FORT WORTH, T.X. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota State Jackrabbit Women’s basketball team is in the NCAA Tournament yet again.
On Thursday, they prepared for their Friday matchup with Washington in Fort Worth, Texas.
Previous Coverage: SDSU women tip off tomorrow in NCAA tournament run
It’s a familiar situation with a different backdrop. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits have won four consecutive Summit League titles, which means four consecutive tournament births. They lean on previous experience to keep them moving forward.
The impressive senior class has seen its fair share of success on the court. Most recently, they made a trip to Connecticut as a 10 seed in the tournament last year, upsetting Oklahoma State and taking an early lead against the eventual champion UConn in the early minutes of the second round.
The environment in the tournament is unlike anything in the regular season.
“The crowd is going to be bigger, noisier. The competition is going to be more physical. I think it’s great that we come in with some experience and not just experience playing, but experience winning as well,” said senior guard Ellie Colbeck.
While the senior class is making their fourth trip to the big dance in a row, there’s also plenty of young talent on this team experiencing this tournament for the first time. For returning players, to see it through the eyes of their younger teammates and lead by example is a neat opportunity.
“Being here before makes you realize how special it is, and just to make sure you soak in all the moments, not only on the court, but off the court with your teammates and your coaches and your friends and your family that are here supporting and watching,” said senior guard Maddie Mathiowetz.
“Every year it’s special, no matter how many times they’ve been able to experience it. It’s a special thing that we get to experience together, and I think that’s the cool part of it,” said sophomore guard Katie Vasecka.
It also helps when you have a fanbase that travels well, making the high-stakes environment feel just a little bit more like home.
“We’ve played in really energetic gyms before. So I think it would be fun to go out there and just take it all in,” said senior forward Brooklyn Meyer.
“They always show out and bring the energy and support us no matter what. I’m really looking forward to seeing Jackrabbit Nation out there tomorrow, for sure,” said sophomore guard Emilee Fox.
The Jackrabbits tip off against Washington on Friday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN Plus.
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