PUEBLO, Colo. – The South Dakota Mines women's basketball team was looking for its first winning streak of the season against CSU Pueblo Friday night at Massari Arena.
CSU Pueblo, however, scored the game's first 13 points and never looked back, powered by 30 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks from Alisha Davis, the ThunderWolves defeated the Hardrockers 79-57.
How it Happened
Things started slow for South Dakota Mines as the ThunderWolves, 2-3, 6-6, dominated the first half of the opening period. The Hardrockers finally got on the scoreboard on a
Savea Mansfield layup with 4:09 remaining in the first. Two 3-poiners put CSU Pueblo up 19-4 before the 'Rockers started to find some rhythm offensively. Four free throws by sophomore
Lauren Herman cut the lead to 23-12 before the ThunderWolves scored the final three points for a 26-12 lead at the end of the first period.
Jump shots by sophomore
Megan Alexander and junior
Piper Bauer made it a 10-point game and the Hardrockers cut the lead to 28-21 at the 7:17 mark on a basket by Mansfield and a 3-pointer by Bauer of a high scoring second period. Through the remainder of the period, the ThunderWolves kept the game at 10-13 points the rest of the way before taking a 46-34 lead into the locker room at halftime. Bauer scored nine points in the second period for South Dakota Mines.
The ThunderWolves regained control in the third period, outscoring the Hardrockers 22-13. CSU Pueblo scored the first six points before Bauer hit her second 3-pointer of the game at the 6:07 mark and the home team responded with five straight for a 57-37 lead. Two straight buckets from Mansfield and a short jumper by Bauer kept the game at 16 before another five-point run gave CSU Pueblo a 21-point advantage, the lead it took into the third quarter at 68-47.
It was more of the same in the fourth period as CSU Pueblo kept the momentum most of the way. Mansfield scored the Hardrockers first six points of the period, but CSU Pueblo kept the lead between 17-21 points before taking its biggest advantage of the game at 24 points. The ThunderWolves would snap a three-game losing skid with the 79-57 victory.
Notes
Savea Mansfield's career game included her first double-double as she finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds…She hit 6-of-12 from the field and sank all six of her free throws…
Piper Bauer added 14 points on 6-of-18 from the field and 2-of-8 3-pointers…
Megan Alexander came off the bench with seven points and seven rebounds and
Lauren Herman added six points, four rebounds and four assists…Senior
Madelyn Heiser had six points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals…South Dakota Mines shot 34 percent from the field (21-of-61) and hit just 3-of-14 3-pointers. The Hardrockers had 42 rebounds and 14 assists.
Up Next
The Hardrockers return to action Saturday afternoon as they face New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas, N.M. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. MT. After Saturday's game South Dakota Mines will be off until Dec. 30 when it takes on Minot State University in Minot, N.D., in a non-conference contest.
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 13 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.
