GOLDEN, Colo. --- Fighting for their playoffs lives, the South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team played one of the greatest games of the NCAA Div. II era as the Hardrockers came back from a 19-point first-quarter deficit to defeat the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers, 77-75, Saturday night during a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup in Golden, Colorado.

After falling behind, 19-2, toward the end of the first frame, the Hardrockers went on a 19-0 run to knot the game at 21-21 at the 6:50 mark of the second quarter on a Ryan Weiss three-pointer – one of seven on the night for her.

SD Mines went into halftime down by five, 36-31. The Orediggers extended their edge to nine points at the start of the third period, but the 'Rockers quickly erased that advantage with a 13-0 run into the fourth quarter on a three-pointer from Weiss, followed by a pair of Molly McCabe fast-break layups. The visitors went on to extend their edge to seven points at the 3:32 mark after a Weiss three-pointer.

But the Orediggers fought back and with 53 second remaining in the game had gained a one-point edge, 57-74. The game was won on a baseline three-pointer from Michaela Shaklee with four second left.

The Hardrocker finished the game shooting 44.6 percent, making good on 29-65 attempt, including an impressive 16-30 from downtown. Both Weiss and Sami Steffeck recorded seven in the game. SD Mines was 3-3 from the foul line, came down with 37 rebounds, 21 assists, 10 steals and four blocked shots.

Colorado School of Mines ended the game converting 22-55 buckets, including 12-24 from behind the arch and added 19-23 from the free throw line. They added 32 rebounds, 13 assists, six steal and three blocked shots.

Individually, Weiss finished with 25 points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal. Steffeck ended with 21 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. McCabe had 12 markers, four rebounds, one assist and two steals.

Anna Haugen, who went into the weekend needing 25 points to reach the 1,000-point milestone, came out of the weekend now needing just two points. She notched seven on Saturday.

The 'Rockers, now 13-8 in the RMAC and now share fifth place in the conference standings with none other that Black Hills State.