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BROOKINGS, S.D. – The women's basketball team travelled to take on South Dakota State in the first round of the WNIT Thursday night (March 17). The Bobcats (15-15) were unable to keep pace with the Jackrabbits (24-9), eventually falling 87-57 inside Frost Arena. Ohio was led by freshman point guard Yaya Felder's 20 points and senior forward Gabby Burris' 9 rebounds. With the loss, the 2021-22 campaign drew to a close for the Bobcats. 
 
"They (South Dakota State) do such a great job of moving the basketball," said head coach Bob Boldon following the game. "And obviously, their post presence is worth noting, several different kids that are able to post up. And they had good ball movement. … They play a different way, and it's fun to watch, until you actually have to play them. I appreciate the way they play."
 
Ohio finished the game shooting 34.3% (24 of 70) from the field, and 13.3% (4 of 30) from beyond the arc. South Dakota State shot 52.5% (32 of 61) overall, and 32.0% (8 of 25) from deep, to pick up the victory. The Jackrabbits out-rebounded Ohio, 50-31, while also scoring 21 second-chance points compared to Ohio's 14.
 
 Kaylee Bambule started the scoring for Ohio, connecting on a transition three-pointer with just over eight minutes remaining in the first frame. After the Jackrabbits opened up a 9-3 lead, freshman point guard Yaya Felder scored four straight points to trim the deficit to just two points. South Dakota State was able to connect on a layup before the first media timeout with the score sitting at 11-7. Hooks got into the scoring column following a steal and a layup with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter, but a strong close to the quarter by the Jackrabbits gave the hosts a 22-14 lead after the first ten minutes of play.  
 
Johnson narrowed the deficit to nine, 25-16, with her first points of the night off a baseline floater with 7:35 remaining before halftime. The two offenses traded scores for several minutes of the quarter, before a stop and score by South Dakota State helped them establish a 34-20 lead at the second quarter media timeout. Both offenses struggled to find a rhythm for the remainder of the frame, with Ohio trailing 38-26 heading into the locker room. 
 
Ohio shot 38.7% (12 of 31) from the field overall through the first 20 minutes of play. The Bobcats' defense allowed the Jackrabbits to shoot 56.3% (9 of 16) in the first quarters, but held the home team to just 33.3% (5 of 15) overall in the second stanza. Hooks led the team in scoring in the first half, putting up 10 points on 5 of 10 shooting. 
 
The Bobcats were held scoreless for the first four minutes of the second half, scoring their first points a Hooks old-fashioned three point play with 6:08 left in the quarter, drawing within 14 points, 43-29. A three-pointer by Johnson, her first of the contest, took the two teams into the third quarter media timeout and the Jackrabbits holding a 46-32 advantage. A Felder steal and layup out of the timeout trimmed the deficit to 12, but a strong close to the quarter by the Jackrabbits left Ohio trailing by 20, 59-39. 
 
South Dakota State got hot from beyond the arc to start the final quarter, connecting on back-to-back shots from deep to take a 24-point lead just over a minute into the game. Ohio's deficit got as large as 29, 70-41, before two free throws by Burris ended the 11-0 run. By the final media timeout, the Jackrabbits opened up a 30-point lead, 77-47, as Boldon took the chance to give playing time to the full roster. 
 
South Dakota State had five players score in double figures, led by Haleigh Timmer's 24 points. Myah Selland led the effort on the board, grabbing 12 rebounds.