SPEARFISH, S.D. – Leading from start to finish in the lone game of the week, the Black Hills State University women's basketball team (8-4, 5-3 RMAC) picked up a 60-45 home win over the Mountaineers of Western Colorado University (2-10, 0-8 RMAC) to conclude a three-game homestand inside A2 Arena.
 
BHSU matched their season-high for points in a quarter with a 24-point outburst in the opening frame, shooting a blistering 76.9% from the floor in the opening 10 minutes. The first 10 Yellow Jacket points came via the duo of Morgan Hammerbeck (Sr., Hamill, S.D.) and Raven Cournoyer (Gr., Mission, S.D.). The first quarter would end with BH leading 24-12, thanks in part to 4-for-6 shooting from behind the arc.
 
Black Hills State would get easy looks at the basket in the second quarter, converting on four lay-ups in, compared to the opening quarter, was a low scoring period. With just under three minutes left in the half, a Western Colorado jumper would be the last time the game would be within single digits. The Yellow Jackets would close out the half with a 5-0 run. The Jackets led by 13 at the break at 35-22, while Jaylen Ostenson (Fr., Newcastle, Wyo.) hit a team-best two 3-pointers in the half (2-for-4) as the Jackets shot 38.5% from deep in the first 20 minutes and 55.6% from the floor (15-for-27).
 
Out of the halftime break, Black Hills State kept the pressure on and maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the contest. The Jackets would lead by as many as 16 points three different times in the third, aided by a pair of lay-ups from Alessia Capley (Gr., Arvada, Colo.) at the end of the quarter.
 
The offensive production on both sides slowed down a bit in the final 10 minutes but would never relinquish a double-digit lead. The Jackets entered the fourth with a 15-point lead and that would hold, as both teams put up 10 points apiece to close out the game. The Yellow Jackets would go onto close out the homestand with a 60-45 win over the Mountaineers.
 
GAME NOTES

• BHSU shot 45% or better for the second time this season (45.1%) for the second-best shooting performance of the season (45.5% vs. S.D. Mines, Nov. 27).
• Raven Cournoyer ties her season-high with 15 points tonight to lead the team on 5-for-11 shooting.
• For the second-straight game, and the fourth time this season, Morgan Hammerbeck scored in double digits with her 13 points.
• Gracie Haneborg brought down a team-high seven rebounds, sharing the game-high mark; while also dishing out a game-high five assists.
• Ellie Moore brought down six rebounds to go along with nine points.
• Kalla Bertram had active hands, coming away with five steals in the win.
• 33% of the scoring tonight for the Jackets came off the bench (20 points to WCU's two).
• The Yellow Jackets had 12 steals to Western Colorado's six.
• BH improves to 13-4 all-time against the Mountaineers and 6-2 inside the Donald E. Young Center.

Up Next: The Yellow Jackets will hit the road for the first time in 2024 next weekend for a pair of games in the states of Colorado and Utah. First, a trip to Grand Junction, Colorado to battle the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa (12-4, 6-3 RMAC) before a trip to Westminster (2-13, 0-9 RMAC) on Saturday in RMAC action.