Jacks Take on No. 10/11 Penn State
BROOKINGS, SD — After a week-long layoff for Finals Week, the South Dakota State University women’s basketball team returns to action Sunday afternoon with a matchup at nationally ranked Penn State.
Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central time at the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State campus in University Park, Pa.
The Jackrabbits enter Sunday’s matchup on a three-game winning streak. In going undefeated thus far in the month of December, SDSU has improved to 6-4 overall. The Jackrabbits defeated Northern Iowa, 61-49, in their last outing, Dec. 8 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Penn State, meanwhile, is 8-2 overall following a 60-41 victory at Virginia Tech on Dec. 12. The Lady Lions, who are ranked 10th in this week’s USA Today Coaches Poll and 11th in the latest Associated Press Top 25, have won consecutive games since a 67-52 setback at second-ranked Connecticut on Dec. 6. Penn State’s only other loss was at nationally ranked Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 29.
THE SERIES: Sunday’s game will mark the first-ever meeting between South Dakota State and Penn State in women’s basketball. The Jackrabbits will be taking on their second Big Ten Conference opponent – and second ranked opponent – of the season in Sunday’s contest. SDSU scored an upset win over then-15th-ranked Nebraska, 60-55, on Nov. 18 at Frost Arena behind a season-high 26 points from Ashley Eide.
Since moving to the Division I ranks at the start of the 2004-05 season, the Jackrabbits have posted a 7-7 record against Big Ten opponents. Following are the Jackrabbits’ records against Big Ten foes:
• Illinois 1-0.
• Indiana 1-0.
• Iowa 0-2.
• Minnesota 2-0.
• Nebraska 1-1.
• Purdue 0-3.
• Wisconsin 2-1.
VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS: With their 60-55 victory over Nebraska on Nov. 18, the Jackrabbits ended a seven-game losing streak against nationally ranked opponents. Since moving to Division I at the start of the 2004-05 season, the Jackrabbits have faced 16 nationally ranked opponents and compiled a 3-13 record against ranked opponents. Four of the games were played in the NCAA Tournament – versus Baylor in 2009, at Oklahoma in 2010, at Xavier (Ohio) in 2011 and at Purdue (Ind.) last season.
The Jackrabbits’ previous win over a ranked opponent was a 65-55 victory at 25th-ranked Minnesota on Dec. 9, 2008. SDSU’s other win over a ranked foe was a 67-63 victory over No. 19 Southern California on Nov. 17, 2006, at Frost Arena.
A LOOK AHEAD: The next Frost Arena appearance for the Jackrabbits is slated for Dec. 18, when SDSU hosts Delaware State in a 7 p.m. contest.
Courtesy: South Dakota State University
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