SPOKANE, Wash. (Dakota News Now) - When the SDSU Jackrabbit women face off against the Utah Utes there is a former player for both schools that will be supporting and is in a can’t lose situation.
“When I got down to the last region all of my family was like I think they might end up playing each other,” Dru Arity said, Former Utah and SDSU guard.
Growing up in Rapid City, Dru saw South Dakota State in the NCAA Tournament plenty of times. Yet the four-time state champion at St. Thomas More wanted to leave the Rushmore State’s borders.
“I set a goal of wanting to play in a Power 5 conference. When Utah started recruiting me all the stars aligned. Salt Lake was an amazing city to be a part of. Utah definitely wasn’t the best team in the PAC 12 they were at the bottom. I built that bond with my teammates and my coaching staff down there, and we wanted to change the program,” Arity said.
In five years Dru helped Lynne Roberts and the Utes do that. After redshirting Dru started all 104 games over four years, helping lead the Utes to the Pac 12 Championship game in 2022 and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
However, she’d also gotten engaged to her boyfriend, now husband, Preston Arity, who was playing at Northern State, and was feeling the pull of home.
“Doing long distance for 6 years with my now husband, they didn’t want me to leave I had so many connections there, but I think it was time to make an adult decision,” Arity said.
“I supported that and thought it was awesome, I talked with Aaron Johnston before that. I have a tremendous amount of respect for their program,” Lynne Roberts said, Utah Head Coach.
Though injuries limited her final season, Dru helped the Jacks win the Summit League title and reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Was truly welcomed with open arms from day 1. That doesn’t really happen much that you get to be a part of two amazing programs that support you as a person and as a player,” Arity said.
Now living in Rapid City the 13-hour drive was well worth seeing her old programs meet, and she knew she had to do something special for the occasion.
“I went with the practice jerseys, I think we made it Wednesday night. My mother sewed it up, and this is the outfit for the game,” Arity said.
Though fans are asking, former teammates and coaches know better than to pry for Dru’s insider knowledge.
“I don’t know if she’s leaning one way or the other. I think it’s tough, I really think it’s a toss-up. She can’t really lose either way. It’ll just be fun to see her in her split jersey out there,” Tori Nelson said, SDSU senior forward.
While she won’t pick a winner, Dru knows better than anyone what to expect when the Jacks and Utes hit the floor.
“I’m so excited to watch Brooklyn and Alissa Pili dominate inside, that will definitely be a tough battle for both because they’re both such good players. The guard play, they match up so well. I think it will be a very fast-paced up-and-down game. A lot of inside and out. Both teams are also very unselfish which is why I love playing on both teams,” Arity said.
Dru said she and her husband will be staying for the second-round game regardless of who wins. Tip-off tonight at about 9 pm following Gonzaga and UC-Irvine.
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