DENVER (Interstat) — Brooklyn Meyer scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead South Dakota State to a 71-55 victory over Denver in a Summit League women’s basketball game Saturday at Magness Arena. The Jackrabbits led wire-to-wire, building a 33-23 halftime advantage and extending it to 52-34 after three quarters. Madison Mathiowetz scored a game-high 24 points for South Dakota State. Denver’s Coryn Watts led all scorers with 26 points in the loss. South Dakota State improved to 22-6 overall. Denver fell to 10-18. An announced crowd of 632 attended the game.

DENVER (Interstat) — In a game defined by a stifling defensive effort and a dominant inside presence, the South Dakota State women’s basketball team methodically dispatched Denver 71-55 in a Summit League contest Saturday at Magness Arena. The visiting Jackrabbits never trailed, establishing control early and maintaining a double-digit lead for the final three quarters. The victory improved South Dakota State to 22-6 overall and solidified its position atop the conference standings. Denver fell to 10-18. The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the opening quarter, where South Dakota State’s defensive intensity set an irreversible tone. The Jackrabbits held the Pioneers to just 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting in the period while forcing six turnovers. This early struggle from the field, particularly from deep where Denver missed its first five 3-point attempts, dug a hole the Pioneers could not escape. South Dakota State’s 17-10 lead after one quarter quickly ballooned as the Jackrabbits continued to execute efficiently on offense and contest every shot on defense. South Dakota State’s offensive success was built on remarkable efficiency. The Jackrabbits shot 58.3% from the field, connecting on 28 of 48 attempts, including 9 of 18 from 3-point range. This sharp shooting contrasted starkly with Denver’s frigid 30.2% performance, as the Pioneers made just 19 of 63 shots and 9 of 33 from beyond the arc. The interior was commanded by South Dakota State’s Brooklyn Meyer. The 6-foot-2 junior from Larchwood, Iowa, was the game’s standout performer, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for a double-double in just 29 minutes. She added three blocks and two assists, anchoring the Jackrabbits at both ends. Her early layup off an assist from Hilary Behrens opened the scoring and set the stage for her dominant night. Complementing Meyer was a explosive scoring performance from guard Madison Mathiowetz. The sophomore from Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, poured in a game-high 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers. Her consistent scoring, particularly on pull-up jump shots, provided a perfect counterpoint to Meyer’s post play and kept the Denver defense stretched. Denver’s effort was led by the dynamic scoring of guard Coryn Watts. The Aurora, Colorado, native played 37 minutes and finished with 26 points, accounting for nearly half of her team’s total offense. She hit six 3-pointers, but her backcourt mate Victoria Baker struggled, scoring nine points on 3-of-15 shooting. Forward Brooke Murrell contributed eight points and seven rebounds for the Pioneers. Despite committing 22 turnovers compared to Denver’s 10, South Dakota State’s overwhelming advantages in field goal percentage and rebounding, where they held a 38-31 edge, rendered the giveaway discrepancy moot. The Jackrabbits also recorded seven steals and five blocks, further disrupting Denver’s offensive flow. South Dakota State’s offensive rating of 106.3 points per 100 possessions underscored its effective, high-percentage attack, while Denver’s rating of 81.2 highlighted a afternoon of difficult shots and missed opportunities. The win extends South Dakota State’s recent surge, marking its third consecutive victory following a 95-93 road win at Oral Roberts on Thursday. Denver, meanwhile, sees a brief two-game winning streak snapped as it continues to search for consistency in league play. The teams had met just over a month prior in Brookings, with South Dakota State securing a 90-44 victory. Saturday’s result, while closer, followed a similar pattern of Jackrabbit control. South Dakota State will look to continue its momentum on the road at North Dakota State on Wednesday. Denver will travel to face Omaha next Saturday in its next outing. An announced crowd of 632 attended the game at Magness Arena.

Preview: South Dakota State at Denver DENVER (Interstat) — The Summit League-leading South Dakota State Jackrabbits look to continue their dominant conference run when they visit the Denver Pioneers in a women’s basketball matchup Saturday at Magness Arena. South Dakota State (21-6, 11-1 Summit) enters on a seven-game winning streak, including a dramatic 95-93 road victory at Oral Roberts on Thursday. The Jackrabbits have been overpowering in league play, winning 10 of their 11 conference games by double digits. Their lone league loss was a 73-54 setback at South Dakota on Jan. 31. The Jackrabbits are led by star forward Brooklyn Meyer, who is playing at an elite level. She poured in a career-high 44 points in Thursday’s win over Oral Roberts, adding four assists and three blocks. Over her last seven games, Meyer is averaging 24.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting efficiently from the field. Denver (10-17, 3-9) snapped a six-game skid with a 79-63 road win at Missouri-Kansas City on Wednesday. The Pioneers have struggled for consistency but are led by the backcourt play of Coryn Watts, who scored 25 points with seven assists in the win over KC. Watts averages a team-leading 18.2 points in conference play. The previous meeting this season was not competitive, with South Dakota State routing Denver 90-44 in Brookings on Jan. 15. The Jackrabbits have won 15 straight in the series. For Denver to challenge, they must find a way to contain Meyer inside and generate offense beyond Watts. South Dakota State’s balance, with Madison Mathiowetz (23 points Thursday) and others providing support, has been overwhelming for most Summit foes. The Jackrabbits are allowing just 55.8 points per game in league play. Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon in Denver. South Dakota State’s next game is at North Dakota State on Feb. 25, while Denver travels to Omaha on Feb. 28.