SPEARFISH, S.D.—Tough times and heartbreaking losses have plagued the Black Hills State University women's basketball team lately. The Yellow Jackets are 2-5 since kicking off the 2015 portion of their schedule with a five-game winning streak.

BHSU will look to overcome adversity on Saturday evening at Western State University. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 65-57 OT loss at Colorado Mesa University Friday evening. BHSU was without leading scorer Chelsey Biegler in that contest due to injury. 

BHSU looked to rebound without Biegler against the Mountaineers, who came into this contest riding a nine-game losing streak. The Yellow Jackets sent that streak to double figures with a 55-49 victory over the Mountaineers.

BHSU improves to 12-9, 10-7 RMAC while Western State falls to 4-17, 3-14 RMAC.

Much like last night, the Yellow Jackets showed signs of bus legs from the get go as the Mountaineers opened the frame with a 7-0 run. Remi Wientjes gave BHSU their first points of the contest on a layup with 16:02 remaining in the first half.

A quick three-pointer from Wientjes, and a Gabby Haefs layup tied the game 7-7 with 14:09 left in the first half.  The Yellow Jackets and Mountaineers traded leads before Bailey Kusser hit a three-pointer that gave BHSU a 13-12 lead with 11:46 remaining in the first half.

The Yellow Jackets didn't surrender the lead for the rest of the contest. A Taylor Trohkimoinen three-pointer capped off a 17-10 run that gave BHSU their largest lead of the first half at 35-22 with 1:32 left.  BHSU took a 35-24 lead into halftime.

Another triple from Trohkimoinen paced a 10-3 Yellow Jacket run to open the second half, giving them a 45-27 lead with 13:03 left. The 18-point margin was the largest of the contest. 

The Mountaineers cut it to nine points led by a field goal and two made free throws from Taylor Long. This made the score 49-40 with 6:19 remaining in the second half.

Back-to-back field goals from Trohkimoinen (three-pointer) and Kotelman extended the BHSU lead to 54-40 with 4:31 left in the second half, but the Mountaineers cut the margin even closer.

This time it was seven points, thanks to three consecutive Mountaineer field goals. This made the score 54-47 at the 2:35 mark of the second half, eventually putting the Mountaineers in foul mode.

Even though the Yellow Jackets only converted on one free throw down the stretch, they held on to a 55-49 victory. Trohkimoinen led BHSU scorers with 12 points while Jade McIntosh's 13 points led the Mountaineer offense.

The Yellow Jackets will return to the Young Center on Friday, Feb. 13 when they'll face Colorado School of Mines. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.