The No. 10-seeded Jackrabbits upset No. 7 seed Oklahoma State 74-68 in the first round of Women’s March Madness at Gampel Pavillion on Saturday, setting up a game against No. 2 UConn on Monday in the Storrs Regional.
South Dakota State (30-3) erased a 31-24 first-half deficit, scoring 28 points in the third quarter to take a 52-50 lead into the final period. The Jackrabbits never gave the lead back.
Junior forward Brooklyn Meyer led South Dakota State with 19 points, including 5-for-5 on free throws. Junior guard Madison Mathiowetz had 17 points. Oklahoma State sophomore guard Stailee Heard had a game-high 20 points with 10 rebounds.
It’s the second time in three years Oklahoma State (25-7) has been eliminated in the first round. The Cowgirls lost to No. 9 seed Miami (Fla.) in 2023.
South Dakota State improved to 5-8 in first-round NCAA Tournament games. Its last tournament win came in 2023, when it beat No. 8 seed Southern Cal in overtime.
South Dakota State vs. UConn next up in women’s NCAA bracket
South Dakota State’s game with UConn in the second round will feature two of the longest-tenured coaches in women’s college basketball. Huskies coach Geno Auriemma is in his 40th season at UConn, and SDSU’s Aaron Johnston is in his 25th season coaching the Jackrabbits.
UConn beat No. 15 Arkansas State 103-34 in the first round Saturday. It was the 12th time the Huskies have exceeded 100 points in their NCAA Tournament opener, according to ESPN.
