OMAHA, Neb. – Ellie Thompson (23) and Madison Guebert (21) combined for 44 points but the South Dakota State women's basketball team suffered an 83-82 loss to Omaha after Marissa Preston banked in a 3-pointer from the right wing at the buzzer during Summit Leauge action Saturday afternoon at Baxter Arena.
Clarissa Ober and Kerri Young added 16 points apiece for the Jackrabbits (16-5, 7-2), who are still tied for first in the league standings with South Dakota – which lost 86-78 at home to Western Illinois. Ober grabbed nine rebounds and Young dished out five assits.
Omaha (11-11, 4-5), which sank 16 3-point goals on 29 attempts, was led by Michaela Dapprich's 17 points. Preston added 15 points.
The Jackrabbits, who trailed 40-31 at halftime, where behind 57-45 with 4:15 to play in the third quarter. Guebert made two 3-pointers to lead the Jacks' comeback. Thompson (nine) and Guebert (eight) combined for 17 points in the third quarter to bring the Jacks within six, 63-57, heading to the fourth.
Omaha took a 66-57 lead after its first fourth-quarter possession. The Jackrabbits then went on a 13-0 run, taking a 70-66 lead when Guebert made her fifth 3-pointer of the game with 5:13 remaining.
However, Omaha pulled even at 74-all. Thompson and Young scored back-to-back baskets for a 78-74 lead. The Mavericks cut the lead to 79-78 when Mikaela Shaw sank 1-of-2 foul shots with 23.6 seconds remaining. After being fouled on the rebound, Ober sank two free throws with 21.8 seconds left for an 81-78 lead.
Young made one free throw with 4.9 seconds left for an 82-80 lead. However, the second shot went awry, setting the stage for Omaha's game-winning shot.
SDSU plays host to North Dakota State on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Notes: Thompson tied a career high for points. … The 16 3-pointers by Omaha were the most given up by SDSU in a game in school history. The previous record was 14 by Creighton Nov. 18, 2014.
