# South Dakota State Jackrabbits women's basketball

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits women's basketball team is part of the athletic program at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. The NCAA Division I team is a member of The Summit League. The Jackrabbits head coach is Aaron Johnston.

## History

South Dakota State began play in 1966. In the times they were in the AIAW, they won the State title 11 times from 1969 to 1982, including six straight from 1969 to 1975, including a Regional title in 1972. In their time in Division II, they made the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament in 1988, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004. They garnered a record of 18–8. In 2003, they won an NCAA Division II national title when they defeated Northern Kentucky by a score of 65–50. They began play in Division I in 2004. Prior to joining the Division I Summit League, they were a member of the Division II North Central Conference. As of the end of the 2020–21 season they have a 1039–438 all-time record, which is tied for 11th-most Division I wins all-time.
The Jackrabbits played in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship in each of their first five years of eligibility, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. The also played in the NCAA D-I Basketball Championship in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, making the Sweet Sixteen in 2019. The Jackrabbits played in the 2007, 2008, 2014, and 2017 Women's WNIT Tournaments. In their Division I history, the team has compiled four regular-season Summit League titles and seven Summit League postseason conference-tourney titles. The 2008–2009 team was ranked #14 in ESPN/USA Today Division I Coaches Poll en route to a 32–3 record and received large amounts of national media coverage. The 2018–2019 team was ranked as the #1 Mid-Major team and during the regular season was ranked in the top 25 overall for Division I.

## Postseason appearances
### NCAA Division I Tournament results

The Jackrabbits have appeared in thirteen NCAA Division I Tournaments. They achieved their highest ranking in 2019 with a #6 seed. Their overall record is 5–12.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2009 | #7 | First round Second Round | #10 TCU #2 Baylor | W 90–55 L 58–60 |
| 2010 | #14 | First round | #3 Oklahoma | L 57–68 |
| 2011 | #15 | First round | #2 Xavier | L 56–72 |
| 2012 | #13 | First round | #4 Purdue | L 68–83 |
| 2013 | #13 | First round | #4 South Carolina | L 53–74 |
| 2015 | #14 | First round | #3 Oregon State | L 62–74 |
| 2016 | #12 | First round Second Round | #5 Miami #4 Stanford | W 74–71 L 65–66 |
| 2018 | #8 | First round | #9 Villanova | L 74–81 (OT) |
| 2019 | #6 | First round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | #11 Quinnipiac #3 Syracuse #2 Oregon | W 76–65 W 75–64 L 53–63 |
| 2021 | #9 | First round | #8 Syracuse | L 55–72 |
| 2023 | #9 | First round Second Round | #8 USC #1 Virginia Tech | W 62–57 (OT) L 60–72 |
| 2024 | #12 | First round | #5 Utah | L 54–68 |
| 2025 | #10 | First round | #7 Oklahoma State |

### WNIT appearances

The Jackrabbits have appeared in five WNIT Tournaments. Their record is 13–4. They were the 2022 Champions.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 2007 | First round Second Round Third round Quarterfinals | Bye Illinois State Indiana Wyoming | Bye W 61–48 W 60–53 L 59–70 |
| 2008 | First round | Creighton | L 69–76 |
| 2014 | First round Second Round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Butler Creighton Minnesota Indiana UTEP | W 78–61 W 62–51 W 70–62 W 76–64 L 63–66 |
| 2017 | First round Second Round | Northern Illinois Colorado | W 94–84 L 75–81 (OT) |
| 2022 | First round Second Round Third round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship | Ohio Minnesota Drake Alabama UCLA Seton Hall | W 87–57 W 78–57 W 84–66 W 78–73 W 62–59 W 82–50 |

### AIAW Tournament appearances

The Jackrabbits made one appearance in the AIAW women's basketball tournament. They had a combined record of 0–2.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1972 | Championship First round Consolation First round | Immaculata Southern Connecticut State | L, 47–60 L, 34–72 |

### NCAA Division II tournament results

The Jackrabbits made nine appearances in the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament. They had a combined record of 18–8.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
| 1988 | First round Regional Finals | North Dakota North Dakota State | W, 76–60 L, 77–91 |
| 1992 | First round | North Dakota State | L, 58–92 |
| 1994 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Nebraska-Kearney North Dakota North Dakota State | W, 81–68 W, 61–51 L, 52–82 |
| 1995 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Denver North Dakota North Dakota State | W, 95–59 W, 78–75 L, 68–82 |
| 1996 | Regional semifinals | North Dakota | L, 55–68 |
| 1999 | First round | Augustana (SD) | L, 62–66 |
| 2002 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four | Regis Colorado Mesa Southwest Minnesota State Northern Kentucky Southeastern Oklahoma | W, 91–76 W, 76–63 W, 62–50 W, 68–67 L, 67–77 |
| 2003 | First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | Regis North Dakota South Dakota Cal State Bakersfield Bentley Northern Kentucky | W, 107–71 W, 77–56 W, 87–63 W, 83–62 W, 69–62 W, 65–50 |
| 2004 | First round Regional Finals Regional semifinals Elite Eight | Nebraska–Kearney Concordia-St. Paul North Dakota California (PA) | W, 67–56 W, 74–39 W, 72–70 (OT) L, 79–96 |

## Season–by–season results

Statistics overview :
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Norma Boetel (No Conference) (1966–1970) ||||||
| 1966–67 | Norma Boetel | 6–0 | — | — | — |
| 1967–68 | Norma Boetel | 7–0 | — | — | — |
| 1968–69 | Norma Boetel | 8–0 | — | — | — |
| 1969–70 | Norma Boetel | 14–1 | — | — | |
| Ruth Marske (No Conference) (1970–1972) ||||||
| 1970–71 | Ruth Marske | 15–2 | — | — | |
| 1971–72 | Ruth Marske | 17–2 | — | — | AIAW Consolation First Round |
| Ruth Marske: | Ruth Marske: | 32–4 (.889) | - | | |
| Norma Boetel (No Conference) (1972–1973) ||||||
| 1972–73 | Norma Boetel | 12–6 | — | — | AIAW Region VI Tournament |
| Jenny Johnson (No Conference) (1972–1973) ||||||
| 1973–74 | Jenny Johnson | 13–4 | — | — | AIAW Region VI Tournament |
| Jenny Johnson: | Jenny Johnson: | 13–4 (.765) | - | | |
| Norma Boetel (No Conference) (1974–1976) ||||||
| 1974–75 | Norma Boetel | 17–6 | — | — | AIAW Region VI Tournament |
| 1975–76 | Norma Boetel | 16–5 | — | — | — |
| Norma Boetel: | Norma Boetel: | 80–18 (.816) | - | | |
| Cindy Davis (No Conference) (1976–1978) ||||||
| 1976–77 | Cindy Davis | 16–9 | — | — | AIAW Region VI Tournament |
| 1977–78 | Cindy Davis | 12–11 | — | — | AIAW State Tournament |
| Cindy Davis: | Cindy Davis: | 28–20 (.583) | - | | |
| Mary Ingram (No Conference) (1978–1982) ||||||
| 1978–79 | Mary Ingram | 13–10 | — | — | AIAW Region VI Tournament |
| 1979–80 | Mary Ingram | 16–11 | — | — | AIAW Region VI Tournament |
| 1980–81 | Mary Ingram | 12–14 | — | — | AIAW Region VI Tournament |
| 1981–82 | Mary Ingram | 15–13 | — | — | AIAW Region VI Tournament |
| Mary Ingram (North Central Conference) (1982–1984) ||||||
| 1982–83 | Mary Ingram | 8–17 | 3–7 | 6th | — |
| 1983–84 | Mary Ingram | 8–17 | 1–11 | 7th | — |
| Mary Ingram: | Mary Ingram: | 72–82 (.468) | 4–18 (.182) | | |
| Nancy Neiber (North Central Conference) (1984–2000) ||||||
| 1984–85 | Nancy Neiber | 13–12 | 4–10 | 7th | — |
| 1985–86 | Nancy Neiber | 11–16 | 3–11 | 7th | — |
| 1986–87 | Nancy Neiber | 16–13 | 5–9 | T-5th | — |
| 1987–88 | Nancy Neiber | 25–5 | 11–3 | 2nd | NCAA Division II Regional Second Place |
| 1988–89 | Nancy Neiber | 22–6 | 9–5 | 4th | — |
| 1989–90 | Nancy Neiber | 17–10 | 9–9 | 5th | — |
| 1990–91 | Nancy Neiber | 18–10 | 10–8 | 5th | — |
| 1991–92 | Nancy Neiber | 19–10 | 11–7 | 5th | NCAA Division II First Round |
| 1992–93 | Nancy Neiber | 17–10 | 10–8 | T-4th | — |
| 1993–94 | Nancy Neiber | 22–8 | 12–6 | 4th | NCAA Division II Regional Second Place |
| 1994–95 | Nancy Neiber | 24–6 | 13–5 | 3rd | NCAA Division II Regional Second Place |
| 1995–96 | Nancy Neiber | 25–3 | 16–2 | 2nd | NCAA Division II Regional Semifinals |
| 1996–97 | Nancy Neiber | 19–8 | 11–7 | 5th | — |
| 1997–98 | Nancy Neiber | 18–9 | 12–6 | T-3rd | — |
| 1998–99 | Nancy Neiber | 20–8 | 12–6 | 3rd | NCAA Division II First Round |
| 1999-00 | Nancy Neiber | 15–6 | 7–5 | | — |
| Nancy Neiber: | Nancy Neiber: | 301–140 (.683) | 155–107 (.592) | | |
| Aaron Johnston (North Central Conference) (1984–1999) ||||||
| 2000 | Aaron Johnston | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4th | — |
| 2000–01 | Aaron Johnston | 15–12 | 9–9 | T-5th | — |
| 2001–02 | Aaron Johnston | 28–9 | 12–6 | 2nd | NCAA Division II Final 4 |
| 2002–03 | Aaron Johnston | 32–3 | 14–2 | T-1st | NCAA Division II Champions |
| 2003–04 | Aaron Johnston | 26–7 | 11–3 | T-1st | NCAA Division II Elite 8 |
| Aaron Johnston (Independent Division I) (2004–2007) ||||||
| 2004–05 | Aaron Johnston | 21–7 | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | Aaron Johnston | 19–9 | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | Aaron Johnston | 25–6 | — | — | WNIT Quarterfinals |
| Aaron Johnston (Summit League) (2007–present) ||||||
| 2007–08 | Aaron Johnston | 23–7 | 16–2 | 1st | WNIT First Round |
| 2008–09 | Aaron Johnston | 32–3 | 17–1 | 1st | NCAA Second Round |
| 2009–10 | Aaron Johnston | 22–11 | 14–4 | 3rd | NCAA First Round |
| 2010–11 | Aaron Johnston | 19–14 | 12–6 | 3rd | NCAA First Round |
| 2011–12 | Aaron Johnston | 24–9 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA First Round |
| 2012–13 | Aaron Johnston | 25–8 | 14–2 | 1st | NCAA First Round |
| 2013–14 | Aaron Johnston | 26–10 | 13–1 | 1st | WNIT Semifinals |
| 2014–15 | Aaron Johnston | 24–9 | 12–4 | 2nd | NCAA First Round |
| 2015–16 | Aaron Johnston | 27–7 | 13–3 | 2nd | NCAA Second Round |
| 2016–17 | Aaron Johnston | 23–9 | 12–4 | 3rd | WNIT Second Round |
| 2017–18 | Aaron Johnston | 26–7 | 12–2 | 2nd | NCAA First Round |
| 2018–19 | Aaron Johnston | 28–7 | 15–1 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 2019–20 | Aaron Johnston | 23–10 | 13–3 | 2nd | — |
| 2020–21 | Aaron Johnston | 21–4 | 14–0 | 1st | NCAA First Round |
| 2021–22 | Aaron Johnston | 29–9 | 17–1 | 1st | WNIT Champions |
| 2022–23 | Aaron Johnston | 29-6 | 18–0 | 1st | NCAA Second Round |
| Aaron Johnston: | Aaron Johnston: | 571–185 (.755) | 278–58 (.827) | | |
| Total: | Total: | 1097-453 | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||

## Arenas

* The Barn 1966–1972
* Frost Arena 1973–present

## Head coaches

| # | Name | Term | Record (W–L) |
| 1 | Norma Boetel | 1966–70 | 35–1 |
| 2 | Ruth Marske | 1970–72 | 32–4 |
| 3 | Norma Boetel | 1972–73 | 11–7 |
| 4 | Jenny Johnson | 1973–74 | 13–4 |
| 5 | Norma Boetel | 1974–76 | 33–11 |
| 6 | Cindy Davis | 1976–78 | 28–20 |
| 7 | Mary Ingram | 1978–84 | 72–84 |
| 8 | Nancy Neiber | 1984–2000 | 301–140 |
| 9 | Aaron Johnston | 2000–present† | 571–185 |
† Aaron Johnston took over for Nancy Neiber during the last six games of the 1999–2000 season.
* Records though 2022-23 season.

## Media coverage

All home and road games are covered on the Jackrabbit Sports Network. The broadcast range of the Jackrabbit Sports Network covers eight states (South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Wyoming), and consists of the following stations:
* WNAX 570AM (Flagship Station)
* KJJQ 910AM
* KRKI 99.1FM
* KGFX 1060AM
* KSDR 1480AM
In 2023/2024, the Summit League finalized a three-year official television contract with CBS Sports Network for linear broadcasting, and partnered with Midco to launch the branded Summit League Network for direct-to-consumer viewing.