RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team earned a big win Friday night defeating the Western State Colorado University Lady Mountaineers, 57-48, during a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup at the King Center in Rapid City.

The win helped solidify the Lady Hardrockers in the RMAC standings for a berth to the post-season playoffs. The 'Rockers (16-10, 11-9) have a two-game lead over UCCS (9-15, 9-10) for the eighth and final spot for post-season play.

It was a competitive game Friday. The Hardrockers led, 10-9, after the first quarter and then Western State outscored SD Mines, 15-12, in the second period and went into halftime up, 24-22.

The Lady 'Rockers went on a 19-9 run in the third frame and bettered the visitors, 16-14, over the final 10 minutes.  In the fourth, the Mountaineers twice got within four points, but could not overcome the deficit as sophomore Anna Haugen scored 12 points in the quarter to hold off Western.

South Dakota Mines burst to life in the second-half, shooting 53 percent from the floor. The 'Rockers finished the game converting 23-52 attempts to shoot 44.2 percent from the field. SD Mines hit 5-14 from the three-point line and were 6-15 on free throws. SD Mines came down with 27 rebounds, recorded 11 assists, eight steals and three blocked shots.

The Mountaineers were 20-55 on attempts to shoot 36.4 percent from the field. They were 2-18 on three-pointers and were 6-10 from the foul line. Western grabbed 30 rebounds, 10 assists, eight steals and one blocked shot.

Haugen earned another double-double for the 'Rockers, knocking down 18 points and nabbed 10 rebounds. She also had a steal and a blocked shot. Senior Payton Humpal also scored 18 points and added two steals and an assist.

Jadyn Kanzler paced the Mountaineers from the bench with 12 points, 3 rebounds and one block.

The win closed out the home schedule for the Lady 'Rockers and SD Mines will finish off the regular season next weekend on the road, traveling to Denver, Colo., to face Regis University on Friday followed by a meeting in Nebraska against Chadron State College on Saturday.