RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team will make a homecoming this week after one of their farthest road trips of the season. The Hardrockers will play four in-a-row in Goodell Gymnasium at the King Center before finishing the 2016-17 schedule with four road games.
 
After a well-earned victory last Tuesday against Black Hills State (61-42) the Hardrocker traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, for a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) bout against the Westminster College Griffins. Unfortunately the Lady 'Rokers lost in a very close contest, 56-53.
 
SD Mines now has a 6-8 record in the RMAC which has them tied for ninth place in the conference --- one place out of the RMAC post-season tournament. The Hardrockers are 8-11 overall.
 
"This is the time of year you have to be mentally prepared and ready to go, especially in the situation we are in," said Hardrocker women's basketball head coach Ryan Larsen. "If we don't get over Friday night in a hurry we are going to have troubles."
 
On Friday, Western State Colorado University will come to Rapid City for a matchup against the SD Mines women. The Mountaineers have a 3-10 record in conference play after losing four- straight contests and have a 4-13 overall mark. Western State has the second lowest scoring offense in the RMAC and an average scoring margin of -10.4 points.
 
"Western State is a really good team, I am very impressed with the way they are playing right now," said Hardrocker women's basketball head coach Ryan Larsen said of the Mountaineers.
 
The Mountaineers offense has recently been clicking during the first half of play. Over the past two games, Western outscored opponents by a combined 19 points during the first two quarters of play.
 
Harlie Williams leads the Mountaineers in scoring, rebounding and three-point field goals made. The senior forward averages 8.4 points per game and grabs 4.6 rebounds per game. Her 34 made three-pointers also leads the team.
 
On Saturday the Lady 'Rockers will play host the conference's third-placed team, Colorado Mesa. The Mavericks from Grand Junction, Colo., post a 13-4 overall mark and 10-3 conference record.
 
CMU has a standout in senior Bryanna Adams. Adams leads the RMAC in scoring (20.1 ppg) and threes per game (3.6). Adams is also second in all of the NCAA Div. II in threes per game and could prove to be a handful for the Hardrockers Saturday night.
 
Colorado Mesa also picked up their 400th RMCA win last Friday night when they defeated MSU Denver 77-65. Head coach Taylor Wagner is in his fifth season with the Lady Mavericks. He has amassed a 114-24 record and has won three RMAC Championships during his tenure.
 
CMU has won four straight games carrying them to a 13-4 overall record. The Mavericks have a lofty average scoring margin of 12.4 points, second in the RMAC.
 
"We are still stinging a little bit from Friday but we have to put that behind us," Larsen said. "We have to focus on what is a very attainable postseason berth. That is our goal."
 
The Hardrockers have dropped their last two-of-three games and are 4-4 at home this season.  SD Mines' 7.5 three-point field goals made per game ranks third best in the conference and senior Megan Rohrer leads the Hardrockers in scoring, averaging 10.2 points per game. Junior Krista Showalter continues to distribute the ball very well, leading the RMAC with 91 total averaging 5.1 per game.
 
Friday's bout kicks off at 5:30 p.m. while Saturday's contest gets going at 3:30 p.m. Watch the game broadcast and livestats on the RMAC Network at Stretch Internet by logging onto: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ .