SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Black Hills State women's basketball puts together huge upset in Salt Lake City Tuesday night defeating the #2 seeded Griffins, 71-66.
 
The Yellow Jackets did their best shooting of the season when they needed it most against the Westminster Griffins Tuesday night to open RMAC tournament play. BHSU shot 45.8% from the field in the contest led by senior guard Racquel Wientjes and sophomore guard Megan Engesser who each recorded double digit scoring nights.
 
"it was a great team win," said Head Coach Mark Nore. "We came out with great energy and really defended well."

After trading baskets with the Griffins in the first two minutes of game play the Yellow Jackets' defense would heat up forcing six turnovers in the first quarter of play while going on a 14-2 run to close out the quarter. This run would prove to be a big factor in the Yellow Jacket victory as the Griffins would not lead at any point throughout the night.
 
Throughout the second quarter of play five Yellow Jackets would put points on the board increasing their halftime lead by five. The Griffins would work around the Yellow Jackets hot defense and get 16 points on the board to set up a 40-23 Yellow Jacket lead at the half.
 
Coming out of the break BHSU and Westminster would trade baskets throughout the quarter with both teams shooting over 42% from the field. The Griffins would get two points back in the quarter which would come in the final minute of play cutting the Yellow Jackets lead to 15 at 55-40.
 
The Griffins opened up fourth quarter scoring with a 17-9 scoring run which helped them make up ground on the Yellow Jackets' lead. With just over two minutes to play the Griffins would pull within five on a Hunter Krebs jumper in the paint. A free throw and another field goal by Krebs would put the Griffins within two with 10 seconds to play. Wientjes would  seal the win after sinking 3-of-4 free throws in the final 10 seconds to set up the 71-66 victory.
 
Wientjes scored 22 points to lead the Yellow Jackets in scoring while recording four steals and three assists. Engesser racked up 13 points and five rebounds while Morgan Ham and Alyssia Martinez each recorded 8 points in the contest as well. Katie Messler was a force under the net pulling in five boards.

BHSU shot 45.8% (27-of-59) from the field and 56.5% (13-of-23) from beyond the arc. At the charity stripe the Yellow Jackets were able to make 4 of their 6 free throws (66.7%) all of which were shot by Racquel Wientjes. 
 
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets will head to Golden, Colo. to take on Western Colorado on Friday, March 5 at 7:30 P.M. in the RMAC Semifinals.