LAKEWOOD, Colo.--- The South Dakota Mines women's basketball team ended their season on a high note, winning their third consecutive game as they pulled out the road victory over CCU on Saturday.
How it Happened –The Hardrockers started hot, specifically
Piper Bauer, as she hit four threes in the first quarter and both teams had their offenses rolling early. A
Savea Mansfield three gave South Dakota Mines a 26-20 lead that they took into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, the script was flipped as the offenses were not able to find the bottom of the net. With three minutes remaining, South Dakota Mines maintained a 31-26 lead in the low-scoring quarter. The Hardrockers would maintain their lead going into the locker rooms, leading 36-28.
Bailey Johnson and
Piper Bauer scored 12 points each in the half, while
Naomi Hidalgo added six rebounds.
In the third quarter, CCU was able to narrow the gap, tying it up at 38 at the media timeout. A Naomi Hidlago layup with 2:47 to go, regained the lead, 44-42.
The fourth quarter would go back and forth, with the Hardrockers trailing narrowly, 47-45. A 9-0 South Dakota Mines run would follow with back-to-back
Sydnee Durtsche baskets followed by a
Madelyn Heiser three and the 'Rockers held a 54-47 advantage. CCU would answer with four of their own, cutting it to a one-possession advantage. With under a minute to go,
Madelyn Heiser and
Naomi Hidalgo would hit three free throws, expanding the lead to 6. With 20 seconds to play and the Hardrockers up 4, CCU would be forced to foul and the 'Rockers would miss both, but an offensive rebound would allow South Dakota Mines to burn another five seconds and get two made free throws by Hidalgo, expanding the lead back to six, 61-55. CCU would not be able to comeback, and the Hardrockers would pull out a 61-57 victory.
Notes – The Hardrockers were led by
Piper Bauer scoring 15 points…It was a balanced attack as
Bailey Johnson,
Naomi Hidalgo, and
Madelyn Heiser each added 12 points…Hidalgo recorded a double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds…Heiser and Durtsche led the way with four assists each.
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.
