SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's basketball team will host RMAC teams this weekend in the first home games of the 2018-19 season.  The Yellow Jackets welcome Westminster on December 7, before taking on Dixie State on December 8.  Tipoff for Friday's game is set for 5:30 p.m., while Saturday's game time is slated for 4 p.m.
 
THE GAME - Westminster College Griffins
» The Yellow Jackets and Griffins meet for the first time on the hardwood when they play this weekend. The Yellow Jackets enter the game with a five-game winning streak, as the only remaining undefeated team in the RMAC.
 
» Westminster is 3-2 on the season, after defeating Dixie State, 83-61, in the opening weekend of league play. 
 
» The Griffins average 73.2 ppg, which is third in the RMAC. Denise Gonzalaz leads the squad with 18.8 points per game. She was named RMAC Player of the Year in the Preseason Polls. Hunter Krebs leads the Griffins bringing down 7.6 boards, which is sixth in conference. As a team, the Griffins are tied for first in the conference three-point percentage (36.7), and first in blocked shots per game (4.8) and defensive rebounds (29.0 per game)
 
THE GAME - Dixie State University Trailblazers
» The Yellow Jackets and Trailblazers meet for the first time on the court this season. 
 
» Dixie State is 3-1 on the season, after falling to Westminster, 83-61, in the opening round of RMAC play.  The Trailblazers average 80.5 ppg, which is first in the league. 
 
» The Trailblazers carry four double-figure scoring players, led by Mariah Martin with 14.8 ppg.  She is ninth in the conference in scoring.  As a team, Dixie State leads the conference in steals per game (14.8) and three-point field goals made per game (9.8)
 
» THE COACHES
» Black Hills State University head coach Mark Nore enters his 17th season with the Yellow Jackets and owns a 291-183 record. He is the all-time wins leader for the Yellow Jacket basketball team.
 
»Shelley Jarrad is in her eighth season as the head coach of Westminster.  Prior to joining the Griffins, Jarrad spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Utah from 1993-2004.
 
» JD Gustin is in his third season as Dixie State's head coach.  Gustin has a 17-31 overall record during that time.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Black Hills State University moved to 5-0 on the season for the second-consecutive year. The Yellow Jackets defeated South Dakota Mines, 70-43, in their 99^th matchup to open the RMAC play on Dec. 1.  The Green and Gold's have won now four-consecutive games against the Hardrockers.
 
In BHSU's dominance of the Hardrockers, Morgan Ham recorded her first double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Katie Messler added 12 points, while Lyndzi Rich recorded 10 for BHSU.
 
Share the Rock
Julia Seamans has averaged 3.8 assists per game this season. That totals for fifth in the conference. The senior's assist to turnover ratio of 1.9 is fifth in the RMAC, and 65th in the nation.
 
Knock It Down
Seamans is making 2.2 three-pointers a game to lead the Yellow Jackets, which puts her in 10th in the conference.
 
Pull It Down
Katie Messler averages 6.6 rebounds per game, which is 18th in the RMAC. Her 5.4 defensive rebounds per game puts her in sixth in the league.
 
Texas Hold 'Em
The Yellow Jackets are allowing just 65.0 points per game this year. That ranks 10th in the RMAC.
 
NATIONALLY RANKED
The Yellow Jackets sit at No. 14 in the WBCA National Poll. They also make an appearance in this week's D2SIDA Poll, coming in at No. 21. BHSU is the only RMAC team to appear in either rankings.
 
Accuracy Wins
BHSU is first in the conference in field goal percentage, making 45.8 percent of its shots from the field.
 
Favorites
BHSU was picked to finish first in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, according to the Preseason Coaches' Poll. This is the first time the Yellow Jackets have been the preseason favorites since joining the conference.
 
Preseason Accolades
Two members of the Green and Gold were named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team. Sophomore Lyndzi Rich and senior Julia Seamans earned the honor.
 
Super Seniors
BHSU has three redshirt seniors on the squad looking to lead the way to success. Keely Bertram, Julia Seamans, and Remi Wientjes are all in their fifth year with the program. Seamans earned Honorable Mention last year and is a Preseason Team pick after averaging 8.0 points per game a year ago. Bertram averaged 7.8 ppg and 5.1 rpg, while Wientjes averaged 6.9 points per game.
 
Sophomoric Rise
Lyndzi Rich and Katie Messler return to the Yellow Jackets as sophomores, looking to continue their dominace after their first year in the program. Rich averaged 10.4 points per game, which was second on the squad, and 4.8 rebounds per game. She earned All-RMAC Honorable Mention after the season and was selected to the RMAC Preseason Team this year. Messler averaged 4.9 ppg, and a team high 6.3 rebounds per game during her freshman campaign.