RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The Hardrockers got off to a good start and set the tone for the game, leading for a heavy majority before some tense moments at the end then pulling it out on senior night.
How It Happened –
The Hardrockers got off to a good start, leading 7-1 after a three by
Bailey Johnson followed by a
Ryan Weiss lay in. Throughout the first, South Dakota Mines would play well defensively, as a result, they held a 15-7 lead.
It would be more of the same in the second with the Hardrockers getting out to a big 23-9 lead. Black Hills State would fight back a bit, with Danica Kocerleading them with 7 points and going into the locker room, having cut the deficit, but South Dakota Mines still led 30-23.
Early in the third Black Hills State would get a pair of three-pointers, cutting the Hardrocker lead to 5, 34-29. At the media timeout in the third, the Hardrockers held a 6-point lead, 40-34. The Yellowjackets would continue to cut into the lead behind a big game from Danica Kocer who had 23 at a timeout with 1:38 to go in the third and South Dakota Mines holding onto a 42-39 lead. Towards the end of the third, Black Hills State would take a brief lead only to be answered by a
Bailey Johnson three to head into the fourth with South Dakota Mines clinging to a 45-43 lead.
The 4th quarter was a defensive grind, with the Hardrockers expanding their lead to 51-45 with 4:48 to go. South Dakota Mines would continue to play well and would put themselves in a good position.
Anna Combalia and
Ryan Weiss would make their free throws down the stretch and Black Hills State would not get a shot off on their last possession to give the Hardrockers a 61-58 win.
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.
