Postseason WNIT | 4/2/2022 5:13:57 PM

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 82, SETON HALL 50

BROOKINGS, SD — South Dakota State started out flexing all the options on its deep roster of shooters, taking 22-point halftime lead and rolling on to the 2022 Postseason WNIT championship in front of a sellout crowd of 5,263 fans at Frost Arena.

The Jackrabbits (29-9) found their rhythm early, working the ball inside and out, while also playing impressive defense that held the Pirates (24-13) to 27 percent shooting from the field overall. South Dakota State also worked its way to a huge advantage in rebounds, leading that stat, 57-32.

Five players reached double figures in scoring for SDSU, with Kallie Theisen leading the way with16 points and 11 rebounds. Haleigh Timmer added 14 points, Paiton Burckhard scored 13 points and Myah Selland came through with 12 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Tori Nelson scored 11 points.

For Seton Hall, Sidney Cooks scored 14 points and had nine rebounds, and Andra Espinoza-Hunter scored 10 points.

South Dakota State rode a 21-1 scoring run to take control in the first quarter, with the Pirates going just 3-for-17 from the field. Seton Hall continued to struggle in the second quarter, with SDSU taking a 40-18 lead at the break; the Jackrabbits at that moment held a 33-16 lead in rebounds as Seton Hall was shooting under 23 percent overall from the field.

Tournament officials announced the all-tournament team, with Selland earning MVP honors for SDSU. She was joined by teammate Timmer on the all-tourney team along with Cooks and Lauren Park-Lane from Seton Hall, Ilmar’l Thomas from UCLA and Kseniya Malashka from Middle Tennessee.