League-only play. State has limited 18 of its 29 opponents to 65 or fewer points, including six to less than 50. South Dakota State has held 22 of its 29 opponents to a lower scoring output than they averaged coming into the game. Fourteen of 27 opponents were limited to single-digit scoring quarters, including six quarters against league teams.

Offense: SDSU head coach Aaron Johnston thinks this year’s team is his most offensive-minded squad. The Jackrabbits lead The Summit League in league-only scoring offense (83.5) and is second in overall games (78.4). In the last five games, the Jackrabbits are averaging 82.6 points per game and giving up just 61.6 an outing. SDSU ranks 24th in scoring offense and 16th in scoring margin (16.1) in the NCAA.

3-Point Shooting: State is one of the top teams in The Summit League in 3-point shooting, sinking 8.8 treys per game while shooting 36.6 percent. It ranks in the NCAA:

 18th in 3-point field goals made (255);

 19th in 3-point field goals per game (8.8);

 30th in 3-point field goals attempted (492); and

 36th in 3-point field goal percentage (36.6).

Leading the way are guards Madison Guebert and Macy Miller. The duo is shooting a combined 41.9 percent (128-305) this season. Guebert, who ranks fifth in career 3-pointers in the league and second at SDSU, is first in 3-pointers per game (2.9) in league-only games and Miller is tops in percentage (46.8) in overall games.

Balanced Scoring: The Jackrabbits are known for balance, playing an average of nine players per game. At least three Jackrabbits have scored in double digits in 20 of 29 games. They have had five or more scoring in double figures in five games and six or more twice. Four of the five starters have led State in scoring, including a team-best 20 times by Macy Miller. All five starters are shooting 40 percent or higher, led by Miller’s 50.3 shooting percentage.

Postseason Awards

South Dakota State had five Jackrabbits earn Summit League postseason awards.

Junior Macy Miller was named Summit League Player of the Year and joined junior Madison Guebert as first-team All-Summit League picks. Senior Ellie Thompson second-team accolades.

Sophomore Tagyn Larson was named Transfer of the Year and joined freshman Myah Selland on The Summit League All-Newcomer Team.

Noteworthy

Madison Guebert ranks fifth in free-throw percentage (92.0) in the NCAA statistics. ... In the last five games, three Jacks are averaging double figures, led by Macy Miller’s 17.8 ppg. ... Miller has scored 20 or more points 13 times. ... Already The Summit League’s all-time wins leader, head coach Aaron Johnston enters Saturday’s contest a game shy of fourth in career Summit League games coached.

A Quick Glance at South Dakota State

Eighteenth-year head coach Aaron Johnston’s probable starters for the North Dakota State game are:

- Alexis Alexander, point guard

- Madison Guebert, guard

- Macy Miller, guard

- Tagyn Larson, forward

- Ellie Thompson, forward

The starting lineup is 10-2 overall this season.

Summit League Player of the Year Macy Miller is currently SDSU’s and The Summit League’s leading scorer (18.2). She is second in league-only scoring (17.9). Madison Guebert averages 15.1 points per game and ranks fourth in overall and league scoring (16.1).

SDSU averages 78.4 points per game and limits foes to 62.4 points per outing.

On the boards, Tagyn Larson is SDSU’s leading rebounder, grabbing 5.8 caroms an outing. The Jackrabbits are outrebounding opponents by 7.3.

The Jackrabbits’ top 3-point threat is Guebert, who is sinking a league-leading 2.7 treys per game.

Miller is the Jacks’ top playmaker, dishing 3.2 assists per game.

The Jacks have a plus-1.3 assist to turnover ratio and 1.3 turnover margin.

SDSU is shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from 3-point range and 78.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Previewing North Dakota State

Picked by The Summit League to finish sixth in the league, North Dakota state (9-19, 2-12) finished seventh. The Bison, who started league play with four-straight losses and won just two league games against Fort Wayne.

North Dakota State averages 67.4 points per game and gives up 71.6.

The Bison are led offensively by Reilly Jacobson. The forward is averaging 11.3 points per game. Guard Sarah Jacobson averages 10.3 points per game.

Reilly Jacobson averages a team-leading 6.5 rebounds. The Bison are being outrebounded by 2.3 caroms a game.

Sarah Jacobson is dishing 4.0 assists per game and is NDSU’s top 3-point threat, sinking 42.0 percent (55-131) of her shots.

The Bison are shooting 42.4 percent from the field, 36.7 percent from 3-point range and 72.2 percent from the free-throw line.

This Year vs. the Bison

South Dakota State swept the season series with North Dakota State, winning 83-63 Jan. 6 in Brookings and 85-64 Feb. 1 in Fargo. The Jackrabbits shot 46.6 percent from the field, 31.1 percent from long range and 76.7 percent from the foul line.

State outrebounded NDSU by 21.0 in the two games and combined for 39 assists while committing 20 turnovers.

Madison Guebert averaged 16.0 points and shot 57.1 (12 for 21) percent from the field and sank four 3-pointers. Four Jackrabbits scored in double figures in the Brookings game and six in the Fargo contest.

North Dakota State Series

The longtime rivals at the NCAA Division II level in the North Central Conference meet Saturday for the 88th time. South Dakota State leads the series, 48-39.

SDSU leads the series in the Division-I era, holding a 25-4 advantage. The Bison ushered in the D-I era by sweeping the initial season series during the 2004-05 season. SDSU then won 10 consecutive meetings until NDSU recorded a 78-71 victory in the 2010-11 Summit League opener Dec. 4, 2010, at Frost Arena.

In six games against the Bison, Madison Guebert is shooting 50.0 percent from the field and scoring at a 12.0 clip. Macy Miller averages 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in six contests.

Photo from www.gojacks.com.