RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team can close the curtain on non-conference games for a while as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) schedule now take center stage.
The RMAC opening act is a big one --- as the Hardrockers travel up the interstate to take on Black Hills State Tuesday evening in a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
SD Mines come into the game with a 1-2 overall record, defeating Waldorf University to open the season followed by tough competitive losses to MSU Billings and most recently Wayne State College last Thursday.
The Yellow Jackets opened the season with three wins (Texas A&M Kingsville, Texas A&M International and MSU Billings) but have dropped their last two (Northern State, Wayne State).
BHSU is averaging 66 points a game while allowing 56.6 per night. They are shooting 33 percent from the field. The Jackets have a strong perimeter shooting presence, averaging 7.8 per game.
Individually, Racquel Wientjes leads the team, scoring 16 ppg. She is shooting 52 percent from behind the arch, converting 12-23 so far this year. She is also ranked fourth in the conference standings for scoring.
Morgan Ham is contributing with 12 ppg, shooting 43 percent on the season for Black Hills State while Katie Messier leads the team in rebounding averaging 6 rebounds per game.
The Hardrockers are averaging 67 points per game and allowing 62.7. SD Mines in shooting 41 percent and making good on 24-69 attempts from three-point range for 35 percent performance.
Ryan Weiss paces the 'Rockers, scoring 16 points per game, and is fifth in the RMAC.
Anna Haugen is contributing with 12.3 ppg,
Naomi Hidalgo cashes in for 9.3 ppg and
Sami Steffeck posts 9.0 ppg. Haugen is a force on defense grabbing 11.7 rpg and has recorded three consecutive double-doubles.
SD Mines offense is ranked fourth in the conference while BHSU defense is second.
Haugen leads the conference in rebounds per game.
Steffeck has seven three-pointers this season and needs just 10 more to break the all-time record for three-pointers made. Hillary Hawkins currently owns the record with 200 made from downtown.
This will be the 102 meeting between SD Mines and Black Hills State. The Hardrockers have a slight advantage overall 52-49, and most recently defeat the Yellow Jackets, 71-62, at the end of last season in Spearfish.
The game can be viewed at : https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/#ondemandtab and livestats will be available at: https://bhsuathletics.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary .
