2 Seed UConn Huskies 10 Seed SDST Jack Rabbits
32-3 (18-0) 30-3 (16-0)
Date: Monday, March 24nd 2025
Time: TBD
Where: Gampel Pavilion
Storrs, Ct
TV: TBD
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SOUTH DAKOTA STATE | UCONN
First Matchup Between these two Schools.
South Dakota State Season to Date
This has been one of the best season that SDST has had in their history. Only the third 30 win season, they were undefeated in the Summitt League. They did reach the Sweet Sixteen in 2018-19. And won the WNIT in 2021-22.
Their three loses were all OOC. They lost to at the time No 16 Duke 75-71 and Georgia Tech 71-57 in back to back games. They did beat at the time No. 21 Creighton 76-71. Their only other loss was a blowout against at the time No. 6 Texas 103-57. That was their last loss of the season. They are now on a 17 game winning streak.
They won their opening game in the NCAA tournament. As a 10 seed, they upset 7 seed Oklahoma State beating the Cowgirls 74-68.
Brooklyn Meyer scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds as No. 10 South Dakota State rallied to beat No. 7 Oklahoma State 74-68 in Storrs, Conn.
Madison Mathiowetz added 17 points for South Dakota State (30-3), which will face No. 2 seed Connecticut in the second round. Paige Meyer scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished six assists.
South Dakota State trailed by seven at halftime but outscored Oklahoma State 50-37 in the second half.
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Comparative Team Statistics
(leader in bold)
UConn South Dakota State
81.5 PPG 76.3
51.3 Defensive PPG 61.6
30.2 Scoring Margin 14.7
51.1 Field Goal % 48.2
34.5 Defensive FG% 38.6
38.0 Three Point % 36.8
28.7 Defensive 3PT% 29.7
76.5 Free Throw % 71.9
37.3 Rebounds/game 39.2
6.8 Rebounding Margin 8.0
21.1 Assists per game 16.8
10.8 Turnover per game 12.8
2.0 Assists/TO ratio 1.3
11.3 Steals per game 5.9
4.2 Blocks per game 4.0
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UCONN
The player and coaches names for both teams
are clickable to see their Bios
are clickable to see their Bios
UConn Starters
UConn Injuries
Had surgery on her ankle. Out for the season
Had surgery on 12/16. Out for the Season
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
South Dakota State Starters
South Dakota State Bench
Game Analysis
South Dakota State has always been a tough out. Credit goes to their head coach Aaron Johnston. He has been at SDST after taking over for Nancy Neiber in 2000. Since then he has a record of 571-185 overall and 278-58 in conference record. Not too shabby. Watching him today, he has a terrific system and the kids love him and buy into it. This is one of the only teams that UConn will play that doesn't have a transfer from a Div I team in their lineup.
Right now they really only have a 7 player rotation but even with that, they only get production from four of their starters. Not particularly tall or quick reply on smart play and teamwork.
6'2" Junior Forward Brooklyn Meyer is the leading scorer on the team. She is averaging 17.4 PPG and 5.9 RPG. She is second on the team in steals and blocks. She is shooting a terrific 63.2% from the field and gets to the FT line 5 times per game shooting at a 71% clip. Against Okahoma State she played only 28 minutes due to foul trouble but still managed 19 points and 8 rebounds. She had 2 assists and 2 blocks. And went 5-5 from the FT line.
Hallie Timmer, a 5'11" RS Junior Guard, is second on the team in scoring at 13.1 PPG. She takes the most three pointers on the team at 4.5 attempts per game and hits them at 41.1%. She is s real threat from deep. Against Oklahoma State she played 38 minutes and scored 11 points going 1-3 on threes.
Paige Meyer (no relation to Brooklyn) is the third leading scorer at 12.2 PPG. She also gets to the FT line a lot, almost 4 each game and hits them at 81%. The point guard on the team, she averages a team leading 5.5 APG and only 3 TO per game. Another very good three point shooter at 36.8%. Against Oklahoma State she played all 40 minutes and scored 16 points and had 6 assists and only 1 turnover.
5'10" Junior Guard Madison Mathiowetz averages 8.9 PPG. She shoots the three ball at a 37.5% rate. Solid. She led the team with 17 points against Oklahoma State in 34 minutes. She added 4 rebounds 2 assists and 1 steal.
The final starter is Mesa Byom, a 6'2" Senior Forward. In 20 MPG she averages 6.6 PPG and 7.0 RPG on the season. Against Oklahoma State in 20 minutes she only scored 4 points but grabbed 12 rebounds.
Off the bench, Katie Vaseka, a 6'2" freshman averages 8.7 PPG. She doesn't take many threes but hits them at a hit rate of 43.2%. She had 5 points going 1-2 on threes against Oklahoma State in 25 minutes. Kallie Theisen, a 6'1" RS Senior Forward plays 16.1 MPG and averages 3.2 PPG. She only played 11 minutes against Oklahoma State.
SDST plays what looks like a matchup zone. Sometimes a switching man-to-man. They do a nice job with it. Not the quickest team, they need to play great team defense. They did late against Okalhoma Satate. Their offense during the regular season realizes on the three points a great deal. They averaged over 20 attempts per game and hits them at 36.8%, one of the best in the country. 13th in the country. They showed they can win without hitting multiple threes as they were only 2-9 against Oklahoma State. They were able to get to the rim and score several times on offensive rebounds and put back.
Just a solid team that can give UConn a tough game if the Huskies don't play hard and smart.
Prediction
Perspective. South Dakota State has had a terrific season. But their SOS is 91 and their conference SOS is even worse. And those games were the majority of their season as well as the weaker OOC games. So their numbers are impacted by that.
UConn is a different animal for them to be playing. They haven't come close to seeing a defense like UConn played except for their Texas matchup and they lost that one by 40+ points. The Huskies are focused. They are single minded. Playing the best they can.
That being said, SDST is a very disciplined team and I don't think they will be rattled by the Huskies. No 40 point wipeout in this game. But it won't be that close.
UConn by 20+
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