SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Black Hills State women's basketball team (2-2, 0-0 RMAC) traveled to Sioux Falls to take on the University of Sioux Falls Cougars at the Stewart Center Saturday afternoon falling to the Cougars 74-56.
 
Leading the Yellow Jackets on offense was Danica Kocer. Kocer recorded 11 points on the night along with an assist to lead BHSU.
 
Defensively, 11 Yellow Jackets pulled down boards with Megan Engesser leading the team recording three defensive boards and one offensive board.
 
Six Yellow Jackets recorded steals with Niki Van Wyk and Ashlee Beacom leading BHSU with two each.
 
Black Hills State and the Yellow Jackets opened play with an evenly match first quarter. The Yellow Jackets and Cougars stayed evenly match with neither team taking more than a four-point lead throughout the quarter. Stout defensive play highlighted the first quarter of action as the Yellow Jackets and Cougars went into the half tied at 11 all.
 
University of Sioux Falls gained an edge in the second quarter as they would take a five-point lead despite a swarming Yellow Jacket defense. With just over one minute left in the half BHSU and USF were tied 25 all before USF would score five unanswered points to take a 30-25 lead into the break.
 
Both offenses got hot in the third quarter with BHSU putting up 22 points and USF putting up 31 points. Niki Van Wyk, Danica Kocer, and Hailey Weathersby led the team in offense in the third quarter as all three recording five points in the third quarter of action. Ultimately scoring runs by the Cougars would allow them to amass a 61-47 lead over the Yellow Jackets heading into the final quarter of play.
 
As the fourth quarter got started the offenses stayed hot; however, both defenses got back into a rhythm and no points were score from 5:04 to 3:21. Although the Yellow Jackets would battle to overcome the 14-point deficit they carried into the fourth quarter, it would prove to be too much as BHSU fell to USF 56-74.
 
BHSU shot 35.2% from the field while as a team the Yellow Jackets were not as hot from beyond the arc as they have been so far this season as they shot 26.7% from beyond the arc.
 
At the charity stripe the Yellow Jackets made 14 of 19 free throws for 73.7%.
 
Up Next
BHSU is headed to the airport as they look forward to competing in the Malika Sports Oahu Thanksgiving Classic. The team has games both Wednesday (8 p.m.) and Friday (5 p.m.).