RAPID CITY, S.D. --- South Dakota Mines and New Mexico Highlands battled for three quarters before the hot shooting of the Hardrockers and more specifically
Piper Bauer were too much and the Hardrockers claimed a double-digit victory over New Mexico Highlands.
Early in the first quarter, the Hardrockers were struggling, until an 8-0 run propelled them to a 16-15 lead. The first quarter would come to a close with a
Piper Bauer buzzer-beater, tying the game up at 19 through 1.
Early in the 2nd, the two teams were battling back and forth, tied up at 22 with 6:45 to go until New Mexico Highland took the lead on a 5-0 run, taking a 27-22 lead. The Hardrocker would make a run of their own, however, cutting the deficit to 27-26. The two teams would continue to trade baskets with New Mexico Highlands leading 33-30, until a
Melissa Johnstone basket with under a minute to go, cut the Cowgirl lead to 1 briefly. New Mexico Highlands would hit a pair of free throws, extending the lead to 35-32 going into halftime.
Early in the third quarter, the Hardrockers began to ramp up the defensive pressure, getting a shot clock violation, followed by a Bodette layup. On the next possession,
Ryan Weiss made a layup that gave the Hardrockers a 36-35 lead. Another bucket from Weiss would follow. Heading into the media timeout, the Hardrockers maintained a 39-37 lead. Later, a Bauer three from
Anna Combalia would break the tie, giving the Hardrockers a 42-39 lead. Only briefly, however, as Kaitlyn Holl of Highlands would answer with a trey and the two teams would head into the 4th quarter tied up at 42.
Early in the 4th, the Hardrocker offense would begin to roll, getting three three-pointers between Weiss and Bauer would expand their lead to 53-46 with 6:34. Bauer was hot and another mid-range jumper from her would expand the Hardrocker lead to double-digits, 57-46. The Hardrockers would continue to roll, this time it was
Bailey Johnson hitting a trey, expanding the lead to 14 points. Bauer would finish the game with 25 points, and helped charge a 27-point fourth quarter, to lead the Hardockers to a 69-57 victory.
A postgame interview with
Jeri Jacobson is below.
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 14 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.
