SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's basketball team will begin RMAC action on Tuesday, December 3, with a rivalry battle against South Dakota Mines. The Yellow Jackets and the Hardrockers will meet for the 111^th time during the 5:30 p.m. tip-off in the King Center in Rapid City, as BHSU looks to win their fifth straight and break a 55-55 tie in the all-time series between the teams.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 3 at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Rapid City, S.D. – King Center
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters the conference opener with a record of 4-3 on the year following an exhibition loss (59-39) at NCAA Division I Colorado State last week Monday. In the match-up the Yellow Jackets played strong defensively, holding Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year, Emma Ronsiek, to just three points and 1-of-6 shooting from the field. Additionally, BHSU won the battle on the glass as they out-rebounded the Rams 40-35 and held a 13-7 edge in offensive rebounds.
• The Yellow Jackets are 9-3 all-time in RMAC openers and have won three straight.
• For the fourth consecutive week BHSU is ranked within the South Central Region D2CSC Media Poll, moving up one spot to No. 9 on Monday.
• Black Hills State has been picked to finish ninth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 94 points.
• Through the first seven games of the season BHSU is averaging 66.6 points, 36.1 rebounds, 11.7 assists, 6.1 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 42.8 percent from the field, 28.8 percent from 3-point range, and 78.5 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 64.6 points, 32.0 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 5.6 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 40.1 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from 3-point range, and 73.6 percent from the free throw line.
• The Yellow Jackets currently rank 16^th in NCAA Division II in free throw percentage and are 23^rd in fewest turnovers per game.
• Leading a pair of players in double figures scoring for Black Hills State is Kalla Bertram who scores 14.0 points per game and adds 7.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 assists per game. She has been efficient shooting the ball at a 48.8 percent clip on the year and has scored in double figures in five of the seven games which includes a double-double against Lubbock Christian (17 points, 11 rebounds). In the exhibition against CSU she scored eight points while securing ten rebounds.
• Haylee Weathersby is second on the team in scoring with 13.4 points and adds 5.4 rebounds per game. Among players who average 2.5 made free throws per game nationally, she is one of eight players in all of DII to not miss a free throw this season, knocking down 18-of-18 at the charity stripe. She has reached double figures and has scored 12 or more points in five of seven games this year in addition to grabbing five or more boards in six contests. She poured in a season-high of 19 points in the win over Minnesota Crookston as she shot the ball 9-of-14 from the field. In the exhibition against CSU she scored five points while adding seven rebounds and a pair of assists.
• Morgan Hammerbeck is another player to keep an eye on as she is averaging 9.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. In the win against UMC, she scored a career-high of 27 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the field, 3-of-8 from the 3-point line, and 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. In addition to the 27 points against the Golden Eagles she added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Overall, on the year she has reached double figures twice, has recorded four or more rebounds in six contests, and has dished out three or more assists on three occasions. She is currently 18-of-19 from the charity stripe for 94.7 percent and has made 11 straight entering the match-up with South Dakota Mines. In the exhibition against the Rams, she scored eight points while knocking down a pair of 3-pointers, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out three assists.
• The lone freshman in the starting lineup for each of the first seven games this year has been Bradie Schlabs, who has averaged 8.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. She has scored in double figures in four games, including a season-high of 14 points against Northern State. The very next game she then notched her first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds against Sioux Falls. She has secured four or more boards on five occasions, has dished out four or more assists in five games, and has tallied a steal in all seven games this year. In NCAA Division II she ranks 26^th nationally in assists and is 54^th nationally in assists per game.
• Yellow Jack alumna Rachel Erickson is in her first season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding BHSU to a 4-3 record thus far.

SOUTH DAKOTA MINES STORYLINES

• South Dakota Mines enters the RMAC opener with a record of 0-7 on the season following a pair of losses at Alaska Anchorage last weekend, falling by scores of 80-41 and 83-44 to the Seawolves.
• The Hardrockers are picked to finish 11^th in the RMAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Through seven games this season SDM has averaged 53.4 points, 34.1 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 4.4 steals, and 3.3 blocks, while shooting the ball 34.1 percent from the field, 26.2 percent from 3-point range, and 76.7 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 76.0 points, 36.6 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 11.3 steals, 3.1 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 45.4 percent from the field, 33.0 percent from 3-point range, and 74.6 percent from the free throw line.
• Leading a pair of Hardrockers averaging double figures in scoring is Savea Mansfield, who is pouring in 12.0 points per game while adding 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steal per game this year. She began the year by reaching double digits scoring in each of the first four contests, starting with back-to-back 18-point contests against Texas Permian Basin and West Texas A&M. Additionally, she has grabbed five or more rebounds in five games and has collected multiple steals in three match-ups.
• The only other player to average double digits is Piper Bauer, a RMAC Preseason Watch List selection, who is averaging 11.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game this season. She has scored in double figures on four occasions, including a season-high of 20 points against Northern State. She is a 30.4 percent 3-point shooter and has knocked down a season-high of four 3-pointers three times in match-ups against Northern State, Minnesota Crookston, and the second contest against Alaska Anchorage.
• Jeri Owsley is in her sixth season as the head coach at South Dakota Mines, guiding the Hardrockers to a record of 40-69 during her career.

SERIES HISTORY

• Tuesday will mark the 111^th meeting on the hardwood between Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines as the teams enter with the all-time series tied at 55-55.
• The Yellow Jackets extended their winning streak in the series to four on January 31, 2024, as they notched a 71-68 victory over the Hardrockers in the King Center in Rapid City.