SPEARFISH, S.D.- The Black Hills State Yellow Jackets (4-5 (3-1 RMAC)) are fresh off a weekend sweep against UCCS and CCU that ended with a dominant 22-point win over Colorado Christian. It is now three straight wins for the Green and Gold. They now head to Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Clasico, where they will face PUCPR (Catholic (P.R.)) and P.R. Mayaguez in a doubleheader. It will be the first time BHSU has faced anyone outside the 50 U.S. states.
 
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Date/Time/Location: PUCPR: Wednesday, December 17 / 2 p.m. AST/ 11 AM MST / Bayamon, P.R. / Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum
UPR Mayaguez: Thursday, December 18 / 12 PM AST/ 9 AM MST / Caguas, P.R. / Roger Mendoza Coliseum
Live Stream: The Live Stream link you can access at the link above or on our website. The stream is on puertoricocollegesportstours.com and is $15 per game to access the live stream, which can be bought on that site.

BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• The Yellow Jackets are 4-5 and 3-1 in the RMAC after dominating the Cougars Saturday night. BHSU, for the third time this season, had a victory margin of over 20 points and shot 41.7 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from three and 65 percent from the free throw line. They outrebounded CCU 48-28 with 33 defensive rebounds. They also won the assist battle 16-8.
• It was the Yellow Jackets first time making over 35 percent from three this year and they blew that out of the water. After going 2-8 from three in the first half, BHSU went a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc in the third quarter and then made 2-5 in the fourth. Finishing with a 7-16 (43.8) percent mark. In the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets shot 47.1 percent from the field, which led all quarters to help BHSU outscore CCU 21-9 in the frame. The Green and Gold outscored the Cougars 41-23 in the second half and held them to shooting 4-22 (.182) from the field and 2-10 (.200) from deep in the second half.
• Through the first five games of the season BHSU is averaging 66.1 points, 42.3 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 8.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 38.6 percent from the field, 29.4 percent from 3-point range, and 68.8 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 56.1 points, 32.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 6.4 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 37.9 percent from the field, 27.0 percent from 3-point range, and 68.0 percent from the free throw line.
• BHSU is ranked top 100 in the country in ten different stats so far this year. They are 20^th in rebound margin (9.7), 31^st in rebounds per game (42.3), 34^th in scoring defense (56.1), 36^th in offensive rebounds per game (15.1), 65^th in scoring margin (10.0), 70^th in defensive rebounds per game (27.2), 71^st in turnovers per game (15.3), 78^th in three point percentage defense (27.0), 84^th in assist/turnover ratio (0.86), and 88^th in bench points per game (22.8).
• 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 3-1 in the RMAC and in a tie for third in the conference.
• The Yellow Jackets have now won the rebounding battle in each of their first nine games to begin the season. It is the longest streak in BHSU's RMAC history that they've won the rebounding battle and the first time that they've won it in nine 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 nine games this season, which is the first time to begin a season and the longest streak in program's D2 history.
• The Yellow Jackets have three wins this year by 20 points or more. They only did so five times in all of the 2024-25 season.
• 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 10.1 points per game, 3.7 rebounds and 4.2 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 five of the nine games this season. Schlabs is now ranked third in the RMAC in assists/turnover ratio (1.52), fourth in total assists (38), and is leading the conference in assists per game (4.2), which ranks 43^rd in the country. She has had two assists in every game this year and has had four in seven of nine. She also has two steals in four of the last five games. She did it all versus Colorado Christian finishing with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. She shot 4-9 from the field and 2-4 from three.
• Sawyer Stoebner is third on the team in scoring with 10.0 points per game after putting up her third ten plus point outing in a row against CCU. She is also second on the team with 5.8 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. Finally, she finished 2025 RMAC play by scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds against the Cougars.
• Emily Cooper is in the midst of a breakout sophomore campaign, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin native is averaging 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists this year while shooting 37.1 percent from the field on 23-62 shooting. She is ranked 36^th in the country and second in the RMAC in assists/turnover ratio (2.06). She is also ranked third in the RMAC in assists per game (3.7). Cooper a great game earlier in the season where she had 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. She turned around and had six points on 2-3 from behind the arc along with three rebounds and five assists.
• 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 5.9, 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. Norville has put up eight rebounds in each of the last two games and has had five or more in seven of nine. She had six points to go along with the eight rebounds versus CCU and shot 2-2 from behind the arc.
• Taylin Serlen has made a massive impact as of late for the Yellow Jackets. The Regis transfer, after only playing a combined 40 minutes in the first seven games of the season has played in 53 the last two games. She is averaging 5.6 points per game and is fourth in the RMAC in blocks per game (.88). She has entered the starting lineup and made her presence known. Against UCCS, she was tasked with guarding one of the RMAC's top scorers the entire game and held her to eight points. She also shot 6-8 from the free throw line in that game en route to eight points, four rebounds, and a block. Against CCU, she had her best RMAC game of her career on Saturday. She had an RMAC career-high 17 points on 7-12 (.583) from the field and 3-4 (.750) from the line, she also had five rebounds and a block.
• Head coach Kelly Kruger is in the midst of his first season as Interim Head Coach of the BHSU Yellow Jackets. He is 4-5 in his time with the Green and Gold. He is in his 35th season as a head coach, however, and has a record of 536-451 with programs across all levels of college basketball including Northwestern College, Southwest Minnesota State, Adams State, Ashford University, and Iowa Central Community College.

 
PUCPR STORYLINES

• PUCPR is a member of Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico and has not played a game versus an NCAA opponent this year.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• BHSU has never played PUCPR and will look to get a 1-0 record versus the Pioneros.

 
UPR MAYAGUEZ STORYLINES

• UPR Mayaguez is a member of Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico and is also an independent member of NCAA Division II. They have played in six games this year against D2 schools and are 0-6 this season. In their last game they lost by 33 to UT-Dallas and their closest game this season has been a 21-point loss to Barry.
• UPR Mayaguez is averaging 46.2 points per game, 37.2 rebounds per game, 8.3 assists per game, 9.3 steals per game, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 31.3 percent from the field, 15.6 percent from behind the arc, and 57.3 percent from the charity stripe
• The Juanas are ranked top 75 in two categories. They are 64^th in the country in steals per game (8.3) and are 72^nd in offensive rebounds per game (14.0).
• Their top player is Paola Santiago Hernandez, who is averaging 15.0 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. She has reached double-digits in four out of five games this season including a 25-point performance in their matchup versus Barry. She had a 19-point, 17-rebound double-double versus Saint Leo and has reached seven rebounds in four out of five games. She's also shot 47.8 percent from the field through the five games she's played.
• Sofia Alvarez is another top player for UPRM, she is averaging 6.6 points per game and 5.6 rebound per game. She had 13 points versus Saint Leo and 14 versus Palm Beach Atlantic. She also had 12 rebounds versus Saint Leo for her only double-double of the season.
• Head Coach Franklin Roman is in his 15^th season as head coach of the Juanas. He is 6-80 all time for UPRM. He has not had more than one win in a season as a head coach.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• BHSU has never faced UPRM and will have a chance to go 1-0 on the Juanas.