No. 1 South Dakota State used a couple of steals and a handful of free throws to pull away from No. 4 South Dakota in the fourth quarter, grabbing a 76-63 win over its in-state rival.
Nicole Avila-Ambrosi opened the scoring for USD with one off the glass on a short shot clock.
Madison Mathiowetz and Tori Nelson tallied the first points for SDSU. Brooklyn Meyer quickly went to work in the paint to put the Jacks up 6-5 halfway into the first quarter. Avila-Ambrosi answered with a triple, and Tori Nelson answered right back. USD went into the media timeout up 10-9.
The first two minutes out of the break were scoreless for both teams until Paige Meyer netted two free throws for the Jacks. Mesa Byom went to work in the paint on the following possession to put SDSU up 14-10. Larkins broke the scoring drought for USD. The first quarter closed with SDSU up 16-14.
Olivia Kieffer kissed the glass to bring USD within one, but Ellie Colbeck answered with an SDSU trey. Paige Meyer drove the lane and scored on the next possession, prompting the USD coaching staff to call a timeout.
Brooklyn Meyer and Paige Meyer each scored in the paint out of the break to give SDSU a 31-20 lead, its largest of the game at that point. The Jacks held the Yotes scoreless for four minutes and 20 seconds in the second frame. Larkins broke the scoreless streak, bringing the Yotes back within 11 points. Two Tori DePerry foul shots and a Carley Duffney trey cur into the Jackrabbit lead.
Brooklyn Meyer added to her first half total with a layup, and USD hit one at the buzzer. SDSU led 37-30 heading into the locker room.
Out of the break, Duffney drained a triple for USD to make it a six-point game. The early third quarter was basket-for-basket until a four minute scoring drought. Mathiowetz broke it at the quarter buzzer to put SDSU back up 10, 57-47. At the end of the third, points in the paint were in favor of SDSU, 30-20.
Two minutes into the fourth, SDSU worked up to a 15-point lead. USD went on a run and got back within 10, by way of Alexi Hempe.
At 66-58, USD took advantage of an empty Jackrabbit possession, drawing a foul in the lane. Larkins made one of her two free-throw attempts to make it a seven-point game.
USD pulled within five just over the two-minute mark, but Ellie Colbeck stretched the lead with a triple. A timely defensive rebound from Brooklyn Meyer put the ball back in the hands of SDSU. Byom put the Jacks up by 10 at the line, and Paige Meyer followed with a steal seconds later. After a foul, Meyer drained her free throws to put the Jacks up 12.
Larkins cut the lead back to 10 with a minute to go, and the Yotes sent Paige Meyer back to the line, where she made one of two. She then notched another steal on the next Coyote possession and scored on the fast break to put SDSU up 13 with 51 seconds remaining.
Brooklyn Meyer praised SDSU when talking about being able to contribute and breaking Macy Miller’s sophomore single-season scoring record (527).
“It’s just been special. I’m so lucky to have the teammates and the coaches that I do around me.”
Coach Aaron Johnston echoed sentiments about Brooklyn Meyer and continued by mentioning Mesa Byom.
“Her rebounding is noticeable… she challenges shots. Mesa’s free throws late there, when they started fouling, were really important. It’s nice to have a fourth-year player that’s, you know, as good as Mesa.”
Paige Meyer and Brooklyn Meyer combined for 41 points and seven rebounds to lead the Jacks.
USD Coach Kayla Karius spoke to the performance by Avila-Ambrosi today.
“She was just really aggressive, got to the rim a few times. You could see the confidence come out a little bit more in her today… she’s taking advantage of every last opportunity.”
She also commented on holding out hope for more basketball.
“I think this group deserves another chance to be together out there on the floor.”
Avila-Ambrosi led the Yotes with 16 points, while Grace Larkins followed with 15 and Carley Duffney tallied 12.
USD finishes its season 9-7 in the conference, and 21-12 overall.
No. 1 SDSU will face No. 2 North Dakota State/No. 3 Oral Roberts at 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network Tuesday, March 12th.