South Dakota State to play Gonzaga in women’s basketball at Sanford Pentagon next season
Posted: May 19, 2025
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits will play the Gonzaga Bulldogs in women’s basketball at the Sanford Pentagon in a nonconference matchup on Nov. 20. The on-sale date for tickets will be announced later.
“This is a resume-building matchup that is going to stand out on the schedule for both teams,” said Jesse Smith, vice president of operations for Sanford Sports. “The energy in the Sanford Pentagon always rises when the Jackrabbits play here, and Gonzaga is a national brand with a passionate fan base.”
The Jackrabbits won the Summit League Championship last season and received a No. 10 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. SDSU defeated No. 7 seed Oklahoma State 74-68, before falling to eventual national champion Connecticut in the second round. The Jackrabbits are 1-2 all-time at the Sanford Pentagon.
“We are excited to return to the Pentagon next season. The Pentagon is a terrific facility, and the staff provides a first-class experience,” said South Dakota State Head Coach Aaron Johnston. “Gonzaga has a strong tradition of success and will be a great early-season test for the Jackrabbits.”
Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference regular season title for the 20th time last season, finishing with a 24-11 record. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the WBIT Tournament, where they fell to eventual champion Minnesota. The Bulldogs are 1-1 all-time at the Sanford Pentagon. They defeated South Dakota 54-50 and lost to No. 1 South Carolina 79-72 during the 2-day 2020 Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic.
“The Sanford Pentagon is a great facility and always puts on high level events,” said Gonzaga Head Coach Lisa Fortier. “We have a ton of respect for the South Dakota State program and always look forward to playing quality teams in our non-conference schedule. This should be a very fun, early season game.”
South Dakota State leads the all-time series 3-1. Their last meeting was on Dec. 17, 2023, an 83-58 victory by the No. 14 Bulldogs.
This is the fifth NCAA Division I event at the Sanford Pentagon announced for the 2025-26 season. Iowa State plays Mississippi State in men’s basketball on Nov. 10. Nebraska will face Oklahoma in men’s basketball on Nov. 15. The Nebraska women’s basketball team will take on North Dakota State on Nov. 16, and South Dakota State will match up against Wyoming in men’s basketball on Dec. 15.
