RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team hits the road this weekend. After spending almost a month in the friendly confines of Goodell Gymnasium at the King Center in Rapid City, the Lady Hardrockers head down south for Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action in Pueblo, Colo., and Las Vegas, N.M.
SD Mines finished strong in its home stand as the Hardrockers head into the weekend with a 9-4 overall mark and a 4-3 record in the RMAC. In the latest bout, the 'Rockers won its game against New Mexico Highlands, 86-47, this past Saturday. The Hardrockers scored at least 16 points in each of the four quarters and shot 58.5 percent from the field, making 31-of-53 attempts.
The 'Rockers are solid up and down the roster with five players averaging over eight points a game. Sophomore
Sami Steffeck leads the way (10.9), followed by sophomore
Anna Haugen (10.5), junior
Taylor Molstad (9.9), sophomore
Cooper Courtney (9.8) and freshman
Ryan Weiss (8.4).
SD Mines leads the conference right now as the team scores 72.5 points per game and are fifth in the RMAC allowing 57.5 points per game by their opponents. The Hardrockers are listed as seventh in the league standings.
The Hardrockers first challenge of the weekend --- is a big one--- as SD Mines will challenge CSU-Pueblo Friday. The Lady ThunderWolves top the RMAC rankings with a 9-4 overall record and a perfect 7-0 mark in the conference. The Pack is also listed fourth this week in the NCAA Div. II South Central Region rankings.
CSU-Pueblo's faced Black Hills State last Saturday in Spearfish, where the T-Wolves dispatched the Yellow Jackets, 60-49. CSUP's Katie Cunningham and Lauren Heyn both posted double-doubles. Heyn led the way with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Cunningham totaled 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Pack led in rebounds, 41-38, field goal percentage of 39.7 to BHSU's 30.5, and scored 25 points off turnovers.
Molly Rohrer leads the way for the Pack this season averaging 15.5 ppg, followed by Tuileisu Anderson contributing 10.5 ppg and Heyn posting 10.4 ppg.
The Lady 'Rockers have had some great battles against CSU-Pueblo the past couple of seasons, including an opening-round playoff game last year in which the ThunderWolves narrowly escaped with the win.
Friday's game is slated for a 5:30 p.m. (MST) start and the game is available on the RMAC Network by logging on to:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ .
Saturday's RMAC matchup features a rematch as the Hardrockers challenge New Mexico Highlands after routing the Cowgirls a week ago. The loss dropped NMHU to 4-8 overall and 2-5 in the RMAC.
The Cowgirls remain optimistic and are ranked 12
th in the RMAC heading into the weekend.
"We have already won more games, won on the road twice and topped our conference record from last season" says New Mexico Highlands head coach Joseph Anders. "We have our two longest road trips out of the way and have to do a good job of protecting our home court this weekend. I feel good about our focus and direction.
Ari Baca and Savannah Madrid-Andrews lead the Cowgirl scoring efforts midway through their schedule. Baca averages 11 points per game and is tied with Allyah George for the team lead in rebounding as well with just under five per game. Madrid-Andrews is right behind Baca with a 10.6 scoring clip and is the Cowgirls' leader in long-range shooting having made over 20 three-pointers to rank among the Top 10 in the RMAC.
The 'Rockers are slated to face New Mexico Highlands in a 5 p.m. (MST) tipoff.
