SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's basketball team plays its final home game of the regular season, welcoming Colorado Mesa University on Saturday, February 17. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.
 
THE GAME - Colorado Mesa

• The two teams meet for the second time this season on the hardwood in Spearfish, S.D. The last time the two teams met in January, the Yellow Jackets squeaked out a victory, 56-53.
• In the last meeting, Julia Seamans carried BHSU to victory with 16 points. Katie Messler had 11 rebounds. The Mavericks saw three people score in double-digits, including Jaylyn Duran with 19 points to lead all scorers. Karina Brandon grabbed six boards, while Ma'ata Epenisa had five. The Yellow Jackets shot 37.3 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 50 percent from the line.
• Erin Reichle and Jaylyn Duran lead the Mavericks' offense with 15.5 and 15.4 ppg average, respectively. Reichle averages 3.8 assists per game, as well. Karina Brandon leads the defense with a 6.0 rebound per game average.
• The Mavericks currently sit in seventh place with an 18-7 overall record and a 12-7 RMAC record.
• The Yellow Jackets are in a two-way tie with Fort Lewis for third place with a 19-6 overall record and a 13-6 conference record.
• Rachel Erickson leads the Green and Gold offense with a 12.8 ppg average and a 2.7 assist per game average. On defense, Katie Messler leads with a 7.1 rebound per game average.

THE COACHES

• Black Hills State University head coach Mark Nore enters his 16th season with the Yellow Jackets and owns a 281-181 record. He is the all-time wins leader for the Yellow Jacket basketball team.
• Taylor Wagner is in his sixth season at the helm of the Mavericks program. He earned his 100th career win in 2016. In 2013, just his second season with the program, he led the team to a 31-2 record reaching the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for the first time in program history.

LAST TIME OUT
Black Hills State grabbed two victories last week defeating South Dakota Mines on Tuesday, February 6, 59-55, and Colorado Christian on Saturday, February 10, 80-58.
 
Against SD Mines, Erickson led the way with 14 points, going 5-of-10 from the field, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 1-of-2 from the line. Seamans was right behind with 12 points in 32 minutes of action. On defense, Keely Bertram grabbed a team-high and tied her season and career-high with 13 rebounds in 36 minutes of play.
 
Against Colorado Christian, Lyndzi Rich led the way, scoring 20 points for the second time in her career and on the season. Seamans scored 15 points, all from long range, going 5-of-9 from downtown in 30 minutes of action. Erickson finished right behind with 13 points. On defense, Rich grabbed a team high five rebounds, while Danielle Noble had four.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Yellow Jackets currently sit in a tie for third place with Fort Lewis after grabbing two more wins this past week to own a 19-6 overall record and 13-6 RMAC record. The Green and Gold are looking to make their fourth RMAC Tournament appearance since joining in 2012. Black Hills State is 3-3 in postseason RMAC appearances. It finished runner-up in 2013-14, going 3-1 in the tournament falling to Colorado Mesa in the Championship game. In 2014-15 and 2015-16, BHSU fell in the first round.

Following the weekend, the Green and Gold close out the regular season on the road at Chadron State and Regis on Friday, February 23, and Saturday, February 24. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament begins on Tuesday, February 27. The top eight teams in the conference enter the tournament with the top three teams hosting the first round. The Green and Gold are looking to place in the top three but currently sit in a tie with Fort Lewis.