Brookings, S.D. – South Dakota State used a strong second half to outlast the Gophers women's basketball team 70-62 on Thursday in the third round of the WNIT.
The Jackrabbits (25-9), who shot just 24 percent from the field in the first half and trailed by one at halftime, outscored the Gophers 16-7 in the first 6½ minutes of the second half to take control.
After the Gophers pulled within three points with 6:21 left, the Jackrabbits made three three-pointers and were 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in the final six minutes to improve to 17-0 at home this season.
The announced crowd at Frost Arena was 3,320, a season high, and SDSU improved to 5-1 all-time against the Gophers.
The Jackrabbits will meet Indiana at home at 2 p.m. Sunday in the WNIT quarterfinals. Indiana edged Northwestern 66-65 on Thursday.
Steph Paluch scored 17 points and Tara Heiser scored 14 to lead the Jackrabbits
The Gophers were led by Amanda Zahui B., who had 26 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, and Rachel Banham, who scored 25 points, all but two in the second half.
Banham had 16 points in the final five minutes, trying to rally her team.
