Land’s big night not enough as Lady Griz fall in Rapid City

Saturday, November 15

Rapid City, S.D.

6 PM

Montana

1-3

South Dakota State

4-0

South Dakota St.

Montana

Land’s big night not enough as Lady Griz fall in Rapid City

11/15/2025 8:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Sophomore Jocelyn Land, Montana's first-year transfer from Butler, hit eight 3-pointers and scored 24 points but the Lady Griz were unable to slow down unbeaten South Dakota State on Saturday night at The Monument in Rapid City, S.D., falling to the Jackrabbits 95-71.

Land's eight 3-pointers are the second-most in program history behind the nine that came from Katie Edwards in a road win at Sacramento State in January 2005.

"That's exactly why she's here. She did a tremendous job spacing the floor," said first-year coach Nate Harris, whose team went 16 for 39 (.410) from the arc, matching the second-most makes in program history.

"That will make us better as the year goes along. It's exactly what we need to create space for our other players to attack and get downhill, but we can't just play one end of the floor."

It was the other end that kept Montana from ever really challenging South Dakota State, which shot 56.1 percent and put up 21 or more points in all four quarters.

In three games against Division I opponents this season – albeit three very good Division I opponents – Montana is allowing 90.7 points on 51.0 percent shooting. The Lady Griz have been nearly doubled up on the glass, getting out-rebounded by Oregon, Washington and South Dakota State 146-74.

"We need to find some urgency defensively," said Harris. "We're not a team that really understands how important that end is quite yet. We're a work in progress. We're going to get there."

Montana was faced with the challenge of slowing down Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State's do-everything senior who entered the game averaging 26.3 points on 64.2 percent shooting through three games this season.

She was right at her averages on Saturday, totaling 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting while adding 11 rebounds and five assists, a savvy distributor from the paint.

"She's such a tough match-up around the rim. She does a great job of being aggressive and picking her spots. You have to have a plan for her. You have to dig, you have to double. You can't just let her go 1-on-1," said Harris.

Had Harris known his team would score 71 and keep Meyer somewhat in check with 25 points, he probably would have taken that deal.

What proved costly, then, was four other Jackrabbits also reaching double figures, allowing South Dakota State to score the seventh-most points ever against a Montana defense.

"Our level of urgency to fly around just wasn't elite," said Harris. "It was there in stretches but you need it every possession to really be good. People shooting 70 percent in quarters and 56 percent for the game isn't going to work with the goals that we have."

Montana never held a lead in the game, falling behind 5-0 in front of an SDSU-heavy crowd and trailing by 10 or more over the game's final 26 minutes.

South Dakota State led 25-17 after the first quarter, 46-33 at the half, then broke it open as Meyer scored nine straight points to open the second half, putting the Jackrabbits up 55-33.

The 3-point shot kept Montana in it, with Land going 8 for 16 and Avery Waddington 3 for 5 from the arc on her way to 15 points. Mack Konig also went for 15 points.

But the Lady Griz were just 10 for 24 on shots inside the arc, only getting to the free throw line five times.

"We're getting some great looks but the other piece of it is that we've got to punish people more at the rim," said Harris. "To shoot 41 percent from three is awesome but on the flip side, to be 10 for 24 from inside the arc, that's an area where we have to close the gap.

"Proud of our team, proud of our fight. This was a hostile environment."

Montana gets to escape the hostile environments for a while, playing its next two games at home, but the level of opponents doesn't change.

The Lady Griz will host 4-0 BYU on Wednesday at 7 p.m. inside Dahlberg Arena. The team's next game, on Saturday, Nov. 29, will be against Utah. The Utes are 3-1 after losing 72-61 at home to Washington on Saturday afternoon.