GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --- It was a tale of two halves for the South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team during a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup Friday night against the Colorado Mesa Mavericks in Grand Junction, Colorado.

After a strong first half, the Lady Hardrockers had difficulty scoring points over the final 20 minutes, allowing the Mavericks to take advantage and win the conference bout, 56-42.

CMU proved why they were the RMAC's top squad (9-1, 6-0), holding SD Mines to just six points in the third quarter and nine in the final frame.

The 'Rockers went on an 8-0 run to open the game and hits some key shots in the opening quarter. They outscored the home team, 17-14, after the first quarter and then after an evenly matched second period, went into halftime down by two markers, 30-28.

SD Mines had some good opportunities in the third quarter, but just couldn't get the buckets  to fall. The Mavericks took advantage at the other end, bettering the Hardrockers, 16-5, in the third quarter and then outscored the visitors, 10-9, in the fourth.

After shooting 52.38 percent in the first half, the Hardrockers converted just 4-21 in the second half for 19.05 percent. SD Mines finished the game shooting 35.7 percent from the field, hitting 15-42 attempts, including a 6-15 performance from three-point range. They made good on 6-11 from the free throw line, collected 28 rebounds, notched 10 assists, four steals and one block.

The Mavericks finished the game making good on 24-52 to shoot 46.2 percent. They were 5-16 from the three-point line, converted 3-6 from the foul line, hauled in 31 rebounds, had 16 assists, three steals and two blocks.

Individually for SD Mines, Sami Steffeck paced her team with 16 points, including 4-5 from behind the arch. Cooper Courtney contributed with eight points while Molly McCabe and Taylor Molstad both cashed in for five markers. McCabe also led the 'Rockers with eight rebounds.