By Andrew Holtan
The Brookings Register
OMAHA – A huge night from Brooklyn Meyer led the South Dakota State women to a 68-52 win over Creighton in the season opener on Monday night.
Meyer had 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five blocks in the victory.
It was 11-11 five minutes into the game and the Jacks went on a 7-2 run to end the first quarter. SDSU pushed the lead to 24-15 49 seconds into the second quarter. Creighton cut the lead to 32-30 with just under two minutes left in the half but the Jacks went on a 6-0 run and went into halftime with a 38-30 lead.
The Jacks extended the lead to double digits for the first time two and half minutes into the third and led 42-30 with seven minutes to go in the quarter. Creighton then used a 12-4 run to cut the lead to 46-42. It was then 49-47 with 38 seconds left after an and-one from Kiani Love, but Emilee Fox banked in a desperation three at the buzzer to give SDSU a 52-47 lead heading into the fourth.
The two teams traded baskets for the first six minutes of the fourth. Then back-to-back lay ups from Maggie Hartwig, a three from Madison Mathiowetz and a layup from Meyer put the game away for the Jacks as they led 76-60 with 1:10 to go.
SDSU shot 53.3% from the field and was 6-of-13 from three. The Jacks were 8-9 at the free throw line.
Katie Vasecka had 18 points and was 8-12 from the field. Mathiowetz had nine points and Hartwig had eight points and 12 rebounds.
Creighton shot 33.3% from the field and was 8-29 from beyond the arc. Ava Zediker had 17 points and five rebounds to lead the Bluejays. Kennedy Towsend had 14 points and six rebounds and Lockett had nine points and six assists.
The Jacks will have their home opener on Friday as they host Rice at 7 p.m.
