SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Back Hills State University women's basketball team fell, 74-59, to Regis on Saturday night. 
 
Racquel Wientjes led Black Hills State (9-4, 5-4 RMAC) with 17 points and five rebounds.  Morgan Ham followed with 12, while Katie Messler also brought down five boards.
 
Regis (9-5, 5-4 RMAC) opened the game with back-to-back free throws, but BHSU immediately responded with a shot beyond the arc by Alyssia Martinez to put the Yellow Jackets ahead.  With back-and-forth action, neither team gained a substantial lead.  In the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets found their rhythm, going on a 9-1 run to lead the Rangers, 25-16.  Two consecutive three-pointers for Regis tied up the score, before the Rangers went on to lead by one at the half.
 
Regis took command in the third quarter, leading off with back-to-back three-pointers to push further ahead of the Green and Gold.  With less than eight minutes to go in regulation, Racquel Wientjes made a three to help bridge the gap of the Rangers' lead.  The Yellow Jackets were unable to string together a successful run, as Regis would eventually take the game.
 
Elly Walters led the Rangers with 23 points, while Shelby Espinosa would lead bringing down 15 boards for Regis.
 
The Rangers shot 43.6 percent (24-for-55) from the field, while the Yellow Jackets shot 35.3 percent (18-for-51) from the floor.  Regis was 14-for-31 (45.2 percent) from beyond the arc, while BHSU was 2-for-nine (22.2 percent).  The Rangers outrebounded the Green and Gold, 36-33.
 
Black Hills State will next head on the road to Colorado.  The Yellow Jackets will face the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Colorado School of Mines, on January 18 and 19.  Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday against the Mountain Lions, and 5 p.m. on Saturday against the Orediggers.