RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines basketball team hosted the Thunderwolves of Colorado State University Pueblo on Friday night at the King Center. The Hardrockers lost in double overtime 77-75.
How it Happened – The 'Rockers jumped out to an early 13-10 lead on the heels of
Piper Bauer's 10 points. Both offenses would struggle to score as the end of the first quarter came to a close with the Hardrockers leading 15-13.
The Hardrockers still had the lead four minutes into the second quarter, but the Thunderwolves hit a three-pointer to go ahead 20-18. The Rockers would regain the lead on a floating jumper by Bauer 22-21. But the Thunderwolves' Tomia Johnson's layup would give the lead back to CSUP 23-22. CSUP would go up 25-22, but Bauer hit a three to tie the game 25-25 with less than a minute left.
Lauren Herman connected on a full-court pass with
Savea Mansfield for a bucket at the buzzer to give the Hardrockers 27-25.
The third quarter started with the Thunderwolves tying the game 27-27 and they would go up 30-27. Bauer would bring the Hardrockers back with a three to knot the game 30-30. At the 7:00 minute mark
Sydnee Durtsche's layup put the Hardrockers back on top 32-30. The teams traded baskets for the next couple of minutes with CSUP going up 36-34 with 5:53 remaining. The Thunderwolves went up by four with five minutes left 40-36. CSUP would hit a three with two minutes left to lead 45-38. With the quarter coming to an end, the Thunderwolves would lead the Hardrockers 47-41.
The Thunderwolves held a 53-46 lead with eight minutes left in the game, but the Hardrockers would bring it to within three 53-50 on a Bauer jumper at the 6:00 mark.
Jansi Merz brings the Hardrockers to within two with a layup 54-52. With the Thunderwolves up three,
Bailey Johnson hits a huge three-pointer with 40 seconds left in the game to tie the game 56-56. CSUP took the lead on a free throw 57-56 with 27 seconds left. The Thunderwolves had a chance to seal the game at the line but only hit two of four. Johnson would hit the last second three-pointer to send the game to overtime 59-59.
Bauer would start the extra quarter with a jumper giving the Hardrockers a 61-59 lead. Johnson's free throws put the Rockers up 66-63 with 2:30 left in the game. The Thunderwolves would tie the game on a three-pointer by Charisse Fairley. Durtsche put the Rockers on top 67-66 with 30 seconds left. A missed layup by CSUP and a foul put Mansfield on the line for two. Mansfield would sink one and put the Rockers up by two. JaNaiya Davis from CSUP hit a layup as time expired to send the game into a second overtime.
In the second overtime, the Hardrockers couldn't hold on to the momentum as the Thunderwolves pulled away late and won the game 77-75.
Game Notes – Bauer led all scorers with 27 points going 11-25 from the field. Bauer also had 12 rebounds. Johnson ended the game with 11 points.
Lauren Herman had 10 rebounds in the loss.
Up Next – The Hardrockers finish out their pre-break schedule with a contest against New Mexico Highlands on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
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 10 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.
