LAKEWOOD, Colo. --- South Dakota Mines continued to battle back all night long, even cutting it to 1 in a 4th quarter where they outscored Colorado Christian 25-15, but came up just short of getting the win.

The first quarter did not start quickly for the Hardrockers, as a trio of three-point plays gave Colorado Christian a 17-7 lead heading into the first media timeout. South Dakota Mines was able to get buckets on back-to-back possessions on each side of the timeout from Bailey Johnson and Jansi Merz. Later, two free throws from Ryan Weiss would cut the deficit to 7. Going into the second the deficit remained the same, with South Dakota Mines trailing 20-13.

A Merz layup opened the second quarter, before Colorado Christian expanded their lead once again, this time to 26-15. Once again, the Hardrockers would begin to chip away, going on a 9-0 run, cutting the deficit from 31-15 to 31-24. Weiss drilled a three to extend the run to 12-0, forcing a Cougar timeout with the score now 31-27, CCU. After a Lourdes Gonzalez basket for CCU, the Hardrockers would get 4 points in a row, cutting the deficit to 2, 33-31. To end the half Gonzalez would get a bucket following two made Cougar free throws to head into the half with CCU leading 37-31.

Early in the second half, the two would trade buckets. Sydnee Durtsche got a layup to go, cutting the Cougar lead to 42-36 but Gonzalez would answer for the Cougars to give her a double-double on the evening. Madelyn Heiser and Johnson would get buckets, cutting it to 46-42 heading to a media timeout. After the timeout, CCU would gain some momentum, scoring 8 straight points, expanding their lead to 12, 54-42, before Heiser would answer with a layup. In what was the story of the game, the Cougars grabbed an offensive rebound and converted to go back up 12. To this point in the game, they had a 34-18 rebounding advantage. To end the third, CCU held a 62-50 advantage.

For the beginning part of the 4th, the lead remained the same until a 7-point spurt keyed by an 8th assist and two free throws from Anna Combalia cut the deficit to 70-65. Moments later a Johnson three cut the deficit to 4, however, three critical turnovers in a row would cost the Hardrockers, as CCU held a 6-point advantage with a minute-thirty to go. South Dakota Mines would continue to fight back, however, this time it was Johnson getting a three-pointer, followed by another basket, cutting the CCU lead to 76-75 with 39 seconds to play. The Hardrockers would get the ball back with a chance to take a lead, but a turnover would seal it. Haley Hanson hit a free throw with 1 second to play and South Dakota Mines couldn't get a shot off in time, falling 77-75.

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.