SALT LAKE CITY, Utah --- In a very tightly contested matchup, it was Westminster College that was able to outlast the South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team Friday night as the Griffins held on for a 56-53 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory in Salt Lake City, Utah.

It was a very back-and-forth type basketball game. Westminster held a slim 12-10 lead after the first quarter and then went on a little run midway through the second and led by as much as 11 points before the Hardrockers were able to regroup and surge back. The Griffins outscored SD Mines, 19-15 in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 31-25 advantage.

The third period saw the Hardrockers rally back, outscoring the home team, 14-9, as Westminster held a one-point tilt, 40-39, heading into the final frame.

The four quarter saw the scored tied several times and with less than a minute remaining in the game the bout was knotted at 52 all. The Griffins' top player, Aubrie Vale, hit a jumper from the left elbow giving Westminster a 54-52 edge. The Hardrockers had an opportunity to tie the game when freshman Cooper Courtney was fouled on a two-point attempt. She converted the first of two foul shots to make it 54-53 with about 10 ticks left on the clock.

SD Mines was forced to put the Griffins on the foul line, where Vale hit both attempts. The Hardrockers had one final shot to tie the game with a three point attempt, but the shot was off the mark, giving the Griffins the win.

The Hardrockers finished the game shooting 42 percent from the field connecting on 22-52 attempts, including five from three-point range. They were 4-7 from the free throw line, had 38 rebounds, 15 assists, three steals and three blocks.

The Griffins made good on 22-63 shots for 35 percent, including eight three-point goals. They were a perfect 4-4 from the foul line, had 35 rebounds, 14 assists, 11 steals and two blocks.

SD Mines was paced by freshman Molly McCabe with 10 points, five rebounds and one assist. Courtney contributed with nine markers and freshmen Sami Steffeck and Anna Haugen both dished in eight points each. Junior Krista Showalter, who leads the RMAC in assists, added five more Friday night.

Vale led Westminster (7-9, 5-7) with 17 points on the night.

The loss drops SD Mines to 8-11 on the season and 6-8 in RMAC play. Next up the Hardrockers will be back home next weekend for RMAC games against Western State and Colorado Mesa.