COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Black Hills State University women's basketball ran out of time in a 57-54 setback to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Saturday in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Despite the loss, the Yellow Jackets have clinched a spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout with a 12-11 conference record and 14-11 overall. The Mountain Lions improve to 12-5 overall and 16-4 in the loop.

The first half was very evenly played as both teams battled back-and-forth including runs of holding each other scoreless for over four minutes.

With the game tied at 8-8, the Green and Gold held the Mountain Lions scoreless for just over four minutes but were only able to build at 12-8 lead. In return, UCCS then when on a defensive stance of its own to build a 17-12 lead. The Mountain Lions then entered the intermission with a 23-19 lead.

Coming out of the break, UCCS continued to lead and opened a 30-23 lead. The Yellow Jackets then went on a 7-0 run to knot the game at 30-30 with 14:53 remaining in the game. The run began on an old-fashioned 3-point play from Chelsey Biegler and completed as Logan Cowan hit back-to-back baskets.

Down 38-35, the Yellow Jackets again knotted the game up, this time on a Bailey Kusser long-range shot with 9:43 remaining. A 5-0 Mountain Lion run gave UCCS just enough cushion to push the Yellow Jackets into do-or-die mode.

Black Hills State cut it to a one-possession game when Kusser hit another trey to pull the Green and Gold within three points at 52-49 with 1:02 remaining. Shannon Kelly then hit one-of-two free throws to push it to a four-point game.

On the ensuing Yellow Jacket possession, Biegler was fouled and made two free throws. However, the Mountain Lions continued to make their free throws down the stretch en route to the 57-54 victory.  

Logan Cowan led the Green and Gold for the second-straight game with a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds. Bailey Kusser finished with 14 points while Chelsey Biegler had seven points and seven rebounds and six assists. Taylor Trohkimoinen joined Biegler with a game-high six assists.

The Mountain Lions were led by Abby Kirchoff with 14 points while Brittany Hernandez with 13 points.

A staunch defensive effort for Black Hills State, the Yellow Jackets held UCCS to 33.3 percent (18-of-54) shooting from the field and 20 points below its scoring average. Part of the defensive effort was six steals including three by Biegler.

The Yellow Jackets return to the Young Center on Saturday to close out the regular season against Chadron State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. The night will double as senior night for the five Yellow Jacket seniors.