RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines women's basketball team will head back to Colorado for their third-straight road trip --- this time to challenge MSU Denver and Colorado Christian in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
 
Due to COVID-19 concerns, the two Denver area institutions did not want to come to Rapid City this weekend and opted to switch sites on the schedule --- the same thing that Colorado School of Mines and Regis University did two weeks ago. The Roadrunners and Cougars will honor the agreement and come to South Dakota the second weekend in February.
 
First up on the altered schedule is MSU Denver on Thursday afternoon. The Roadrunners come into the game fresh off a one-point victory against the CCU Cougars, 57-56, and hold a 2-3 overall record. They fell to Western Colorado, 67-51, last Saturday and got throttled by both Colorado School of Mines (75-49) and Colorado Mesa (91-57) at the beginning of the season.
 
The Hardrockers come enter the weekend picking up their first victory at Adams State last weekend, 70-57. South Dakota Mines had a well-balanced offense to go along with a great defensive effort to earn that win.
 
SDM swept the Roadrunners last year, earning a 58-52 win in Denver and then put a wallop on MSUD in Rapid City, 61-35. The Roadrunners do hold a two-game edge in the all-time series, 6-4.
 
MSUD is led in scoring by Allie Navarette who is averaging 16.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg. Jaela Richardson puts up 12.3 ppg and 8 rpg while Lewis Morgan contributes with 9ppg and 6 rpg.
 
Thursday a game is set for a 4 p.m. start and will be streamed live on the Hardrocker Network at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ .
 
On Saturday, the Hardrockers face off against a Cougars' squad that just fell to MSU-Denver on a heartbreaking one-point defeat (57-56) Tuesday night.
 
The game came down to the final play as MSU Denver hit one of two free throws to go up by two with five seconds remaining, CCU's Lourdes Gonzalez was then fouled on a shot with two seconds to go. After hitting her first free throw, the second one did not find the net and the Cougars were not able to get another shot off before the clock expired for a heartbreaking result.
 
CCU is still hunting for their first win of the season with a 0-3 overall mark. The Cougars fell to Colorado Mesa, 75-61, to open the season on Dec. 5 and then lost to Fort Lewis College, 73-67, on Dec. 12 before coming up short to MSU Denver.
 
Gonzalez leads to Cougars this season averaging 13.3 ppg and 9 rpg. She is complimented by Olivia Christy with 9.7 ppg and Taylor Ferris contributes with 9 ppg.
 
The 'Rockers hold a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series, winners of the last four, most recently defeating the Cougars, 68-56, last season in Lakewood, Colorado.
 
After posting the convincing win over Adams State, the Hardrockers are building confidence as the team is starting to gel despite the limited time practicing together.
 
Ryan Weiss has picked up right where she left off, leading team, averaging 15 ppg and 6rpg. Transfer Juneau Jones is fitting in nice with the SDM offense contributing with 8 ppg and 4.3. Fellow "newbies" Sydnee Durtsche (7 ppg) and Bailey Johnson (6.7 ppg) are also producing for the 'Rockers.
 
Saturday's matchup is slated for a 2 p.m. start and will be available to stream live on the Hardrocker Network at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ .