Date/Time/Location: Thursday, December 13 / 4 p.m. / Spearfish, S.D. / A2 Arena
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online at the link above.
RMAC Network: Beginning in the 2025-26 season the RMAC Network will now move to Pay-Per-View. Fans can purchase a single game pass ($10), monthly ($25) or annual subscription ($130). Individuals with bhsu.edu or yellowjackets.bhsu.edu email address can still take advantage of the Peak Pricing Promotion by using the code Y26-RMACEDU.

Promotions: It’s a BLACK OUT in A2 Arena, Fans are encouraged to wear green to Thursday night’s games against the Mountain Lions and “Black Out” A2 Arena.
KDSJ Radio: Black Hills State women's basketball continues to air live on KDSJ Radio with the voice of the Yellow Jackets, Steve Ammerman, giving the play-by-play for all the action.

Linear TV: BHSU Athletics has partnered with Forum Communications to bring you BHSU games to your live TV. You will now be able to watch all home events on cable at the KNBN-2 Station in Rapid City and the KSFL-TV station in Sioux Falls. Channel numbers and schedules for each of those channels for all sports can be found at the link above.

• The Yellow Jackets are 3-5 and 2-1 in the RMAC after getting their first single-digit margin win this season versus UCCS. They had lost five straight under ten-point games going into that matchup, but pulled out the win in dramatic style. It’s BHSU’s first two-game win streak of the season and the Jackets are riding high heading into this matchup versus CCU.
• The Yellow Jackets held a UCCS offense that averaged 73 points per game to 56 points. The Mountain Lions were shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 31 percent from three, but shot 37.9 percent and 26.3 percent from each of those places. The Yellow Jackets held their leading scorer, who was averaging 18 points per game to eight points in the match. The key to the game was free throws. BHSU made 25 free throws on 80.6 percent from the line while UCCS made seven free throws on 38.9 percent from the line. 
• Through the first five games of the season BHSU is averaging 65.6 points, 41.6 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 8.9 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 38.2 percent from the field, 28.0 percent from 3-point range, and 69.4 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 57.1 points, 33.3 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 6.1 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 39.2 percent from the field, 27.7 percent from 3-point range, and 64.6 percent from the free throw line.
• BHSU is ranked top 100 in the country in nine different stats so far this year. They are 23rd in rebound margin (8.4), 41st in offensive rebounds per game (15.1), 42nd in scoring defense (57.1), 51st in rebounds per game (41.6), 71st in turnovers per game (15.4), 74th in bench points per game (23.9), 79th in scoring margin (8.5), 95th in three point percentage defense (27.7), and 97th in assist/turnover ratio (0.84) 
• The Yellow Jackets are a brand-new team. They only have seven returning players and only two saw meaningful minutes last year with only one starter returning in Bradie Schlabs. Last year the Yellow Jackets went 18-11 (13-7 RMAC) and finished fourth in the conference and won a game in the RMAC Tournament. They bring in three transfers and six freshmen, while getting two girls back from injury.
• The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish sixth in the conference in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll with 127 points and one third place vote. They are currently 2-1 in the RMAC.
• The Yellow Jackets have now won the rebounding battle in each of their first eight games to begin the season. It is only the second time in BHSU’s RMAC history that they’ve won the rebounding battle in eight straight games and the first time that they’ve won it in eight straight to begin the season.
• The Yellow Jackets are averaging 15.1 offensive rebounds per game and for the first time in BHSU’s RMAC history have won the offensive rebounding battle in all eight games this season, which is the first time to begin a season and the longest streak in program’s D2 history.
• They defeated the Chadron State Eagles by 49 in what is now the largest RMAC margin of victory in program history. The Yellow Jackets held a 51-10 lead at halftime.
• BHSU are one of only two teams in the country to have a scoring margin greater than seven points per game and have a losing record overall. The other is New Mexico Highlands.
• The Yellow Jackets shot 25-31 from the free throw line in the win versus UCCS. It was only the second time since 2021 that BHSU made 25 free throws in a game. It was also only the fourth time in the program’s D2 era that they made 25 or more free throws in a game and shot over 80 percent from the line.
• On the other hand, the 38.9 percent from the charity stripe (7-18) that UCCS shot was the lowest free-throw percentage by an opponent who shot over 15 free throws in BHSU’s D2 history.
• Addie Branscum is a newcomer, who is already making a huge impact for the Yellow Jackets. Branscum, a transfer from Regis, is averaging 11.0 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from behind the arc. Her career-high is now 19 points and 13 rebounds, which she did late in the season versus Colorado Christian. Branscum has now had ten points in six of the eight games this year. She has also reached four rebounds in all but one game. Branscum had the first double-double of her career against SDM where she had 16 points and ten rebounds. She then had ten points and five rebounds against CSC.
• Reigning All-RMAC Second Team Bradie Schlabs is the only starter returning this year. She was named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team. She has started the year averaging 9.9 points per game, 3.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists. After becoming the first player in BHSU history to have 300 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists in a season last year, the sophomore has reached ten points in four of the eight games including 23 points in the season opener versus St. Edward’s. She dropped 15 points, six assists, and three steals against South Dakota Mines and then had 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists against UCCS.
• Sawyer Stoebner is third on the team in scoring with 9.9 points per game after putting up her fourth third ten plus point outing against UCCS. She is also second on the team with 5.5 rebounds. She went out and put 15 points on the Cougars and shot 7-7 from the free throw line. This was just after she had her first 20-point game of her career versus Minnesota Crookston. She also had 14 rebounds during the East/West Challenge with a career-high eight versus Sioux Falls. Stoebner had 11 points, five rebounds, and six steals in the dominant win over the Eagles. Then turned it around and had 10 points and 5 rebounds versus the Mountain Lions
• Emily Cooper is in the midst of a breakout sophomore campaign, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin native is averaging 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists this year while shooting 36.2 percent from the field on 21-58 shooting. She is ranked 39th in the country in assists/turnover ratio (2.00). Cooper a great game earlier in the season where she had a 14 points versus Sioux Falls. She shot 5-12 from the field and 3-10 from the three-point line. While also adding three rebounds and three assists. Cooper beat that with a career-night versus UCCS, where she had a career-high 19 points, with 12 of them coming in the fourth quarter. She shot 4-8 from the field, 4-8 from three, and 7-8 from the charity stripe including making three of four in the final 18 seconds.
• Audrey Norville has turned into a solid player for BHSU. She played a lot of minutes last year and has now been thrown into the starting lineup. She is leading the team in rebounds with 5.6 while averaging 6.0 points per game. After not scoring in the first game versus SEU, Norville had a stellar second start, where she had her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Each of those were career highs. She nearly had her second career double-double with seven points and eight rebounds versus UCCS. She went 5-5 from the free throw line in that game.
• Alli Glasscock is making a massive impact as a freshman. She has only been averaging 14.6 minutes per game, but has averaged 6.0 points and 4.3 rebounds. She is shooting 42.5 percent from the file don 17-40 shooting. She nearly had a double-double versus Northern State, where she had 12 points and nine rebounds which were both career-highs. Against CSC, she had eight points, six rebounds and four steals. 
• Head coach Kelly Kruger is in the midst of his first season as Interim Head Coach of the BHSU Yellow Jackets. He is 3-5 in his time with the Green and Gold. He is in his 35th season as a head coach, however, and has a record of 534-451 with programs across all levels of college basketball including Northwestern College, Southwest Minnesota State, Adams State, Ashford University, and Iowa Central Community College.

• Colorado Christian is 2-7 and 1-2 in conference play to begin the year. They are coming off a loss to South Dakota Mines by three. They begun the year with a loss to #13 Lubbock Christian before upsetting #20 Texas Tyler by 14. They then lost six of their next seven including a three-point loss to SDM and a loss to St. Edward’s who BHSU beat to begin the season. The Cougars’ scoring margin is -10.2 points per game.
• Through the first two games of the season CCU is averaging 53.0 points, 30.7 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 6.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 36.4 percent from the field, 30.0 percent from 3-point range, and 68.7 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 63.2 points, 37.0 rebounds, 12.3 assists, 7.6 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 36.9 percent from the field, 27.2 percent from 3-point range, and 74.1 percent from the free throw line.
• The Cougar’s defense has been keeping them in games this year as they are ranked top 90 in three categories. They are 76th in field goal percentage defense (36.9), 84th in three point percentage defense (27.2), and 84th in turnovers per game (15.8).
• The Cougars are returning two players who started 44 out of 53 games last year and one role players who played 25 games. Last year CCU had five players averaging ten points or more per game, all five are no longer on the team this year.  
• CCU was picked to finish tenth in the RMAC this year after going 8-12 in conference last year. They received 75 points, just behind MSU Denver. They are currently 1-2 in RMAC play with a win versus Western Colorado.
• Jordan Heckert has been one of the top players for CCU this year. She is the only scorer averaging over ten points per game averaging exactly 10.0 ppg. She is also averaging 4.3 rebounds per game, which is third on the team. She is shooting 42.7 percent from the field on 35-82. She is also shooting 33.3 percent from three making 13 of her 39 shots. She has scored ten points in five of her nine matchups including three of her last four with a season high being 18 versus Western Colorado. She had only seven points in 22 minutes versus SDM. 
• Junior guard from UT Rio Grande Valley Ja’Shelle Johnson is second on the team in points per game averaging 9.2. She is the assist leader and minutes leader averaging 3.0 and 33.9 respectively. She has reached the ten point mark four times this year including a season-high 15 points in the loss to the Hardrockers. She has three assists in five games this year including nine versus Western Colorado. She had 15 points, three rebounds, and five assists versus SDM.
• Elise Grosdidier is one of only two starters returning this year and she is third on the team with 8.0 points per game and is second on the team with 4.7 rebounds per game. She is shooting 29-63 (.460) from the field this year. She has ten points in four games this year including 15 versus Texas A&M International, while also having three rebounds in all but one game including eight twice in back-to-back games versus TA&M International and Western Colorado. She had six points and three rebounds versus South Dakota Mines.
• Head Coach Carissa Ratliff is in her second season as head coach of the Cougars and is 12-25 as a head coach. She went 10-18 last year and is already 2-7 this year.  

 
SERIES HISTORY

• BHSU holds the series lead versus CCU 14-9 and has won six of the last seven dating back to 2021. The Yellow Jackets have won those six games by an average win margin of nine ponts. 
• Last year they won the game in Lakewood 77-70 364 days ago. The Yellow Jackets were down by three entering the final quarter and outscored the Cougars 26-16 to take the win with Schlabs having 13 points.