SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Yellow Jackets prepare to host New Mexico Highlands and CSU-Pueblo, on January 25 and 26.  Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday against the Cowgirls, and a special start time is set for 5 p.m. against the Thunderwolves.  The Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation will be in attendance for Saturday night's game.
 
THE GAME – New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls
» The Yellow Jackets and Cowgirls meet for the first time on the court when they play this weekend.  Last season, the Green and Gold defeated New Mexico Highlands, 76-51.
 
» New Mexico Highlands has a 4-14 overall record (2-9 RMAC), placing them in eighth in conference alongside Chadron State.  The Cowgirls are coming off a 81-41 loss to MSU Denver.
 
» Jordyn Lewis leads the Cowgirls, averaging 14.1 points per game which is eighth in conference.  Following her is Allyah George with 10.8 ppg.  DeAvion Allen averages 6.2 rebounds per game to lead New Mexico Highlands. 
 
THE GAME – Colorado State University-Pueblo Thunderwolves
» BHSU and CSUP will face each other for first time on the hardwood when they play this weekend.  The Thunderwolves defeated the Yellow Jackets twice in the regular season, and also in the RMAC Championship, 84-69. 
 
» CSU-Pueblo moved to a 9-8 overall record (7-4 RMAC), after defeating Chadron State, 68-67, to snap a three game losing streak.
 
» The Thunderwolves have four players averaging double-figure scoring, led by Jennah Knafelc with 14.6 ppg.  Knafelc is fith in the conference in points per game.  As a team, CSU-Pueblo averages 4.1 blocks per game to lead the conference.
 
» THE COACHES
» Black Hills State University head coach Mark Nore enters his 17th season with the Yellow Jackets and owns a 296-188 record. He is the all-time wins leader for the Yellow Jacket basketball team.
 
» Joseph Anders begins his third season as the New Mexico Highlands head women's basketball coach.  Prior to coaching the Cowgirls, Anders led and assisted teams that made it into two NCAA Elight Eights, five straight NCAA Tournaments, four National Invitational Tournaments, and two WBCI Tournaments.
 
» Curtis Loyd returns for his second season as the head coach at CSU-Pueblo, becoming the 10th head coach in the schools program.  Last season under Loyd, the Thunderwolves won both the conference regular season and tournament title in the same season for the first time in the program's history.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Black Hills State moved to a 10-5 overall record after defeatieng UCCS, 62-58, and then falling to Colorado School of Mines, 67-55, last weekend.
 
In the Green and Gold's victory against the Mountain Lions, five Yellow Jackets had double-figure scoring led by Katie Messler with her first double-double of the season, with 10 points and 13 rebounds. 
 
Julia Seamans led the Yellow Jackets with 13 points against the Orediggers, while Morgan Ham totaled 11. 
 
SHARE THE ROCK
Julia Seamans has averaged 3.6 assists per game this season. That totals for sixth in the conference. The senior's assist to turnover ratio of 1.6 is fourth in the RMAC, and 114th in the nation.
 
KNOCK IT DOWN
Seamans is making 2.5 three-pointers a game to lead the Yellow Jackets, which is fifth in the conference, and 68th nationally.
 
PULL IT DOWN
Katie Messler leads the Yellow Jackets, averaging 5.3 rebounds per game, which is ninth in the RMAC.
 
TEXAS HOLD'EM
The Yellow Jackets are allowing just 61.5 points per game this year. That ranks eighth in the RMAC, and 80th nationally.
 
ACCURACY WINS
BHSU is fifth in the conference and 102nd nationally in field goal percentage, making 41.7 percent of its shots from the field.
 
NOW BOARDING
BHSU totaled a season high 17 offensive rebounds against Colorado Christian.  The Yellow Jackets were two boards away from tying their season high 44 rebounds, in the matchup against the Cougars. 
 
NOT TODAY
The Yellow Jackets tallied a season high seven blocks against Regis, moving them to 10th in conference with 2.1 blocks per game.
 
WEEKEND SWEEP
The Yellow Jackets men's and women's basketball teams went 4-0 against Adams State and Fort Lewis on the road December 16-17. This was the first time since BHSU joined the RMAC (2012-13) that the two teams swept a weekend on the road. The Green and Gold are a combined 11-3 in league play during the 2018-19 season.