RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team defeated the Western State Colorado University Lady Mountaineers, 53-37, Friday night during a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup at the King Center in Rapid City, S.D.

The win gives the Hardrocker women a 9-11 overall win and they pull within one game of .500 in the conference, improving to 7-8. Western State falls to 4-14 on the year and 3-11 in the RMAC.

It didn't take long for the Hardrockers to gain the upper hand in the game, outscoring the visitors, 16-12, in the first quarter and then were two points better in the second stanza, 12-10, going into halftime with a 28-22 advantage.

It was tough sledding in the third quarter, but the Hardrockers outscored Western State, 9-2, and were three points better in the fourth quarter, 16-13, to gain the victory. The Hardrockers biggest advantage came in the final frame, leading by 18 points with six and a half minutes remaining.

SD Mines finished the game connecting on 22-52 from the field for 42 percent, including six three-pointers. They made good on 3-6 from the free throw line, came down with 31 rebounds, had 19 assists, 11 steals and five blocks.

The Mountaineers connected on 14-58 from the field to shoot 29 percent (six three-pointers), came down with 23 rebounds, had seven assists and eight steals.

Individually for SD Mines, freshman Anna Haugen paced her team with 10 points, had nine rebounds (five offensive), two assists, one steal and one block. Fellow freshman Molly McCabe also contributed with 10 points and added three rebounds, two steals and one assist. Freshmen Sami Steffeck and Cooper Courtney added eight points each in the winning effort.

Next up, SD Mines takes on Colorado Mesa at the King Center in a 3:30 p.m. matchup.