RAPID CITY, S.D. --- It's been a long and winding journey for the South Dakota Mines women's basketball program this year. Navigation through a flurry of postponements, cancellations, venue changes, a month of road games, and a number of other COVID related issues, the Hardrockers have finally come to the end of the regular season.

The 'Rockers will play host to the UCCS Mountain Lions Friday night in the final Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game of the regular season. And with the post season slated to start on Tuesday, South Dakota Mines has a great opportunity to make the Dance.

Also due to COVID issues, the RMAC put together a confusing point system (RPI) to determine the eight-team post season field. On Monday, the league released the standings on Twitter with a week's worth of games remaining. It listed the 'Rockers in seventh place.

But before the 'Rockers look ahead to the RMAC tournament, they have to finish up some business against the Mountain Lions.

UCCS comes to town with a 4-12 overall and RMAC record. In a game earlier this season, the Hardrockers dispatched the Mountain Lions, 72-61.

UCCS averages 58.5 ppg with teams are scoring 66.9 ppg against them. The Mountain Lions are shooting 38 percent from the field and have a three-pointer shooting percentage of .329.

Individually, Abby Feickert leads UCCS in scoring averaging 13.1 ppg, Jessica Nation puts up 8.8 ppg and Tatum Tellin contributes with 7.1 ppg. Nation also paced the squad in rebounding averaging 5.0 rpg.
The Hardrockers are posting 66.4 ppg while opponents are scoring 62.5 ppg. SDM is shooting 42 percent from the field and connecting from downtown 37 percent of the time.

Friday's game is slated for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. No fans will be admitted but the game will be streamed live on the Hardrocker Network by logging onto www.gorockers.com.