Women's Basketball Falls In Closing Seconds to South Dakota, 73-71

OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton held South Dakota to just one field goal in the final six minutes, but that one basket proved costly as Hannah Sjerven's lay-up with 1.9 seconds left was the difference as the visiting Coyotes posted a 73-71 victory at D.J. Sokol Arena on Thursday, Dec. 16.

South Dakota won its fifth straight game to improve to 7-4 on the season while Creighton had its five game win streak snapped and dropped to 6-3 this winter.

Creighton scored the game's first eight points and led 18-8 after one quarter. Emma Ronsiek scored inside and on a three-pointer to push the Bluejays ahead 5-0 and Morgan Maly came off the bench to drain another three-ball and extend the lead to 8-0. Creighton's largest lead came at 18-6 after Tatum Rembao drilled a three from the top of the key before Chloe Lamb's pull-up jumper trimmed CU's lead to 10 after 10 minutes. USD made just 4-of-17 shots in the first half while CU sank 7-of-11 shots overall and 4-of-6 three-pointers.

USD closed within five points at both 23-18 and 29-24 after embarking on a 13-6 run, only to see the Bluejays push the margin back to double-figures at 35-24 on a pull-up jumper from the left baseline by Rachael Saunders. The Bluejays would take a 38-30 lead into the half after a free throw from Lauren Jensen with 5.2 seconds left closed out the scoring. Creighton made 7-of-15 three-pointers in the opening half and shot 54.2 percent overall. The Bluejays also outscored USD 10-0 off the bench. Ronsiek and Lamb each had 11 points at the break to lead all players.

The Yotes made their first six shots of the second half, including five trifectas, to get within one at 48-47, only to have Saunders drain a trey to hold off USD. The visitors made 9-of-11 shots in the third quarter but still trailed 61-57 heading to the fourth. Rembao had four points and four assists to pace a Bluejay team that made 10-of-14 shots in the third quarter.

Kyah Watson's triple with 7:39 left in the fourth quarter would once again bring USD within one at 64-63 and the Coyotes took their first lead of the game at 65-64 on Lamb's jumper 29 seconds later. The score would be deadlocked at 69 for nearly four minutes until Ronsiek drove to the lane and banked home a lay-up with 1:06 to play to give CU a 71-69 lead. SThe Coyotes tied it with 41.5 left on two free throws by Watson after she drove and CU was called for a blocking foul that was heavily disputed by the Bluejay bench.

Creighton had the ball with the chance to take the lead but a 17 foot jumper by Rembao rimmed out and the Coyotes called timeout with 14.3 left. Maggie Krull ran a pick-and-roll and found an open Sjerven underneath, who banked home the game-winner. CU advanced the ball past midcourt with a timeout, but Rembao's inbounds pass to Maly on the far wing was broken up by Lamb before time expired and the Jays did not get a shot off.

Ronsiek scored CU's final seven points and finished with a team-leading 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Also in double-figures was Rembao, who contributed 15 points and six assists. The Bluejays shot a season-high 56.3 percent for the game and made 11-of-26 three-pointers.

USD had four women score in double-figures, led by 20 from Lamb and 17 by Sjerven. Krull contributed 16 points and Liv Korngable contributed a dozen points while playing all 40 minutes. USD shot 28-of-57 overall and made 11-of-19 three-pointers, including 9-of-12 treys from deep after the intermission.

Creighton returns to conference play on Sunday, Dec. 19, with a 12 p.m. Central game at Providence that will air on FloHoops and the BIG EAST Digital Network.

NOTES: Emma Ronsiek has scored in double-figures in six straight games and in all but one of her eight appearances this season ... USD entered the game having held back-to-back opponents under 40 points and having led the Summit League in scoring defense each of the previous four seasons while yielding just 54.7 points per contest ... South Dakota has made three straight NCAA Tournaments and is picked to win the Summit League for the third time in as many seasons ... South Dakota's Chloe Lamb became the eighth player in program history to surpass 1,500 career points with a three-pointer early in the third quarter ... South Dakota won its sixth straight game in the series and is now 14-12 all-time against Creighton ... Creighton's five game home win streak came to an end on Thursday ... South Dakota won despite leading for a total of 59 seconds, whereas Creighton led for 33:57 ... Creighton owned a 21-0 lead in bench points.

Women's Basketball Falls In Closing Seconds to South Dakota, 73-71

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Team Stats

Emma Ronsiek

Tatum Rembao

Molly Mogensen

Morgan Maly

Players Mentioned

Lauren Jensen

Morgan Maly

Tatum Rembao

Emma Ronsiek

Rachael Saunders

Players Mentioned

Lauren Jensen

Morgan Maly

Tatum Rembao

Emma Ronsiek

Rachael Saunders