SPEARFISH, S.D.—The final two home games of the 2015-16 weigh heavy implications for the Black Hills State University women's basketball team. A victory combined with help around the RMAC may help the Yellow Jackets secure an outright first-place standing. A four-game win-streak was also at stake for BHSU.
Standing in the Yellow Jackets' way Friday evening was Colorado Mesa, who handed them a 71-58 loss in Grand Junction, Colo. on January 2. The Yellow Jackets found revenge against the Mavericks in a 58-53 victory at the Young Center.
The Yellow Jackets improve to 18-4, 15-3 RMAC while Colorado Mesa falls to 14-7, 11-6 RMAC.
Yellow Jackets 58, Westminster 53
Shots failed to drop on both ends of the floor in the opening quarter. The Yellow Jackets finished the frame 3-of-11 from the field while the Mavericks went 4-of-13. That didn't stop the Mavericks from doubling up the Yellow Jackets 12-6 in the score column.
Erika Musante paced Colorado Mesa as she nailed all three of her field goal attempts in the frame.
The Mavericks found themselves in foul trouble during the second quarter, which helped the Yellow Jackets narrow the gap. Keely Bertram, Jennie Scharn, Rachel Erickson and Taylor Trohkimoinen collectively notched six-of-eight BHSU free throws to open the quarter, which helped narrow their deficit to 18-16 with 3:38 left.
The Yellow Jackets scored 10 of their 17 second-quarter points on free throws. This includes Julia Seamans' pair of successful charity shots with: 22 left in the second quarter to give BHSU a 23-22 lead at halftime.
The third quarter saw the Mavericks find their shooting stroke, which wasn't the case for the Yellow Jackets. The Mavericks tied BHSU on two occasions before Sydney Small gave them 39-37 lead off a jumper in the paint at the 2:01 mark of the third quarter.
Bryanna Adams and Lo'Amanu Siu each nailed a triple to close the third frame and widen the Maverick lead to 45-39.
The Yellow Jackets found their shooting stroke in the final frame. Balster nailed her first two jumpers to help BHSU get even with the Mavericks 46-46 with 6:41 left in the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks regained a brief lead before Balster registered a jump shot with 5:28 left to give BHSU a 50-48 advantage. It was a lead BHSU didn't surrender en route to a 58-53 victory.
Bailey Kusser and Trohkimoinen each scored nine points to lead BHSU. Kassidy Scott led the rebounding efforts with nine.
The Yellow Jackets will return to action tomorrow, February 13 against Westminster College. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
