- SDSU extends NCAA-record conference win streak to 57 games
- Four players score double digits in balanced offensive effort
- Jackrabbits face St. Thomas/North Dakota in Saturday semifinal
The No. 25 ranked South Dakota State women's basketball team opened their Summit League Tournament campaign with an authoritative 87-67 victory over Omaha on Thursday, extending their unprecedented NCAA conference winning streak to 57 consecutive games. Brooklyn Meyer led the offensive charge with 16 points, while Paige Meyer and reserve Madysen Vlastuin combined for 24 points off the bench.
This marks SDSU's fifth consecutive season as Summit League top seed, having gone undefeated in conference play for three straight regular seasons. The Jackrabbits' 27-3 overall record includes non-conference losses only to Duke, Georgia Tech, and current No. 1 Texas - all NCAA Tournament-bound programs.
Regional Impact: SDSU's sustained success has transformed Sioux Falls into a women's basketball hub, with tournament games generating $2.3M in local economic impact annually according to Chamber of Commerce data. The program's Midwest-focused recruiting strategy has landed 78% of roster players from within 300 miles of Brookings.
Omaha's Grace Cave delivered a game-high 20 points in the losing effort, but the Mavericks couldn't overcome SDSU's 52% shooting from the field. The Jackrabbits' trademark defensive pressure forced 18 turnovers, converting them into 24 fast-break points.
With Thursday's win, SDSU advances to Saturday's semifinal where they'll face either St. Thomas or North Dakota. The Jackrabbits have won 17 consecutive games overall since their December loss to Texas, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 22.7 points during this stretch.
Strategic Advantage: Analysts credit SDSU's success to three key factors:
- Homegrown talent development (9 of 15 players from South Dakota)
- NCAA-leading 89.2% free throw accuracy
- Second-chance scoring averaging 18.4 PPG
As the Jackrabbits pursue their third consecutive Summit League Tournament title, their 57-game conference win streak now stands as the longest active Division I streak in any sport. Saturday's semifinal tips off at 12 PM CT at Denny Sanford Premier Center.