SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's basketball team will make the drive to Rapid City to play a pair of neutral site match-ups this weekend against in-state foes Northern State and Sioux Falls in the annual East/West Challenge. The Yellow Jackets and Wolves are set to begin the weekend action with a 1 p.m. tip-off on Friday, November 15, in the King Center, while BHSU will square off with USF in a 4 p.m. match-up on Saturday, November 16.
 
GAME DETAILS VS. NORTHERN STATE
Date & Time: Friday, November 15 at 1 p.m.
Location: Rapid City, S.D. – King Center
 
GAME DETAILS VS. SIOUX FALLS
Date & Time: Saturday, November 16 at 4 p.m.
Location: Rapid City, S.D. – King Center
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters the East/West Challenge with a record of 2-1 on the year follow a commanding 83-57 win over Minot State for their sixth consecutive home opening win last Friday.
• The Yellow Jackets entered the South Central Region D2CSC Media Poll this week, ranking No. 7 after receiving votes the week prior.
• Black Hills State has been picked to finish ninth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 94 points.
• Through the first three games of the season BHSU is averaging 68.7 points, 35.3 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 4.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 44.8 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from 3-point range, and 84.6 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 61.7 points, 26.7 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 6.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 42.3 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from 3-point range, and 73.0 percent from the free throw line.
• Kalla Bertram has gotten off to a strong start to the season as she averages just under a double-double with 16.7 points and 9.3 rebounds through three games. Additionally, she has been efficient shooting the ball at a 52.6 percent clip from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point range. Her outing of 17 points and 11 rebounds against LCU marked her first career double-double.
• Haylee Weathersby is second on the team in scoring and rebounds with 12.7 points and 5.3 boards per game. She reached double digits in each of the first two contests of the year with 18 points against WT and 12 against LCU.
• Rounding out players averaging double figures through the first weekend of action is freshman Maureen Ulrich, who adds 11.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. After only scoring two points in her collegiate debut against the Lady Buffs, she has scored 13 or more points in each of her last two outings with 19 points against Lubbock Christian and Minot State. Ulrich has shot the ball 76.5 percent from the field, 60.0 percent from 3-point range, and 83.3 percent from the free throw line.
• An additional freshman to watch is Bradie Schlabs, who is tied for a  team-high in minutes as she averages 36.0 per game and put up numbers of 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in BHSU's first three contests of the 2024-25 season.
• Yellow Jack alumna Rachel Erickson is in her first season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding BHSU to a 2-1 record thus far. 

NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• Northern State enters the East/West Challenge with an 0-2 record on the early season following a pair of losses to No. 13 Pittsburg State (85-55) and Nebraska-Kearney (69-65) at home in a regional challenge.
• NSU is receiving votes nationally in the preseason WBCA Coaches' Poll.
• The Wolves are picked to finish second in the NSIC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 184 points and three first place votes.
• Through two games this season Northern has averaged 60.0 points, 38.5 rebounds, 17.0 assists, 5.0 steals, and 2.5 blocks, while shooting the ball 34.9 percent from the field, 22.0 percent from 3-point range, and 76.7 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 77.0 points, 44.0 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 9.0 steals, 4.5 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 42.7 percent from the field, 22.6 percent from 3-point range, and 75.9 percent from the free throw line.
• Madelyn Bragg and Rianna Fillipi are both back for another year at Northern State after earning All-NSIC First Team honors a year ago. Bragg averages 1.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game while shooting the ball 58.3 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the free throw line. Fillipi has only averaged 4.0 points while grabbing 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game early in the season, as she shoots the ball just 14.3 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from 3-point range early in the year.
• Leading the team through two games is Alayna Benike who is averaging 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game this year, while shooting the ball, 36.4 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range, and 100.0 percent from the charity stripe. In the season opener she poured in 21 points while going on 7-of-4 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range against the Gorillas.
• Second on the team in scoring is Decontee Smith who is averaging 12.5 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting the ball 40.9 percent from the field, just 16.7 percent from 3-point range, and 100.0 percent from the free throw line. In the loss to the Lopers she notched 21 points, shooting the ball 7-of-17 from the field, 1-of-5 from 3-point range, and 6-of-6 at the charity stripe.
• Paula Krueger is in her seventh season as the head coach at Northern State, guiding the Wolves to a record of 80-82 during her career. Overall, she is in her 16^th season as a head women's basketball coach after spending nine years as the head coach at Colorado School of Mines, her teams have combined for a 213-207 record in her career.

SERIES HISTORY

• Friday will be the 21^st meeting all-time between Black Hills State and Northern State with the Wolves holding a 20-0 lead in the series.
• The Wolves won the most recent match-up with a 58-52 victory in A2 Arena in Spearfish on November 18, 2023, in the East/West Challenge. 

SIOUX FALLS STORYLINES

• Sioux Falls enters the East/West Challenge with a record of 1-2 following a win in their home opener against Waldorf (87-58) on Tuesday evening.
• The Cougars are picked to finish seventh in the NSIC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 122 points.
• Through three games this season USF has averaged 72.3 points, 43.3 rebounds, 17.0 assists, 7.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks, while shooting the ball 37.4 percent from the field, 37.0 percent from 3-point range, and 77.2 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 67.0 points, 35.3 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 7.7 steals, 2.3 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 41.6 percent from the field, 28.1 percent from 3-point range, and 81.4 percent from the free throw line.
• Kami Wadsworth was the lone Sioux Falls player to receive All-NSIC recognition last season when she earned second team honors and was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year. She leads the team currently with 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting the ball 38.2 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from 3-point range, and 90.9 percent from the free throw line. She has posted three consecutive double figure games scoring to begin the year.
• The only other Cougar to enter the game scoring in double figures is Anna Vaaler, who is averaging 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting the ball 37.0 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from 3-point range, and 90.0 percent from the charity stripe. She posted a double-double in the loss to Emporia State in the regional challenge to begin the year, notching 13 points and 12 rebounds, while adding a pair of blocks and steals.
• Travis Trapphagen is in his 17^th season as the head coach at Sioux Falls, guiding the Cougars to a record of 285-175 during his career.

SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will be the 57^th all-time meeting between Black Hills State and Sioux Falls with the Yellow Jackets holding the 31-25 advantage in the series.
• BHSU won the most recent match-up on November 17, 2023, in A2 Arena in Spearfish by a score of 62-53 in the East/West Challenge.