BROOKINGS, S.D. (Interstat) — Brooklyn Meyer scored 22 points to lead South Dakota State to a 67-49 win over Saint Thomas in a women’s Summit League basketball game Thursday at Frost Arena. The Jackrabbits improved to 11-4 overall. The Tommies fell to 7-8. South Dakota State never trailed after the first quarter, using a 17-11 second-quarter edge to build a 37-30 halftime lead. The Jackrabbits then held Saint Thomas to just 19 points in the second half. Meyer added five rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes. Alyssa Sand posted a double-double for Saint Thomas with 15 points and 12 rebounds. South Dakota State shot 46.6% from the field and held a 27-14 scoring advantage from the free-throw line. Attendance was 3,092.

Preview: Tommies Face Tall Task at Jackrabbits to Open Summit League Play BROOKINGS, S.D. (Interstat) — The Summit League women’s basketball season opens with a stark contrast in trajectories Thursday as the surging South Dakota State Jackrabbits host the .500 Saint Thomas Tommies at Frost Arena. South Dakota State (10-4), recently ranked before a narrow dip from the polls, enters as the heavy favorite. The Jackrabbits’ four losses have come against powerhouse programs: then-Texas, Duke, North Carolina and Columbia. Their resume includes a notable road win at Kansas State and a neutral-court victory over Gonzaga. The Jackrabbits are led by standout forward Brooklyn Meyer, who averages 21.2 points per game. She has scored 14 or more points in every game this season, including a 27-point performance at Duke and a 28-point outing at Northern Arizona. Saint Thomas (7-7) arrives having won four of its last five, including a 64-46 victory over Northern Illinois on Monday. The Tommies’ recent success has been fueled by forward Alyssa Sand, who is averaging a near double-double during that stretch with significant contributions on defense. Over the last six games, Sand has posted 18 points and 12 rebounds against Northern Arizona, 21 points at Montana, and 17 points against Drake. However, the Tommies have struggled against high-major competition, falling decisively to Northern Iowa and Oakland. Containing Meyer inside and handling South Dakota State’s pressure defense will be their primary challenge. The Jackrabbits have dominated this series since Saint Thomas transitioned to Division I, winning all previous meetings by an average of 38 points. For Saint Thomas to reverse that trend, they will need a monumental defensive effort and efficient scoring beyond Sand, likely from guards like Jada Hood, who added 15 points in the win over Northern Illinois. South Dakota State aims to start its conference title defense on a high note, while Saint Thomas seeks a program-defining upset to announce its arrival in the Summit League race. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CST on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.