RAPID CITY, S.D. – After playing tough competition in Texas and battling tooth and nail in both games, the South Dakota Mines women's basketball team looks to get in the win column this weekend.
The Hardrockers open their season at the King Center on Friday, taking on Sioux Falls at 3:30. They will then welcome Northern State on Saturday for a 6:00 p.m. tip.
GAME INFORMATION
University of Sioux Falls
Date/Time: Nov. 15 / 3:30 p.m. MT
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: South Dakota Mines leads 34-29.
Streak: Sioux Falls Won 9
Series at South Dakota Mines: Sioux Falls leads 5-1 (since 2000).
Streak at South Dakota Mines: Sioux Falls Won 4
Last Meeting: Sioux Falls won in Spearfish, 78-50 (11/18/23).
Watch Live: RMAC Network
Northern State University
Date/Time: Nov. 16 / 6:00 p.m. MT
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: Northern State leads 15-1.
Streak: Northern State Won 6
Series at South Dakota Mines: Northern State leads 2-1 (Since 2011).
Streak at South Dakota Mines: Northern State Won 1
Last Meeting: Northern State won in Spearfish, 77-64 (11/17/2023).
Watch Live: RMAC Network
BAUER'S BEST
Despite a slow start to the season, Piper Bauer has been a sharpshooter throughout her career at South Dakota Mines. The 2023-24 RMAC All-Conference selection has been one of the nation's leading three-point shooters in makes each of the last two seasons. In her career as a Hardrocker, she has made 244 three-pointers, just 26 shy of Ryan Weiss' record of 270.
SAVVY SAVEA
Junior Savea Mansfield had a fantastic start to the season, shooting 48.4% and leading the team in scoring in both contests with 18 points. Mansfield also added five rebounds in each contest.
MULTI-FACETED MORNING GRACE
Morning Grace Spotted Bear is a sophomore forward who can do it all on the floor. She posted double-doubles in each of the first two games on 50% shooting. In addition, her length is a problem on the defensive end, as she had three blocks and also posted four assists against West Texas A&M.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
As a team, the Hardrockers grabbed 89 rebounds in their first two games, a significant advance over their opponents as they allowed just 68 rebounds from the other two teams.
PROTECTING THE PAINT
The Hardrockers have eight blocks in their first two games. They are a strong defensive team, and they have shown it thus far.
SCOUTING SIOUX FALLS
Sioux Falls did not enter the season with high expectations, at least according to their peers in the NSIC, as they were selected to finish seventh in the conference.
Despite those expectations, they brought back several players with starting experience in 2023-24, including the NSIC Freshman of the Year, Kami Wadsworth.
Wadsworth and true freshman Anna Vaaler have been the Cougars' leading scorers so far, with both in double figures. Three more players average 7+ points per game.
Sioux Falls has played three games thus far and has played well in all three of them, including a pair of tough games against Missouri Western State and Emporia State, in which they fell in close games.
Most recently, they took on Waldorf and defeated them in a big way, 87-58.
SCOUTING NORTHERN STATE
Northern State is a traditionally strong program. Coming off a season where they won 20 games, they were unable to qualify for the NCAA tournament after falling in the first round of the NSIC Tournament.
They bring back plenty of talent and are expected to be good again as they were selected second in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Madelyn Bragg is a big part of that. She averaged 17.9 points per game in 2023-24 and was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.
Rianna Fillipi was also an all-conference selection for the Wolves, who also return starters Morgan Fiedler, Alayna Benike, and Decontee Smith.
Despite the returning talent, Northern State started the season 2-0 with a game against #13 Pittsburg State and Nebraska Kearney at home.
Defensively, they struggled against Pittsburg State, allowing 85 points, but rebounded to play a tough four-point loss against Nebraska-Kearney.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend, the Hardrockers have just one game next week, also at the King Center, as they take on Minnesota Crookston on Friday, Nov. 22. That game is scheduled for a 5:30 tip-off.
You can find the latest on South Dakota Mines women's basketball all year long on X and Instagram (@hardrockerwbb), while also following on Facebook at South Dakota Mines Women's Basketball. The latest on South Dakota Mines athletics can be found by following us on X at @GoHardrockers, hardrockerathletics on Instagram and Hardrocker Athletics on Facebook.
ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
South Dakota Mines 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.
