SPEARFISH, S.D.- The Black Hills State Yellow Jackets (6-5 (3-1 RMAC)) enter 2026 on a high after winning five straight games to close out the year and get themselves over .500. They are coming off back-to-back 50-point wins in Puerto Rico and will now head to Denver for a road trip that includes a matchup versus Regis (0-7 (0-4) RMAC), where BHSU has a couple transfers from this year in Addie Branscum and Taylin Serlen.
 
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Date/Time/Location: Thursday, January 8 / 7 p.m. / Denver, Colo. / Regis Field House
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.


BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• The Yellow Jackets are 6-5 and 3-1 in the RMAC after having an incredibly dominant run in Puerto Rico where they outscored their two opponents 168-59. It was a very historic weekend for the Yellow Jackets who now sit with a winning record for the first time since they were 1-0 and have an average scoring margin of 18.1. They also set plenty of other records during that break.
• Against PUCPR, The Green and Gold set the record for most rebounds in a single game in BHSU's RMAC history (61), most offensive rebounds in a single game in BHSU's RMAC history (29), least fouls in a single game in BHSU's RMAC history (4), and it was the first time since 2019 that the Yellow Jackets scored 90 points in a game (91), and the most assists in a game since 2017 (26). The Yellow Jackets used all of this to set the biggest win margin of the season and the biggest since 2017 (58). It was the first time in BHSU's D2 history that they won back-to-back games by over 50 points.
• Through the first five games of the season BHSU is averaging 69.4 points, 45.0 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 9.5 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 40.1 percent from the field, 29.1 percent from 3-point range, and 65.8 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 51.3 points, 30.8 rebounds, 9.4 assists, 6.6 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 35.2 percent from the field, 24.9 percent from 3-point range, and 65.8 percent from the free throw line.
• BHSU is ranked top 50 in the country in ten different stats so far this year. They are third in rebound margin (14.2), fifth in scoring defense (51.3), sixth in rebounds per game (45.0), 11^th in offensive rebounds per game (17.0), 13^th in scoring margin (18.1), 32^nd in field goal percentage defense (35.2), 33^rd in three point percentage defense (24.9), 44^th in defensive rebounds per game (28.0), 48^th in assist/turnover ratio (0.98), and 48^th in assists per game (15.1).
• 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 11 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 11 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 five wins this year by 20 points or more. They only did so five times in all of the 2024-25 season.
• Against PUCPR, The Green and Gold set the record for most rebounds in a single game in BHSU's RMAC history (61), most offensive rebounds in a single game in BHSU's RMAC history (29), least fouls in a single game in BHSU's RMAC history (4), and it was the first time since 2019 that the Yellow Jackets scored 90 points in a game (91), and the most assists in a game since 2017 (26). The Yellow Jackets used all of this to set the biggest win margin of the season and the biggest since 2017 (58).
• They have now won two games in a row by 50 or more points, which is the first time in program history. They beat PUCPR by 58 and then beat UPR Mayaguez by 51.
• They defeated the Chadron State Eagles by 49 in what is now the third largest RMAC margin of victory in program history. The Yellow Jackets held a 51-10 lead at halftime.
• 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.
• Sawyer Stoebner is second on the team in scoring with 9.7 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 6.0 rebounds. Stoebner is third in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (3.1). 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. Stoebner did not play much in the blowout wins in PR. Finishing with 17 total points in 36 total minutes. She had 14 rebounds in the two games in Puerto Rico.
• 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 9.4 points per game, 4.0 rebounds and 4.9 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 second in the RMAC in assists/turnover ratio (1.93), third in total assists (54), and is leading the conference in assists per game (4.9), which ranks 15th in the country. She has had two assists in every game this year and has had four in nine of 11. She also has two steals in four of the last five games. She had a career-high nine assists in the win versus PUCPR and added seven more versus UPRM. The also had 11 rebounds in two games in only 42 minutes.
• Emily Cooper is in the midst of a breakout sophomore campaign, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin native is averaging 7.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists this year while shooting 38.0 percent from the field on 27-71 shooting. She is ranked 35^th in the country and third in the RMAC in assists/turnover ratio (1.86). She is also ranked fifth in the RMAC in assists per game (3.5). 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. In the game versus PUCPR, she had nine points going 3-3 from behind the arc and also added four assists.
• 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 90 the last four games. She is averaging 7.5 points per game and is fifth in the RMAC in blocks per game (.80). 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. In the two games in Puerto Rico, she averaged 15 points per game reaching 16 versus PUCPR with 7 rebounds and then 14 versus UPR Mayaguez with four rebounds. Serlen went 12-17 (.705) from the field in the two games.
• 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 6.1, while averaging 6.5 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. She had 17 combined points in P.R. and then had ten rebounds versus UPR Mayaguez.
• Head coach Kelly Kruger is in the midst of his first season as Interim Head Coach of the BHSU Yellow Jackets. He is 6-5 in his time with the Green and Gold. He is in his 35th season as a head coach, however, and has a record of 538-451 with programs across all levels of college basketball including Northwestern College, Southwest Minnesota State, Adams State, Ashford University, and Iowa Central Community College.

 
REGIS STORYLINES

• Regis is 0-7 and 0-4 in the RMAC headed into this matchup. They have only kept two game within double digits losing to Fort Lewis by three in early December and losing to Western by nine in their next game. The Rangers are coming off a season where they finished 13-15 and 11-9 in RMAC play but have yet to get a win yet
• Through the first seven games of the season RU is averaging 50.6 points, 38.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 8.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 31.8 percent from the field, 21.7 percent from 3-point range, and 61.6 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 68.9 points, 40.1 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 13.7 steals, and 4.9 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 41.4 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from 3-point range, and 72.9 percent from the free throw line.
• The Rangers are top six in the RMAC in five categories. They are fourth in rebounds per game (38.6), fifth in defensive rebounds per game (26.5), fifth in fouls per game (15.6), sixth in offensive rebounds per game (12.1), and sixth in three point attempts per game (21.3).
• RU was picked to finish 15th in the RMAC this year with 21 points. They currently sit in a three way tie for 13^th in the conference with an 0-4 record with Chadron State and Westminster.
• Kate Gallery has been the top scorer for Regis so far this year. The junior forward is averaging 14 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. She has reached double digits in three of the four games she's played this year including 20 points versus Angelo State and 16 versus Western Colorado. In the loss to ASU, Gallery also had eight rebounds and three assists, which were both season highs. In the recent loss to Mesa, Gallery had seven points and four rebounds going 3-9 from the field.
• Caitie Turnbow has been a solid player for the Rangers as well. She is averaging 10.6 points per game through seven games; she is averaging 6.4 rebounds per game. She has reached double-digits in four of the seven games this season including 15 in each of the first two games of the season. Against Mesa, she had 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists while reaching five rebounds in every game but one, including 11 in a double-double performance in the season opener versus Eastern New Mexico.
• Jessica Bollwahn is the top rebounder in the country. The senior is averaging 11.1 rebounds per game, which is eighth in the country and is also averaging 9.3 defensive rebounds per game, which leads the country. She is also third in the RMAC in steals per game with 2.5. Bollwahn also averages 7.1 points per game. She has reached double-digit rebounds in four of the seven games. She had a monster game versus Fort Lewis where she had 19 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, six steals, and two blocks.
• Head Coach Jason Kohler is in his first year as head coach of Regis after serving as  a graduate assistant for the past three seasons. He is now 0-7 as head coach of the Rangers.

SERIES HISTORY

• BHSU holds the series lead 15-7 over the RU after having won ten of the last 13 matchups and won both matches last year versus the Rangers.
• Last year they won in Denver 67-59 and Schlabs had 16 points and five assists. They also beat them by 24 in Spearfish earlier in January with Schlabs having 15 points and six assists.