SPEARFISH, S.D. – The heart of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) opens up inside A2 Arena in the Donald E. Young Center as the calendar flips to 2024 this weekend when the Black Hills State University women's basketball team (6-3, 3-2 RMAC) will play host to No. 22/RV Adams State (10-3, 5-0 RMAC) and Fort Lewis (7-4, 4-1 RMAC) on Friday and Saturday, January 5-6.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Black Hills State (6-3, 3-2 RMAC) vs. #22/RV Adams State (10-3, 5-0 RMAC)
Date: Friday, January 5 // Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Spearfish, S.D. (A2 Arena – Donald E. Young Center)
Watch: rmacnetwork.com // Listen: KDSJ (103.5 FM & 980 AM)
 
Black Hills State (6-3, 3-2 RMAC) vs. Fort Lewis (7-4, 4-1 RMAC)
Date: Saturday, January 6 // Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Spearfish, S.D, (A2 Arena – Donald E. Young Center)
Watch: rmacnetwork.com // Listen: KDSJ (103.5 FM & 980 AM)
 
JACKET FACTS

• BH is 6-1 on the season when they hold their opponent to under 60 points
• When recording more steals than an opponent, BH is 5-2 on the season
• The Yellow Jackets are 5-2 when they outrebound an opponent
• BH sits with a 5-2 mark when they control the opening tip
• BHSU loves playing at night (5pm or later), holding a 6-1 mark in those contests (3-0 at home)

STOUT DEFENSE ON DISPLAY

• BHSU leads the RMAC in scoring defense at 55.6 points allowed per game.
• The mark sits 21^st in the NCAA in all of Division II.
• Additionally, the Yellow Jackets - in the RMAC - sit fourth in rebounds per game (39.1), sixth in turnover margin (+1.1), and eighth in total steals (9.22 per game).

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE

• BHSU sits second in the RMAC in average attendance entering the 2024 calendar year.
• BH is one of two schools to sit with 700+ this season for home games at 761.
• Only Fort Lewis averages more, narrowly topping BH, at 780 people per contest.

JACKETS LOVE FRIDAYS!
The Yellow Jackets hold a perfect 4-0 record this season when playing on Fridays. Entering the first weekend of the New Year, BHSU sits 2-0 in games inside of A2 Arena on Fridays.
 
LAST TIME OUT

• Black Hills State entered the holiday hiatus after a 63-46 road victory at New Mexico Highlands on December 15.
• Morgan Hammerbeck led the way offensively with her game-high 16 points (6-for-10 shooting) on the night with her team-best 32 minutes of action.
• She also hit a team-high three 3-pointers, shooting 60% from deep (3-for-5).
• Off the bench, Alessia Capley grabbed a team-best eight rebounds in the win.

 
FRIDAY VS. ADAMS STATE
Adams State, in the D2CSC rankings, made their first appearance in a national poll since March 26, 2011, checking in at No. 22 in the most recent poll (Dec. 18). Kayla Harris (Jr., G/F) paces the team with her 9.5 points per game, no Grizzly sits in double-digit scoring for the year. The Grizzlies will bring a perfect conference record to A2 Arena Friday night. Last time out, the Grizzlies ended a 22-game losing streak to Colorado Mesa with a 73-65 win to win their seventh-straight game.
 
SATURDAY VS. FORT LEWIS
The Skyhawk women's basketball team makes the trek to South Dakota on a three-game winning streak before the break. Sitting with a 4-1 mark in RMAC play prior to the holiday hiatus, Fort Lewis has three athletes sitting in double-digit scoring. Led by the forward-guard duo of Kelsey Sorenson (Sr., F) and Lanae Billy (So., G), sitting at 13.7 and 13.0 points per game, respectively.
 
SERIES HISTORY - ADAMS STATE

• Dating back to 2013, BHSU holds and impressive 10-2 record against Adams State.
• The two teams split the series last season, each defending their home floor. BH won the meeting in Spearfish (67-60).
• The longest BH win streak is eight games (2013-19).

SERIES HISTORY - FORT LEWIS

• BHSU sits 13-1 against Fort Lewis, back to 2013; owning a 13-game winning streak in the series.
• Inside the Young Center/A2 Arena, BH is 7-1 against the Skyhawks and has won the last seven meetings in Spearfish.

Up Next: Black Hills State will have just one contest next weekend when Western Colorado comes to town on Saturday, January 13 for a 4:00 p.m. tip inside A2 Arena.