SPEARFISH, S.D.- The Yellow Jackets are coming off a battle versus Westminster, where BHSU found themselves down early in the quarter, but were able to come back and win 64-55 to move to 16-8 (12-5 RMAC) and clinch their spot in the RMAC postseason tournament. Colorado Mines has a chance to clinch a share of the RMAC regular season title with a win, while BHSU stays alive for a share if they win. 

GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: February 22nd at 1 PM
Location: Grand Junction, Colo.- Brownson Arena

BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES:
•    Black Hills State enters this game versus Colorado Mesa ranked third in the RMAC at a 16-8 (12-5 RMAC) record. They are coming off of a close win versus Westminster that shouldn't have been as close as it was as BHSU blew multiple big leads late in this game to allow Westminster to stay in the ball game. 
•    The Yellow Jackets really didn't lead Westminster in that many stats and really what saved BHSU was their fourth quarter defense. BHSU held Westminster to 25 percent from the field in the fourth and only one basket made in the final eight minutes of the game. BHSU was really saved by a 18-8 run in the final frame after Westminster took their first lead of the matchup.  
•    The crucial part of the game that helped BHSU was their points in the paint. BHSU had 40 points in the paint compared to the 22 from Westminster. BHSU made eight more free throws then Westminster, which when you win by nine is a big deal
•    The 12 double-doubles BHSU has this year is the most in BHSU's D2 history. All five starters have at least one double double. The five different players with at least one is also the most in team history and the three players with multiple double-doubles is once again the most in team history. Currently, Kalla Bertram just got her fourth yesterday versus the Griffins. Haylee Weathersby and Bradie Schlabs each have three, while Morgan Hammerbeck and Gracie Haneborg have one. 
•    Black Hills State is ranked third of three RMAC schools in D2CSC South Central Regional Media Poll, appearing for the 13th consecutive week as they moved up the rankings to a tie for 6th and now sit above a slew of Lone Star Conference teams. 
•    Black Hills State had been picked to finish ninth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 94 points in the vote among head coaches. They are currently third in the conference standings after 12 wins in 17 games to begin RMAC schedule. They officially clinched a RMAC Tournament appearance yesterday, becoming the third RMAC team to do so this season. 
•    Through the first 24 games of the season BHSU is averaging 63.8 points, 38.7 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 6.4 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 41.5 percent from the field, 27.6 percent from 3-point range, and 68.7 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 58.3 points, 31.7 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 6.6 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 38.3 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from 3-point range, and 73.9 percent from the free throw line.
•    The Yellow Jackets currently rank 11th in NCAA Division II in fewest turnovers per game (12.8), seventh in fewest fouls per game (12-9), and 35th in rebound margin (7.0). In the win over Westminster, BHSU only turned the ball over 11 times, which was their lowest in four games, and only had 10 fouls, which is also their lowest in four games. They outrebounded the Griffins 48-37, which is their tenth time with a double-digit positive rebound margin.  
•    Leading four players in double figures scoring for Black Hills State is Kalla Bertram who is one of the top scorers and rebounders in the conference, ranking 10th in points per game (13.7) and 11th in rebounds per game (7.1). Additionally, Bertram adds 1.5 steals per game and 2.2 assists per game. She has been efficient shooting the ball as she ranks tenth in the RMAC in field goal percentage, knocking down 122-of-290 shot attempts (42.1%), and has scored in double figures in 19 of the 24 games this year. She has notched four double doubles this season against Lubbock Christian (17 points, 11 rebounds), Chadron State (19 points, 11 rebounds), CSU Pueblo (17 points, 10 rebounds), and Westminster (13 points, 12 rebounds). She has reached her season-high mark in steals on three different occasions and has recorded multiple steals in 15 games. Bertram is coming off her fourth double-double of the season, where she had 13 points and 12 rebounds against Westminster, while shooting 4-15 from the field. 
•     Haylee Weathersby, who is second on the team in scoring with 13.5 points and adds 6.4 rebounds per game. She currently ranks third in the RMAC in field goal percentage and 25th in the country, knocking down 125-of-227 (55.1%) shot attempts this year. She has scored 12 or more points in 16 of 23 games this year in addition to grabbing five or more boards in 19 contests including eight or more in three of the last five games. She is now at three double doubles this season against Chadron State (14 points, 10 rebounds), Colorado Christian (29 points, 10 rebounds), and UCCS (15 points, 10 rebounds). She is coming off a team-leading 19 points, 12 of which came in the fourth quarter. She also had a sole 10-2 run in the fourth that took BHSU from being down one to up seven and saved our season. She shot 7-10 (70%) from the field and 5-7 (71.4 %) from the free throw line. 
•    The lone freshman in the starting lineup for each of the first 22 games this year has been Bradie Schlabs is averaging 12.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. She has scored in double figures in 16 games, including a season-high of 24 points versus CSU Pueblo. She has now had 13 of her last 15 games with double-digits and ten of her last 14 with 13 or more points. She has secured four or more boards on 21 occasions, including 19 of the last 20 games. Schlabs has dished out four or more assists in 16 games, 11 of the last 17, and has tallied a steal in 21 of 24 games this year. She ranks third in the RMAC in assists (99), assists per game (4.1), and assist/turnover ratio (1.57), while also ranking 60th, 50th, and 69th nationally in NCAA Division II in the respective categories. Schlabs has officially moved into 9th all-time in single season assists with 99, passing Tracy Winjum and Lindsey Buthe. Schlabs is a one-time RMAC Offensive Player of the Week winner (2-10-25). She is coming off a great game versus Westminster where she 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while shooting 6-11 from the field, 1-1 from three, and 2-2 from the free throw line.  
•    Morgan Hammerbeck is another player to keep an eye on. She is averaging 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. She is shooting the ball 40.7 percent from the field, 32.3 percent on 3-pointers, and 78.9 percent of free throws. She currently ranks eighth in the RMAC in total 3-pointers made (41) and ninth in 3-pointers per game (1.71). Hammerbeck has one double-double this season coming against South Dakota Mines (18 points, 12 rebounds), and is coming off a quiet nine-point, seven-rebound performance versus the Griffins, where she shot 2-11 from the field and 0-4 from three, but 5-6 from the free throw line.   
•    Yellow Jacket alumna Rachel Erickson is in her first season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding BHSU to a 16-8 record thus far.

COLORADO MESA STORYLINES
•    Colorado Mesa is entering this game versus BHSU 20-4 (15-2 RMAC) and has won 13 straight games since December 20th. The Mavericks have not lost a game in 2025 calendar year and are coming off a 29-point win over South Dakota Mines. Colorada Mesa is ranked 24th in the D2CSC National Poll and is the first ranked team BHSU will face this season.
•    Colorado Mesa Head Coach Taylor Wagner is in the midst of his 13th season with Colorado Mesa. He currently sits at a 289- 88 record. He has led Colorado Mesa to six NCAA tournament appearances ('13, '14, '15, '19, '20, '22), and four RMAC tournament championships in 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2020.
•    Colorado Mesa is one of the top teams in the country in eight separate categories almost all offensive. Mesa is the top team in the country in assist/turnover ratio (1.46), 17th in assists per game (16.6), 28th  in field goal percentage (44.0), 13th in fouls per game (13.7), 11th in free throw percentage (78.7), 19th in scoring margin (14.8), second in turnovers per game (11.4), and 24th in winning percentage (83.3).
•    During their 13-game win streak, Mesa outscored teams 945-699, which is almost 19 points of separation per game. They have been averaging 72.7 points per game, while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three. They were absolutely destroying teams in the first half of games. Outscoring opponents by an average of 13.9 points in the first 20 minutes. They are averaging 37.1 points in the first half. 
•    The Mavericks are averaging 71.8 points per game, 38.2 rebounds, 16.6 assists, 5.8 steals, and 2.2 blocks, while shooting 44.0 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from three, and 78.7 percent from the free throw line. On the other hand, they are allowing 57.0 points, 31.4 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 5.6 steals, and 2.0 blocks, while opponents are shooting 38.3 percent from the field, 31.2 percent from three, and 65.0 percent from the charity stripe.  
•    Olivia Reed Thyne is the top player for the Mavericks. She leads the team and is fourth in the nation with 22.8 points per game, she is also fourth in field goals (222), third in double-doubles (16), tenth in field goal percentage (58.4). On the defensive side, she is sixth in the country in defensive rebounds per game (8.0) and 12th in rebounds per game (11.0). She has made it to double-digit points in every game this year and has made it to 20 in 12 of them, including the last four. She has also made it to ten rebounds in all but eight games this year, including five of the last six. Her high for points is 45 (Pittsburgh State) and her high for rebounds is 18 (Northwest Missouri State). She is coming off her 16th double-double of the season versus South Dakota Mines, where she had 23 points and 12 rebounds. She shot 7-11 from the field and 9-11 from the free throw line. 
•    Riley Hayes is the second leading scorer for the Colorado Mesa, averaging 13.5 points per game. She is the three point shooter for the Mavericks, ranking fifth in the country in three pointers per game (3.0), and eighth in three pointers (72), while being second in the RMAC in three-point attempts (202) and three-point percentage (35.6). Hayes has made a three pointer in every game this year but has recently gone cold going 6 for her last 23. She is coming off a ten-point performance where she went 4-12 from the field and 2-7 from behind the arc.  
•    Kylie Kravig is the third player in double-figures for the Mavericks. She averages 11.0 points per game. She is the playmaker of the trio, Kravig is sixth in the nation in assists per game (6.3), sixth in total assists (151), and 30th in assist/turnover ratio (1.96). Kravig has heated up pointwise since playing BHSU last, she has scored double-digits in six of her last eight and has had four assists in all but one game since the last time she faced us. She is coming off a 14-point, four-assist, and three-steal performance versus South Dakota Mines, where she shot 6-10 from the field including 2-4 from behind the arc.  

SERIES HISTORY
•    BHSU currently trails in the all-time series versus Mesa 8-14 and has lost four of the last six. They haven't won a game in Grand Junction since 2017-18. 
•    The last time these two faced off was earlier this year in A2 Arena, where CMU held BHSU to one of its worst offensive performances of all time. We went 15-58 from the field, 4-20 from behind the arc, and 7-21 from the free throw line. Bradie Schlabs was the leading scorer with 11.