Spearfish, S.D.- The Yellow Jackets missed some late shots and free throws to cause them to drop their second straight against Western Colorado (13-4 (8-2 RMAC) 56-51. The loss drops BHSU to 11-6 (7-3 RMAC) and out of a tie for first in the conference.
Despite
Haylee Weathersby and
Kalla Bertram getting back into double-digits, the Yellow Jackets gave up a major 13-3 run throughout the 3rd quarter, and only scored three points in that frame, which was the lowest of the year. That gap that WCU was able to create cost the Yellow Jackets a good home win. The Yellow Jackets also struggled again from three going 2-14 from behind the arc, which was their third time in four games with under four threes.
GAME DETAILS
Score: Western Colorado: 56, Black Hills State: 51
Team Records: Black Hills State: 11-6 (7-3 RMAC), Western Colorado: 13-4 (8-2 RMAC)
Attendance: 1402
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Western Colorado started the game on an early 5-0 run, but Black Hills State answered right back with a 5-0 run of their own thanks to a Bertram layup and a Hammerbeck three-point play to tie it up at 5-5 with 6:23 in the quarter. After a layup by
Gracie Haneborg kept the game at 7-7, the Mountaineers went on a 4-0 run to put their lead 11-7 with wit 4:49 in the quarter. They would then alternate the next four shots to keep the lead at 16-11. With the score at 18-13, BHSU went on a 6-0 run thanks to four points from Weathersby and a layup from Bertram. It would be BHSU's first lead of the game at 19-18, and they would keep that score to the end of the quarter. Weathersby finished with eight points in the first.
• Black Hills State went on a 4-1 run to start the second quarter and take a 23-19 lead with 7:57 left in the half with help from a layup from both Bertram and Haneborg. After Rachel Cockman made a layup of her own to bring the lead down to two, Haneborg hit a big three to bring it back up to five, which was BHSU's largest lead of the game. Each team went on a 4-0 run to bring the score to 30-25 with 4:47 left in the half. The Mountaineers went on their own 5-0 run to tie it up at 30 with a Alyssa Eckroth three.
Audrey Norville hit a three to answer, before Cockman made a layup to end the half at a 33-32 Yellow Jackets lead.
• Halftime leaders for the Yellow Jackets were Weathersby and Bertram each with eight points, Haneborg had seven. Haneborg and Hammerbeck each had four rebounds. Hammerbeck had two assists.
Bradie Schlabs and Hammerbeck each had a steal, and Weathersby had a block. The Yellow Jackets shot 41.9 percent from the field and 50 percent from three, while improving this game with 5-6 free throws. Cockman led the Mountaineers with ten points, while she and Ivey Schmidt each had four rebounds. Brooklyn Seymour and Penelope Urquhart each had two assists. Cockman and Chloe Daniels each had a steal, and Cockman also had four blocks, her career is five.
• Western Colorado started this half with a 4-0 run to take the lead back at 36-33. Black Hills State didn't score in the third until there was just 5:03 left in the quarter, when Haneborg made a layup to put it a 36-35. WCU then went on a 9-0 run to bring the score to 45-35 with 1:23 remaining before the fourth. A Bertram free throw was the only point that was scored before the break to give the Mountaineers a 45-36 lead. Black Hills State scored three points in the third quarter, the lowest scoring quarter of the season for the Yellow Jackets.
• After each team scored three to start the final quarter, Black Hills State went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to four with seven minutes remaining. The Yellow Jackets were then able to cut the lead to one with 4:13 remaining at 50-49. After a 4-2 run for the Mountaineers, the score was at 54-51 with just over a minute left, but a couple of crucial misses late, and Western Colorado was able to make two free throws to put it out of reach at 56-51, where it ended.
BLACK HILLS STATE STAT LEADERS:
UP NEXT
Black Hills State now heads on the road Thursday to face Chadron State in the Chicoine Center at 5 PM. BHSU won 60-52 in their last matchup versus the Eagles in A2 Arena.
