SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—South Dakota senior guard Nicole Seekamp scored a game-high 22 points, but the Jackrabbits put three in double digits to overcome the top-seeded Coyotes 61-55 in front of a record championship game crowd of 8,647 inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Tuesday.
 
South Dakota State (26-6) advances to its seventh NCAA Tournament in the last eight years. As the regular season champions, South Dakota (26-6) is guaranteed a spot in the WNIT. Seekamp and senior guard Kelly Stewart earned spots on the 2016 Summit League All-Tournament Team.
 
"We were able to win twice and they beat us once," USD head coach Amy Williams said in the post-game press conference. "We just lost at the wrong time."
 
"I'm thrilled to be able to coach this team again. That's the best thing about this day. It's a disappointing day, but it won't be the last time I coach this team."
 
Seekamp finished 8-of-17 from the field with six made free throws. She also tallied four steals and three assists. Stewart was also in double figures with 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.
 
Jackrabbit guard Macy Miller recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Madison Guebert added 14 points. Forward Ellie Thompson totaled 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Forward Clarissa Ober also had three blocks to go with seven points and nine rebounds.
 
In a back-and-forth game with few rallies, five Coyotes contributed on a 13-2 run that started midway through the first quarter and ended when Ober made a layup with 7:04 to go in the second. Senior guard Tia Hemiller dribbled up and hit a three from the right wing with 2:45 to play in the first as South Dakota took its first lead of the game at 11-10. Sophomore center Kate Liveringhouse's jumper with 7:50 remaining in the second gave South Dakota its largest lead of the game at 18-12.
 
Five lead changes in the first half ended with South Dakota ahead 27-26 at the break. Dramatic play continued in the second half with four ties and three more lead changes.
 
South Dakota State pulled away with a 21-17 fourth quarter. A steal and coast-to-coast fast break layup by Seekamp with 4:35 remaining brought the Coyotes within three, the closest they would get through the remainder of the game. After Seekamp's layup, the Jackrabbits went on a 12-2 run over the next three minutes. South Dakota rallied with a 6-2 run in the final minute, but could not close on the 10-point deficit.
 
The Summit League Tournament set an all-time record for combined women's session attendance at 28,872.
 
All-Tournament Team
Madison Guebert, South Dakota State
Macy Miller, South Dakota State (MVP)
Nicole Seekamp, South Dakota
Mikaela Shaw, Omaha
Kelly Stewart, South Dakota