SPEARFISH, S.D.—The Black Hills State University women's basketball team hung onto a 67-60 victory over Regis University last night. The victory marked the Yellow Jackets' first season-sweep over the Rangers. BHSU had an opportunity to accomplish that same feat Saturday evening against Chadron State College after defeating them 63-46 in Chadron, Neb on December 11. 

The Eagles rebounded from a 13-point deficit at South Dakota Mines last night, but their comeback came up short in a 58-56 loss to the Hardrockers. The loss extended their losing-streak to two games. That Yellow Jackets extended that figure to three games with a 69-54 victory over the Eagles at the Young Center. 

The Yellow Jackets improve to 11-2, 8-1 RMAC while Chadron State College falls to 3-10, 3-6 RMAC.

Yellow Jackets 69, Chadron State 54

Back-and-forth play highlighted the opening five minutes of the contest. The game was tied 9-9 and 11-11 before the Yellow Jackets took the driver's seat for good.

Rachel Erickson, Julia Seamans, and Keely Bertram strung a couple BHSU jump shots to give them a 17-11 lead at the 2:39 mark of the first quarter. Erin Graham registered a jumper to narrow the Eagle deficit to one point with 0:26 left before Sierra Toms hit a three-pointer beyond the left arch at the first quarter buzzer to give the Yellow Jackets a 22-18 cushion.

Toms opened the second quarter with a jumper and three-pointer to extend the BHSU lead to 29-18 with 7:00 left in the second quarter. The green and gold stretched their lead as wide as 15 when Erickson nailed back-to-back jump shots to make the score 35-20 at the 2:07 mark of the second quarter. 

Graham converted on a jump shot with :36 left to narrow the BHSU lead to 35-22 at halftime.

The Yellow Jackets carried the momentum into the third quarter with a Bailey Kusser three-pointer and a Sierra Toms jumper in the paint to widen the margin to 40-22 with 9:02 left in the third quarter. 

That 18-point margin gave BHSU the comfort needed to maintain their double-digit lead. The Yellow Jackets took a 14-point, 52-38 lead into the fourth quarter thanks to Erickson's three-pointer and jumper from the left hash in the final two minutes.

An Emma Block triple and a pair of Allegria Chisom free throws cut the BHSU lead within 10 points at 52-43 at the 8:39 mark of the fourth quarter. Maka Daysh's fifth foul of the game put Christine Thorn at the line for a pair of free throws she sunk to give BHSU their double-digit lead back at the 8:20 mark, making the score 54-43.

The Yellow Jackets never surrendered their double-figure lead from that point en route to a 69-54 victory. 

Thorn and Erickson each registered 16 points to lead the BHSU scoring corps. Bertram became the third Yellow Jacket this season to reach double-figures in rebounds with 11. 

The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Friday, January 15 at Western State. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.