BROOKINGS, SD – The University of Mary women's basketball team had their hands full as they took on NCAA division I South Dakota State Jackrabbits in their season opening exhibition game. The defending Summit League champs took down the Marauders by a score of 77-46. The Jackrabbits have posted 20 win seasons in eleven of the last twelve years and were an 8 seed in last seasons NCAA tournament, falling to Villanova in round one.
The Marauders kept things interesting early, jumping out to an early lead thanks to a pair of three pointers by
Lauren Rotunda and
Cassie Askvig. UMary was able to keep things close, only trailing 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Christal Hearn, Askvig, and Rotunda all knocked down shots from behind the arc in the second quarter but those nine points would be the only points the Marauders would be able to rally together during the quarter. The Jackrabbits would throw together 20 points to go into half with a 35-22 lead.
South Dakota State started the second half on a 14-2 run. UMary would trail 54-31 at the end of the third.
The Marauders played their best offensive quarter of the game in the fourth quarter putting up 15 points against the Jackrabbits stout defense. The Marauders knocked down yet another three, three pointers with
Carly Kottsick,
Coral Gillette, and
Tonya Dvorak all recording one of their own.
Gabbie Bohl would be responsible for the other six points the Marauders put up in the final quarter of play.
Several Marauders saw playing time in front of a large crowd of 1,341 people inside Frost Arena. 13 Marauders in total saw the court against SDSU with
Christal Hearn leading the way in minutes with 33.
The Marauders were led by NSIC preseason player of the year
Gabbie Bohl. The junior recorded a team high of 13 points and seven rebounds. Bohl proved that it does not matter who she is paired up against, she will be a force to be wrecking with.
Tonya Dvorak shot 50% from the field on the day, recording seven points and two steals.
Rotunda, Askvig, and Gillette would record six points each. Askvig tied Bohl for a team high with seven boards.
Hearn led all Marauders with two assists to go along with her five points.
The size and power of the division I Jackrabbits proved to be a handful for the Marauders. UMary would be outscored 52-8 in the paint during the game.
Turnovers caused problems for UMary as well with SDSU outscoring the Marauders 30-8 in points off turnovers.
The Marauders outshot their division I foe from behind the arc, recording nine three pointers compared to SDSU's five.
The Marauders will host a second exhibition match against Concordia College on November 5 at 6 pm in the McDowell Activity Center. They open regular season play on November 14 at 6 pm against Yellowstone Christian College in the McDowell Activity Center.
#Marauders#
