SPEARFISH, S.D.—The Black Hills State University women's basketball team are in the midst of their best Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference start since joining the league in 2012.  The Yellow Jackets had sights of extending their five-game winning streak against Western New Mexico University at the Young Center Saturday evening.

The Mustangs entered the contest coming off a 67-54 win at South Dakota School of Mines on Friday night. As for BHSU, a win Saturday evening would result in their best start to a season since beginning the 1997-98 campaign 14-0. That proved to be the case for the Yellow Jackets in a 76-47 victory over Western New Mexico.

BHSU now owns a six-game winning streak. This was the final contest with Western New Mexico as they'll be joining the Lone Star Conference in 2016-17. 

BHSU improves to 8-1, 5-0 RMAC while the Mustangs drop to 5-5, 3-2 RMAC.

Yellow Jackets 76, Western New Mexico 47 

The Yellow Jacket's contest with Western New Mexico saw them in the driver's seat from beginning to end. Bailey Kusser, Taylor Trohkimoinen, Cheyanne Balster and Remi Wientjes made up the balanced attack that propelled BHSU to an 8-1 lead at the 7:52 mark of the first quarter with a field goal each. 

Christine Thorn, who made her first start, paced the Yellow Jackets' 15-10 run with five points en route to a 23-11 lead after the first quarter. She also assisted on Kusser's three-pointer at the first quarter's buzzer. 

The Mustangs had the Yellow Jackets on their toes throughout the course of quarter number two. Despite only shooting .285 (4-of-14) from the field, the Mustangs were able to stay with BHSU in the second frame. The Yellow Jackets and Western New Mexico traded baskets en route to a 13-13 second quarter with 1:20 left, making the score 36-24.

However, Trohkimoinen converted on both free throws with 0:09 left in the second quarter to extend the Yellow Jacket lead to 38-24 at halftime.

BHSU's NCAA Division II-leading defense was evident in the third frame as they held the Mustangs to a .267 field goal percentage (4-of-15). The third quarter saw five Yellow Jackets register three-pointers, which lifted them to a 64-34 lead heading into the final frame.

The Yellow Jackets grew their lead as large as 38 when Brooke Pond sunk a jumper at the 4:10 mark of the fourth quarter to make the score 74-36. This gave BHSU enough cushion to hold onto a 76-47 win.

Trohkimoinen registered a season-high 14 points to lead all-scorers.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Friday, January 1 at Westminster College. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.