LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Sierra Toms came through most when the Black Hills State University women's basketball team needed it most. Down one, the junior sank a 3-point basket to give the Yellow Jackets a 67-65 lead over Colorado Christian University, the final score with just over a minute to play.
The shot proved to be the game winner as the Green and Gold defense withstood a pair of Cougar offensive possessions for the victory, moving to 14-4 on the season and 11-3 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
The first half was a see-saw battle with CCU winning the first quarter 21-16. The Yellow Jackets came back and dominated the second quarter by a score of 28-11 and a halftime lead of 44-32. The third quarter was all Colorado Christian (13-5, 10-4 RMAC), as the Cougars held the Yellow Jackets to just five points, and outscoring the Green and Gold 15-5.
The resilience of Black Hills State showed as the Cougars grabbed the lead at 55-53 on Claire Paxton's jump shot. The Yellow Jackets immediately answered with a pair of free throws from Toms and followed up with a layup from Kassidy Scott for the 57-55 lead with 6:25 on the clock.
However CCU regained the lead and opened a 64-60 with just over four minutes on the clock. Black Hills State answered back with a pair of free throws from Cheyanne Balster, then knotted the game on a shots from the charity stripe from Rachel Erickson and Christine Thorn.
With 1:30 on the clock, Kate Louthan hit one-of-two free throws to give CCU the 65-64 leading, setting Toms up for the Yellow Jackets heroics.
On the ensuing Black Hills State possession Taylor Trohkimoinen hit Toms for the shot that gave the Yellow Jackets the lead, and win.
Trohkimoinen led the way for the Yellow Jackets with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Toms followed with 10 points as the Green and Gold shot 37.1 percent (23-of-62) from the field and hit 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) shots from long range. Louthan led the way from CCU with 17 points.
Black Hills State returns to action Saturday facing the RMAC's top team in Colorado Mines. Tipoff from Golden, Colorado, is slated for 5 p.m.