SPEARFISH, S.D.—The second NAIA opponent in as many days made a trip to the Donald E. Young Center on Saturday evening to take on the Black Hills State University women's basketball team. Johnson & Wales University happened to be that opponent.
The Wildcats came off an 86-62 loss to South Dakota Mines on Friday, and were looking to rebound against their second NCAA Division II opponent in as many days. The Yellow Jackets are looking to begin their 2015-16 season with a winning streak before embarking on Division II competition.
BHSU accomplished just that with an 84-76 win over Johnson & Wales University on Saturday night. The Yellow Jackets improve to 2-0, 0-0 RMAC while the Wildcats fall to 3-2, 1-0 AII.
Yellow Jackets 84, Johnson & Wales 76
Unlike last night, it was Johnson & Wales who sank the opening three-pointer of the game. Kristen Ward's triple gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead at the 8:38 mark of the first quarter.
The Yellow Jackets and Wildcats traded leads six times from that point before one team took command of the lead for good.
That team happened to be BHSU when Bailey Kusser's jump shot gave the women in green and gold a 14-13 lead with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter. It was a lead the Yellow Jackets didn't surrender. BHSU held onto a 19-16 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Wildcats cut the BHSU lead as close as two on a pair of occasions before a Kusser three-point basket with 6:12 left gave BHSU breathing room with a 29-24 lead.
That margin grew as large as 10 before an Amanda Weber layup with 0:34 left in the first half cut the Yellow Jacket lead to 44-36 at halftime.
The Yellow Jackets had the Wildcats knocking on their door during the opening stages of the third frame. Allison Butler had BHSU on their heels when she drained a three-pointer to cut the margin to 45-44 at the 8:20 mark of the third quarter.
Cheyanne Balster provided the cushion her team needed with four points to pace a BHSU run that gave them a 52-44 lead at the 6:23 mark of the third quarter.
The Wildcats cut the margin as close as four in the fourth quarter when Butler nailed a three-pointer to make the score 74-70 at the 5:48 mark. BHSU prevailed at the tail end of the contest with a 14-6 run to secure an 84-76 victory.
Jennie Scharn registered a career-high 18 points for the Yellow Jackets. Kusser (12) Balster (11) round out the BHSU players in double figures.
The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Wednesday, November 16 at the Young Center against NSIC foe Northern State University. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m.
