GOLDEN, COLO.—A marquee, 67-65 victory over Colorado Christian University last night helped the Black Hills State University women's basketball avoid their first losing skid of the 2015-16 season.  It gave the Yellow Jackets momentum heading into their showdown at Colorado School of Mines on Saturday evening. 

The Orediggers sat atop the RMAC standings with a 13-1 conference record prior to the game, and rank #25 on the D2SIDA Women's Basketball National Poll for the week of January 25. Colorado Mines also earned five votes on the USA Today Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll for this week.

A win for the Yellow Jackets will narrow the Oredigger's first place lead by one game. That mission was accomplished as BHSU knocked off first place Colorado Mines 71-54 . The Yellow Jackets improve to 15-4, 12-3 RMAC while the Orediggers fall to 15-4, 13-2 RMAC.

Yellow Jackets 71, Colorado Mines 54

Emma Bailey led all scorers with 22 points for Colorado Mines, followed by Laura Tyree's 19.  The Tyree-Bailey duo each registered a jump shot consecutively to give the Orediggers an 11-8 lead with 5:32 left in the first quarter.  

Despite that lead and the Oredigger individual success, it was all Yellow Jackets from that point.  Sierra Toms and Rachel Erickson each converted on a three-pointer to give BHSU a 14-13 lead at the 3:16 mark of the first quarter. 

The Orediggers regained a brief 15-14 lead before the Yellow Jackets took the driver's seat for good when Jennie Scharn sunk a shot from the left hash to make the score 16-15 with 1:18 left in the first quarter.  A Scharn layup, followed by a Christine Thorn three-pointer gave the Yellow Jackets a 21-15 lead after the first quarter.  

Thorn opened the second quarter with a vengeance when she intercepted an Oredigger pass and heaved the ball to Cheyanne Balster, where she put home a layup to extend the BHSU lead to 23-15 at the 9:26 mark of the second quarter. 

The Yellow Jackets took a 34-25 lead at halftime after Thorn nailed a triple with :19 on the clock.

Remi Wientjes came through with a three-pointer to widen the BHSU lead to 47-31 at the 5:23 mark of the third quarter. After Scharn finished a layup to widen the margin to 49-31, Wientjes registered a steal with 4:34 left in the third quarter.  This forced the Orediggers to call a timout.  

The regroup session didn't help as Wientjes drew a foul and converted on two free throws to give the Yellow Jackets their first 20-point lead at 51-31 with 4:32 left in the third quarter. 

Tyree added 10 points for the Orediggers in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to carry them in a 71-54 loss to the Yellow Jackets.

Balster led the Yellow Jackets with 12 points and six rebounds. Thorn was next in line with 11 points, three steals and three assists.  Trohkimoinen registered a career-high seven assists. 

BHSU will return to the Young Center to take on Adams State on Friday, February 5. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.