March 2, 2014

Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D.--Megan Waytashek scored a game-high 18 points and Mariah Clarin and Gabby Boever added 14 points each to lead South Dakota State in a 99-88 win against South Dakota Sunday at the DakotaDome in the regular season finale for both teams.

The Jackrabbits (22-8) improved to 13-1 in conference play and will be the top seed in the Summit League Tournament, which runs March 8-11 in Sioux Falls. They will play the winner of South Dakota and Western Illinois, which meet in a No. 4 vs. No. 5 game at noon on March 9.

The Coyotes (16-13, 7-7) placed all five starters in double figures, but lost for the second time in 13 home games this season. Raeshel Contreras made four three-pointers and scored 18 points. Lisa Loeffler and Polly Harrington had 16 points each. Nicole Seekamp scored 15 and Tia Hemiller tallied 11.

South Dakota State shot 51 percent from the floor, made 8 of 14 three-pointers and 35 of 44 free throws. Freshman Clarissa Ober came off the bench to score a season-high 12 points. Ober made all five shots she took which included two three-pointers.

South Dakota trailed 47-42 at halftime, but scored eight of the first 10 points of the second half. Loeffler hit a tripled that put the Coyotes ahead 53-51 three minutes into the half. South Dakota State answered with a bucket by Waytashek and three's from Ober and Tara Heisler to retake a six-point advantage. The Coyotes never drew within four points the rest of the way.

South Dakota made its first 22 free throws and finished 25 of 28 from the stripe. The Coyotes shot 45 percent from the field and were 7 of 17 from beyond the arc.