Black Hills State women's basketball defeated CCU, 72-63, Friday night in the Donald E Young Center.
 
The Yellow Jackets (17-9, 15-5 RMAC) were led by junior Danica Kocer who tallied 19 points, four rebounds, and a steal.
 
Megan Engesser and Niki Van Wyk also made double digits recording 11 and 10 points each, respectively.
 
Leading the team in rebounds was freshman Haylee Weathersby with six boards. Weathersby also tallied five points for BHSU.
 
The first quarter was a battle between BHSU and CCU as the teams took turns sinking baskets as the score was knotted up five times throughout the first quarter of play. The Yellow Jackets were down by four with just over five minutes to play in the half before a pair of three pointers by Morgan Hammerbeck and Summer Fox put the Yellow Jackets on top 11-9. From that point the two teams traded baskets setting up a 15-15 score at the end of the quarter.
 
The Yellow Jackets opened the second quarter on a pair of 3's from Kocer and Megan Engesser which gave them their largest lead of the game up six. Although CCU would stay competitive through the quarter BHSU held onto that lead taking a 34-30 lead into the break.
 
After opening the third quarter on a layup to go up six the Yellow Jackets allowed CCU back in as the Cougars made three baskets in a row to tie the game at 36 all. Back-to-back threes by Morgan Hammerbeck and Megan Engesser put the Yellow Jackets back in the driver's seat as BHSU went on to outscore CCU 17-10. The Yellow Jackets held their largest lead of the night at 59-46 heading into the final ten minutes of play.
 
CCU would get back within ten off a three-point play but would not be able to overcome the 13-point deficit they carried into the fourth quarter as the Yellow Jackets laid on the gas outscoring CCU 14-13 to set up the final score of 72-63.
 
From the field the Yellow Jackets made 23 of 53 attempts for a shooting percentage of 43.4%. The Yellow Jackets kept on track beyond the arc making 8 of 25 attempts from downtown for a 32.0 shooting percentage.
 
BHSU made 18 of their 24 free throw attempts for a shooting percentage of 75% from the charity stripe.
 
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets close out the season at home against Metro State Saturday, Feb. 26 at 4:00 p.m. BHSU will honor its seniors Ashley Davis and Ashlee Beacom while celebrating Lead-Deadwood Day in the Donald E Young Center.