RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The SD Mines women's basketball team will play its last in-state game of the 2016-2017 season. Black Hills State will host the Hardrockers for a Saturday afternoon contest, with potentially a postseason berth on the line during a highly touted Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game at the Young Center in Spearfish, S.D.
 
The Lady Hardrockers and BHSU Yellow Jackets both have 8-10 records in conference, with the Hardrockers currently having the edge after winning the previous meeting between the two rivals. The 'Rockers are in the eighth and final playoff place for the time being and this game will go a long way in deciding the fate of their season.
 
"This is going to be a big game," said Hardrocker women's basketball head coach Ryan Larsen. "Not only do you have the BHSU vs. SD Mines rivalry but there is also a lot on the line with playoff seedings."
 
The SD Mines women have had a consistent performance throughout this 2016-2017 season, never going on too long of a winning or losing streak. In contrast, the Yellow Jackets lost their first seven games of this season.
 
However, in RMAC play, BHSU started catching fire. The Yellow Jackets went 7-3 between mid-December and the end of January. During that stretch they defeated No. 2 in the RMAC, Colorado Mesa, and lost by just one point to No.3 in the nation: Colorado State-Pueblo (24-0, 18-0).
 
"They are a different team from when we faced them back in January," Larsen said referring to the Lady Hardrockers, 61-42, victory on Jan. 17. "They are playing much better at both ends of the court.
 
The Yellow Jackets (8-14 overall) are currently on a three-game slide while the Hardrockers (10-13 overall), true to form, are 2-2 in their last four games.
 
The Lady 'Rockers currently boast the fourth-best scoring defense in the conference, allowing just 60.4 points per while BHSU is near the bottom in scoring offense, averaging 59.2 points per game.
 
"The keys for the Hardrockers to find success will be rebounding and ball security," Larsen added.
 
SD Mines freshman Anna Haugen is currently ranked eighth in the conference with 168 total rebounds while senior Megan Rohrer has 146 on the season in 14^th place. The Yellow Jackets' top rebounder in Taylor Trohkimoinen in 29^th place with 107 total boards.
 
Saturday's game is slated for a 4 p.m. start and the broadcast and livestats can be found at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ .