RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team is starting to gel as a unit and it couldn't have come at a better time as the Hardrockers are off to Utah for a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games against Dixie State and Westminster College.
Even though the Hardrockers are just 1-3 on the young season and 0-1 in the conference, SD Mines is leading its opponents in a majority of statistical categories. Now they just need to find a way to get the result they are after and this weekend is as good as any.
So far on the season, the 'Rockers are scoring 62.3 points per game while allowing 60.8 markers each night. They are also shooting 40 percent from the field and hitting 33 percent of the three-pointers that they attempt.
Individually, SD Mines is paced by
Ryan Weiss, who is averaging 15.3 points per game.
Anna Haugen has four double-doubles in four games so far this season and is contributing with 12 points a game and is hauling in 13.3 rebounds each night.
Sami Steffeck, who posts 7.5 points per game and has eight three-pointers on the year, needs just nine more to break the all-time record. Hillary Hawkins currently owns that milestone with 200.
First up for the Hardrockers will be a stop in St. George, Utah, where the Trailblazers are 5-2 on the season and 0-1 in the RMAC. Dixie enters the game on a 0-2 skid after falling to Westminster College to open their RMAC schedule.
Ali Franks is the top scorer averaging 14 points a game and 5.9 rebounds each night. Madi Loftus is also averaging double digits, putting up 11.7 points per game while pulling down four boards each bout.
Dixie State and SD Mines have met just once before, as the 'Blazers defeated the Hardrockers,
70-62, last year in Rapid City. This will potential be the last meeting between the two programs as DSU is moving up to NCAA Div. I next year.
Friday's game is slated for a 5:30 p.m. (MDT) start and the game can be viewed on the RMAC Network at:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ and livestats are available at:
https://dixiestateathletics.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary.
On Saturday, the Hardrocker women will be in Salt Lake City, Utah, to challenge the No. 18 ranked Westminster College Griffins.
The Griffins (6-1, 1-0 RMAC) opened the season with five-straight wins and began conference play last weekend with a 63-59 victory at Dixie State. It was a tightly contested conference battle. Westminster and Dixie State went back-and-forth until the end where the Griffins came up with three big offensive rebounds and possessions to tip the scales in their favor.
Kaitlin Toluono of Westminster blocked two shots, had two steals and grabbed seven rebounds in the rivalry game. Toluono also scored six points.
On the season, Mariah Martin leads Westminster with 16.6 points and 4.4 assists per game while Sarah McGinley is posting 15.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
In the series, WC has never lost to SD Mines with overall 5-0 record despite all the game being competitive. Last year the Griffins escaped Rapid City with a
66-61 win.
Saturday's bout is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. (MDT) tipoff and the game can be viewed on the RMAC Network at:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ and livestats are available at:
https://westminstergriffins.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary.
