SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's basketball team prepares to host Colorado Christian and Regis, on January 11 and 12.  Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday against the Cougars, and 4 p.m. on Saturday against the Rangers.
 
THE GAME – Colorado Christian Cougars
» The Yellow Jackets and Cougars meet for the first time on the hardwood when they play this weekend.  Last season, the Green and Gold split the season series with Colorado Christian, with the Rangers taking game one, 74-68, and the Yellow Jackets taking game two, 80-58.
 
» Colorado Christian is 6-7 this season, and 4-3 in the RMAC, to be ranked sixth in the conference after defeating New Mexico Highlands, 71-55.
 
»The Cougars average 67.2 points per game, which is sixth in the conference.  Colorado Christian has three players scoring in double figures, led by Jordan Baer with 19.9 ppg.  She is second in the conference in scoring, and third in blocked shots per game (1.4).
 
THE GAME – Regis Rangers
» The Yellow Jackets and Rangers will meet for the first time on the court this season. Last season, BHSU swept Regis in conference play, defeating the Rangers, 65-58, and 69-53.
 
» Regis moved to a 7-5 overall record (2-4 RMAC), after falling to CSU-Pueblo, 85-75, placing them in ninth in the league.
 
»The Rangers average 64.2 ppg, which is ninth in conference.  Majestie Robinson leads Regis, averaging 13.3 points per game, followed by Jaz'Myne Snipes with 10.0.  Leading the Rangers, and the conference, in rebounding is Shelby Espinosa, with 9.4 rpg.  As a team, Regis is third in the conference in three-pointers made per game (8.5).
 
» THE COACHES
» Black Hills State University head coach Mark Nore enters his 17th season with the Yellow Jackets and owns a 295-185 record. He is the all-time wins leader for the Yellow Jacket basketball team.
 
»Corey Laster is in his third season as the head coach at Colorado Christian and his 16th season coaching at the collegiate level.  Laster holds a 24-43 record with the Cougars. 
 
» Molly Marrin begins her third year as Regis' head coach.  In last season's run, Marrin led the Rangers to a 23-8 record to mark the most wins since 2006-07 and also to the program's sixth NCAA tournament appearance. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
Black Hills State moved to a 9-2 overall record after defeating Western, 59-48, and falling to Colorado Mesa, 72-48.  The Yellow Jackets now hold a 5-2 record in the RMAC.
 
In the Green and Gold's victory against Western, Racquel Wientjes recorded a new career-high with 18 points against the Mountaineers.  Katie Messler brought down 10 boards for her second double-figure rebounding game of the season. 
 
Morgan Ham led the way for the Yellow Jackets against the Mavericks, scoring 11 points, while Racquel Wientjes tallied nine. 
 
SHARE THE ROCK
Julia Seamans has averaged 3.5 assists per game this season. That totals for ninth in the conference. The senior's assist to turnover ratio of 1.7 is fourth in the RMAC, and 75th in the nation.
 
KNOCK IT DOWN
Seamans is making 2.8 three-pointers a game to lead the Yellow Jackets, which puts her in second in the conference, and 35th nationally.
 
PULL IT DOWN
Katie Messler leads the Yellow Jackets, averaging 6.6 rebounds per game, which is 13th in the RMAC.
 
TEXAS HOLD'EM
The Yellow Jackets are allowing just 58.1 points per game this year. That ranks fourth in the RMAC.
 
NATIONALLY RANKED
The Yellow Jackets sit at No. 22 in the WBCA National Poll. BHSU is the only RMAC team to appear in the rankings.
 
ACCURACY
BHSU is second in the conference in field goal percentage, making 44.0 percent of its shots from the field.
 
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.
 
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.
 
GOING DANCING
BHSU made the 2018 NCAA Division II Tournament as a No. 5 seed in the South Central Region. The Green and Gold made the tournament for the second time in three years.
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Lyndzi Rich and Keely Bertram were named to the RMAC All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of the RMAC Shootout. Rich averaged 15.0 points per game during the semi- and final rounds, and also recorded her first career double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) in the championship game. Bertram averaged 13.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg in the two games.
 
RMAC TOURNAMENT FINAL
The Yellow Jackets earned the No. 3 seed in the RMAC Tournament after finishing the regular season with a 16-6 conference record. After defeating the No. 6 seed Fort Lewis, BHSU took down No. 2 MSU Denver in the semifinals. In the first Shootout Final appearance for the Yellow Jackets since 2014, the Green and Gold fell to CSU-Pueblo.
 
ALL CONFERENCE
Three Yellow Jackets earned All-RMAC honors for their play this season. Senior Rachel Erickson was named to the All-RMAC First Team. Lyndzi Rich and Julia Seamans each earned Honorable Mention.
 
HOST WITH THE MOST
The Green and Gold hosted an RMAC Quarterfinal for the second time in three years. In the first instance, BHSU hosted Colorado Christian in the quarterfinal round of the 2015-16 RMAC Tournament, ultimately falling, 71-59. The last time the Yellow Jackets hosted a home playoff game was 2011.
 
RECORD RECORD
The Green and Gold finished the 2017-18 regular season 22-6 overall. The team finished 24-8, tying the 2010-11 team for the most wins of a Yellow Jacket team. The 2010-11 team finished 24-8, falling in the NAIA Quarterfinals.