LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The first career and team double-double by Abby Switzer carried the Black Hills State University women's basketball team to its third victory defeating Colorado Christian 65-55 to split the season series 1-1 Saturday afternoon.

In the final five minutes of the game, the Yellow Jackets and Cougars were tied up at 46 when two free throws by Sierra Toms gave the Green and Gold a two-point advantage and they were able to hold on to that lead and keep the momentum until the end.

The Cougars tried to battle back as they trailed by three at 50-47 with a 1-of-2 effort from the line by Alex Nelson but it was not enough to fend off the sting of Black Hills State.
The Green and Gold really started finding their momentum heading into halftime as they led by one at 27-26. Toms landed two free throws to tie it up at 24 followed by a three-point shot from Switzer to go ahead by one.

Coming out of the half, the Cougars were really trying to slow down the Yellow Jackets as they took the lead quick in the third with a layup from Sarah Holt. CCU led by six at 34-27 with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter but BHSU kept closing in on the led as they trailed by five at the end of the third at 40-35.

At the beginning of the fourth, the Yellow Jackets continued to trail behind the Cougars but would not let them out of their sight when they finally grabbed the lead at 48-46 to close out the game.

Black Hills State had a great team effort shooting 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the field, 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from beyond the arc, and shot a team high 90 percent (19-of-21) from the line. The Yellow Jackets scored 31 bench points while holding the Cougars to just 14.

True freshmen Switzer recorded the first team and her first career double-double on the season scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Switzer went 5-of-11 from the field, 2-of-6 from the beyond the arc, and 2-of-4 from the line. Joining Switzer, Sierra Toms and Kassidy Scott each scored 12 points.

On defense, Scott was the next leading rebounder with six while Toms grabbed five.

The Green and Gold improve to 3-9 on the season and 3-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference while the Cougars slip to 5-8 overall and 3-5 in conference action.
Black Hills State returns home to the Young Center in the New Year to start the second half of the season taking on New Mexico Highlands and CSU-Pueblo for the second time on Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7. Tip off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m.