The South Dakota State University women's basketball team maintained its two-game lead in the Summit League standings with a 65-43 victory over Southern Utah in the 40th Annual Pork Classic Saturday afternoon at Frost Arena.
SDSU improved to 16-7 overall and 11-1 in league play. Southern Utah dropped to 5-18 overall, 1-11 in The Summit League.
The Jackrabbits never trailed in posting their seventh consecutive victory. After Southern Utah tied the game at 2-all, SDSU reeled off a 12-2 run, holding the Thunderbirds scoreless for more than seven minutes.
Although SUU shot a higher percentage than the Jackrabbits in a ragged first half, SDSU made 10 more free throws (12-2) and committed seven fewer turnovers (14-7). The Jackrabbits also received solid contributions off their bench to maintain a double-digit advantage through most of the half. Ashley Eide's basket to beat the first-half buzzer gave SDSU its largest lead of the half at 30-16.
SDSU extended the lead to 20 points — 38-18 — early in the second half on back-to-back three-pointers by Jennie Sunnarborg and Steph Paluch. The Thunderbirds could get no closer than 14 points the rest of the way.
Eide led the Jackrabbits with 11 points, while Sunnarborg added 10 — all in the second half. SDSU also received nine points from Rachel Walters and eight by Katie Lingle in reserve roles. The Jackrabbit bench accounted for 33 of the team's 65 points.
The Jackrabbits ended the day 18-of-47 from the field, 38.3 percent, including 7-of-20 from three-point range. At the line, SDSU converted 22-of-32 attempts for 68.8 percent.
Southern Utah was 16-of-42 from the field, 38.1 percent, including a 2-for-6 mark from three-point range. The Thunderbirds made 9-of-14 free throw attempts, 64.3 percent.
Andrea Jones paced SUU with 13 points, while DJ Norman added 11 off the bench.
Rebounding was even at 32. Kimie Hawkins and Andrea Jones each pulled down six boards to lead the Thunderbirds, while the Jackrabbits were led by freshman Mariah Clarin with five.
SDSU closes out its homestand Monday night, hosting second-place Oral Roberts in a 7 p.m. matchup at Frost Arena.
