SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's basketball team tips off conference play against in-state rival, South Dakota Mines, on Saturday, December 1.  Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. in Rapid City, S.D.
 
The Yellow Jackets and Hardrockers will meet for the 99^th time in program history, when they play on Saturday.   In the last meeting of the 2017-18 season, Black Hills State defeated SD Mines, 59-55.
 
South Dakota Mines has opened the season with a 2-1 record, falling to the University of Sioux Falls, before defeating Montana State Billings.  Most recently, the Hardrockers defeated Dakota State, 100-42, in a nonconference game.
 
The 'Rockers average 79.0 ppg, while opponents score 58.3 points per game. SD Mines is shooting 48 percent (83-for-173) from the field and are 29-for-67 (43.3 percent) from beyond the arc.  The Hardrockers outrebound their opponents, 108-78, averaging 36.0 rebounds per game.
 
Anna Haugen leads the Hardrockers, averaging 11.7 points per game.  Haugen also leads SD Mines in rebounding, along with teammate Molly McCabe, pulling down six boards per game.
 
The Yellow Jackets remain at the top of the RMAC, starting the season with a 4-0 record for the second consecutive year, after defeating the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, 79-60.  Black Hills State also moves up two spots in the national rankings and now sits 13^th in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Poll, earning 281 points. BHSU is also 25th in the D2SIDA National Poll.  
 
The Green and Gold average 63.8 points per game, while opponents score 54.8 ppg.   The Yellow Jackets are shooting 44.9 percent (96-for-214) from the floor, while opponents are 76-for-225 (33.8 percent).  Black Hills State also outrebounds opponents, 153-125, averaging 38.3 rebounds per game.
 
Three Yellow Jackets average double-figure scoring, led by senior Remi Wientjes with 13.3 points per game, which also places her 13^th in the RMAC.  Morgan Ham follows with 11.3 ppg, just in front of teammate Julia Seamans with 11.0 ppg. 
 
Seamans is currently sitting in third in the conference shooting 10-for-24 (41.7 percent) from beyond the arc.
 
Katie Messler is second in the league in defensive rebounds, averaging six per game.  Messler leads Black Hills State in rebounds, bringing down 7.5 boards per game, putting her ninth overall in the RMAC.
 
Following the game against the Hardrockers, the Green and Gold will welcome Westminster for the team's home opener on Friday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m., before playing Dixie State on Saturday, December 8, at 4:00 p.m.  The Yellow Jackets will host both teams at the Donald E. Young Center.