SPEARFISH, S.D. - The Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets women's basketball team notched their first win of the young season thus far over arch-rival, South Dakota School of Mines, after using an early first half lead to hold on by four for the victory, 62-58. 

Yellow Jacket junior, Cassidy Kotelman, led her team early on in the contest after shooting a team-high 3-for-4 from the field in the first half for eight points and four rebounds before the break.  Chelsey Biegler added six points in the half as she got to the free throw line four times and converted on three after the first 20 minutes of play. 

After just two points in the first half, BHSU senior Calli Bechtel, stepped up to turn in the year's first double-double for the Jackets with 10 points in the second half alone to give her 12 points on the night to go along with 10 rebounds (two offense, eight defense). 

Kotelman matched Bechtel in points with 12, as Kotelman also was close to a double-double after adding seven rebounds with one assist and one steal.  Biegler was the third Jacket to score in double figures as she followed her 28-point performance in the team's last outing with 11 points on 2-of-7 shooting, as she led the game with six made free throws after getting to the line to shoot seven times from the charity stripe. 

The Hardrockers, who came into the game with a record of 2-5, have struggled offensively this season so far and their struggles continued during their visit to the Young Center.  SDSM shot 18-of-55 on the night (32.7%) and made five of their 16 three-point attempts.  They were however effective from the free throw line after shooting 81-percent as a team on 17-of-21 shooting. 

BHSU hit three more field goals then the Hardrockers which proved to be the difference as BHSU finished 22-of-57 from the field (38.6%) and went 14-of-20 from the free throw line (70.0%).   

Veteran guard, Dakota Barrie, led the team after going 2-of-3 on three-pointers as true freshman, Taylor Trohkimoinen, continued to prove reliable off the bench in just her third game as a Yellow Jacket.  Trohkimoinen finished with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting which included three made free throws after getting to the line five times as she added five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks on 31 minutes of play. 

For the Hardrockers, it was Jessica Shull who played 36 minutes to lead her team with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting and five rebounds.  Megan Rohrer provided 12 points off the bench and was the only other SDSM player to finish in double figures. 

The next game for the Yellow Jackets will be on Friday, Dec. 6, 2013 at Western State for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. 

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