SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's basketball team will be making their first appearance in A2 Arena this season on Friday, November 8, as they host Minot State. The Yellow Jackets who had a strong start to the year in the Lone Star State, look to continue the momentum back in Spearfish as they seek their sixth consecutive home opening win.
 
GAME DETAILS VS. MINOT STATE
Date & Time: Friday, November 8 at 6 PM
Location: Spearfish, S.D. – A2 Arena
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters the home opener with a record of 1-1 on the early season following a buzzer-beating win over West Texas A&M (57-55) and a loss to (RV) Lubbock Christian (73-66) in the D2CCA Tipoff Classic.
• With the win over the Lady Buffs the Yellow Jackets won their third consecutive season-opener, and they now look to win their sixth consecutive home opener on Friday night as they host Minot State.
• In the opening week of the season senior guard Kalla Bertram was named to the D2CCA Tipoff Classic All-Tournament Team as well as the RMAC Women's Basketball Preseason Watch List.
• Black Hills State has been picked to finish ninth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 94 points.
• Through the first two games of the season BHSU is averaging 61.5 points, 36.0 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 3.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 42.3 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from 3-point range, and 86.4 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 64.0 points, 27.0 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 6.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 42.1 percent from the field, 43.9 percent from 3-point range, and 76.9 percent from the free throw line.
• Bertram got off to a strong start to the season as she averages a double-double of 16.5 points and 10.0 rebounds through two games. Additionally, she has been efficient shooting the ball at a 63.6 percent clip from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range. Her outing of 17 points and 11 rebounds against LCU marked her first career double-double.
• Haylee Weathersby led the Yellow Jackets in scoring in game one of the season as she scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field against WT, while adding five rebounds. She enters Friday night averaging 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds through two games on the year.
• Rounding out players averaging double figures through the first weekend of action is freshman Maureen Ulrich, who adds 10.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. After only scoring two points in her collegiate debut against the Lady Buffs, she followed up the performance by lighting up the scoreboard against the Lady Chaparrals with a team-high 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, and 4-of-5 shooting from the charity stripe.
• An additional freshman to watch is Bradie Schlabs, who averaged a team-high 38.0 minutes per game and put up numbers of 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in BHSU's first two 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 1-1 record thus far.

MINOT STATE STORYLINES

• Minot State enters Friday's road tilt with a 1-2 record following a win over Texas A&M International (72-55) and losses to No. 8 Union (Tenn.) (86-64) and Findlay (67-58) in the D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead last weekend.
• The Beavers are picked to finish 14^th in the NSIC following a 10-22 (7-15 NSIC) record that saw them finish in a tie for tenth in the league a year ago.
• Through three games this season MSU has averaged 64.7 points, 30.7 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 8.3 steals, and 4.0 blocks, while shooting the ball 45.2 percent from the field, 32.4 percent from 3-point range, and 82.1 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 69.3 points, 34.0 rebounds, 16.3 assists, 12.7 steals, 1.7 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 39.0 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from 3-point range, and 80.0 percent from the free throw line.
• The Beavers are led by Emma Mogen who is averaging 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting the ball 41.4 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from 3-point range, and 80.0 percent from the free throw line. She scored a career-high of 18 points in the opener against Union, which included her knocking down four shots from beyond the arc.
• A second scorer to watch for Minot State is Maya Aguilar who is averaging 9.7 points per game and adds 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. She has also been consistent shooting through the first three games, shooting the ball 58.8 percent from the field, 60.0 percent from 3-point range, and 75.0 percent from the free throw line.
• Leading MSU on the glass is Lorelei McIver who has grabbed five or more boards in all three contests and is averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. She also adds 5.0 points and 1.3 blocks per game.
• Sydney Gustavsson was tabbed as the Minot State player to watch this season in the NSIC season preview, however while she is only averaging 5.7 points and 2.7 rebounds, she is dishing out a team-best 5.3 assists.
• Former Beaver assistant coach Ryan Clark returns to Minot State for his first season as the program's head coach. He was previously the head coach at Lake Region Community College the past two seasons and has now guided his teams to a career record of 41-26.

SERIES HISTORY

• Dating back to the 2003-04 season, Black Hills State holds a 14-8 advantage in the series between former DAC-10 foes.
• The Yellow Jackets won the most recent meeting between the teams on November 17, 2022, with a 61-50 victory over the Beavers in the Donald E. Young Center.