Black Hills State women's basketball opened the new season with an 80-60 win over the visiting Texas A&M International Dustdevils on Friday night.
Megan Engesser led the charge for the Yellow Jackets as she accounted for 20 points. She made 7-of-11 from the field and drained 6-of-9 three-point shots, including four in the fourth quarter.
Danica Kocer pulled up strong from the field as she made 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from three, also shooting a perfect two-of-two from the charity stripe. Kocer finished the game with a team-leading seven steals.
Morgan Hammerbeck led the team with eight total rebounds on the night that included seven defensively. She also recorded 10 points and five assists while she made two-of-two free throws.
Kalla Bertram recorded double-digit scoring tonight as well, finishing the game with 12 points, an assist, and another perfect free throw performance for the Yellow Jackets. Defensively, she nabbed seven boards and a steal versus the Dustdevils.
The game started even on both sides up to a 10-10 scoreboard until Bertram recorded a three-point play at 4:22 to go in the first. This opened a 10-2 run and gave BHSU a 20-12 lead. The Yellow Jackets held them to a single point from the charity stripe and a layup for the rest of the first to take a 22-15 advantage.
Out of the break, Niki Van Wyk dropped a three-point bucket to expand the Yellow Jacket lead to 10, but TAMIU began putting points on the board and closed the gap to 29-26 at the half.
Following the halftime intermission, the Dustdevils put up a 14-4 run on BHSU to take their first and largest lead of the night at 44-34. Down by ten, the Yellow Jackets turned the heat up and outscored TAMIU 15-6 that ended with an Engesser three-pointer at the buzzer.
The final quarter was all Yellow Jackets as the team recorded 17 unanswered to open the fourth that expanded to a 22-0 run, giving them a 66-50 lead. BHSU held them to ten down the stretch and took their first win of the season with a 20-point lead.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets return to the court tomorrow night for their next cross-conference matchup against the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas at 6 p.m.
-BHSUAthletics.com-
