GOLDEN, Colo. --- It was a tale of two halves for the South Dakota Mines women's basketball team in the Hardrocker season opener Friday night against the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, during a Rock Mountain Athletic Conference matchup.

The 'Rockers played an almost flawless first half, knocking down shots, making great passes and finding open teammates as the visitors led by five at the half. Things were much different in the second half as the Orediggers made some adjustments which seemed to knock South Dakota out of sync. The 'Rockers fell to the 'Diggers, 68-53.

SDM grabbed a first quarter lead, 15-12, and then extend their advantage to five points after the second period and went into halftime up, 34-29.

The game was basically decided in the third quarter when the home team outscored the 'Rockers, 25-7, and entered the final frame with a 13-point edge, 54-41. CSM posted 14 points in the fourth quarter while South Dakota Mines netted 12 markers.

For the game, the Hardrockers shot 41.3 percent from the field making good on 19-46 attempts, including a 9-22 performance from the three-point line. The tacked on 6-10 on free throws and rounded up 39 rebounds.

The Orediggers were 26-64 from the field to shoot 40.6 percent, added 5-15 from downtown, converted 11-18 on free throws and came down with 31 rebounds.

Individually for SDM, Bailey Johnson led the way in her Hardrocker debut with 12 points and one steal; while Ryan Weiss, Anna Combalia and Madelyn Heiser all tacked on seven markers each.

The Orediggers were led in scoring by Ashley Steffeck with 15 points, Courtney Stanton added 13 and Sammy Van Sickle dished in 12.