RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines women's basketball team continues to improve and get better as the season progresses.
 
This weekend will be another challenge as they head to Colorado for the final RMAC contests prior to the winter break.
 
With the new RMAC schedule, the first game will take place on Thursday at Colorado Christian, before a break on Friday, then a matchup with CSU Pueblo on Saturday.
 
Tip-offs are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
CCU
Date/Time: Dec. 12 / 6:00 p.m.
Site: Lakewood, Colo.
Arena: CCU Event Center
Series Overall: South Dakota Mines leads 11-5.
Streak: CCU Won 1
Series at CCU (Since 2015-16): Tied 3-3
Streak at CCU: South Dakota Mines Won 1
Watch Live: RMAC Network
 
CSU Pueblo
Date/Time: Dec. 14 / 1:00 p.m.
Site: Pueblo, Colo.
Arena: Massari Arena
Series Overall: CSU Pueblo leads 11-5.
Streak: South Dakota Mines Won 1
Series at CSU Pueblo (Since 2000-01): CSU Pueblo leads 8-2. 
Streak at CSU Pueblo: CSU Pueblo Won 3
Watch Live: RMAC Network
 
MORNING GRACE ON THE OFFENSIVE
Morning Grace Spotted Bear has been strong in multiple areas this season, but stepped up in a big way in the scoring column this past weekend, scoring 16 against Black Hills State and 24 against Chadron State, leading the team in both games, while shooting 50% from the field. 
 
Spotted Bear continues to be strong on the defensive side and on the glass as she is near the top of the RMAC in rebounding, blocks and steals. 
 
BAUER GETTING IN HER GROOVE
Piper Bauer is starting to find her stroke as she had a strong game against Chadron State, scoring 22 as she went to the free throw line seven times. Bauer continues to push towards the school record in made three-pointers. She is 17 three-pointers away from tying the record of 276 set by Ryan Weiss. 
 
In addition, she is moving up the points leaderboard. She is now in the top 20 in all-time scoring with and now has 1,190 career points.
 
SCOUTING CCU
Colorado Christian has struggled a bit out of the gates as they have a 1-7 record so far this season.
 
Their lone win was over Missouri Western State University in Pueblo. Although, they also scored a win over Division I University of Denver in an exhibition on Nov. 4. 
 
Since the win over Missouri Western, the Cougars are on a five-game losing streak.
 
Despite their struggles, offensively, they have a trio of double figure scorers in Maggie Hutka, Nicole Bowlin and Maggie Phipps who average 15.5, 10.3 and 10.3 points per game.
 
Hutka is a near nightly double-double as she averages 9.8 rebounds per game.
 
Overall, the team does well on the glass as Dasiya Jones also chips in eight rebounds per game.
 
SCOUTING CSU PUEBLO
The Thunderwolves are off to a strong start at 6-3 and 2-0 in RMAC play.
 
Alisha Little has been one of the best players in the RMAC for years now due to her play on the offensive and defensive ends and this year is no different.
 
Little averages 22.4 points per game to go along with 9.6 rebounds per game. 
 
On the defensive end, she leads the RMAC in steals and blocks, averaging 2.8 and 3.2 per game.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Hardrockers are done with regular season contests for 2024 after this one, only playing an exhibition game at the University of South Dakota on Dec. 20. 
 
Following that, South Dakota Mines comes back from break with a pair of home games on Jan. 9 & 11 against MSU Denver and Colorado School of Mines. 
 
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 Hardrocker 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
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.