RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines women's basketball team was looking for the season sweep of Adams State University Friday night at Plachy Hall in Alamosa, Colo.
The Hardrockers led for a good chunk of the first quarter, but the Grizzlies took control late in the period and never looked back for the 86-61 win. The loss dropped South Dakota Mines to 5-14 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, while Adams State moved to 15-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After defeating then No. 22 Adams State 67-62 in Rapid City earlier in the season, things were looking up early for the Hardrockers Friday night. South Dakota Mines took a 7-2 lead on a basket by sophomore
Savea Mansfield, two free throws by senior
Naomi Hidalgo and a 3-pointer by junior
Piper Bauer.
After falling behind 13-11, the Hardrockers came back on two 3-pointers by Bauer and a basket by freshman
Morning Grace Spotted Bear and led 19-15 with 2:56 to play in the quarter. But Adams State closed the opening quarter on an 8-0 run and led 23-19 at the end of the first quarter.
The Grizzlies used that late momentum to dominate the second quarter, outscoring the Hardrockers 19-5 for a 42-24 lead at the halftime break. The 'Rockers were just 2-of-14 from the field and 1-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc.
South Dakota Mines got the opening points of the third on a basket by Spotted Bear, but the Grizzlies responded with eight straight points before Spotted Bear hit a free throw and Mansfield a driving layup. Mansfield later hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 58-32 with four minutes remaining in the quarter and Adams State took a 64-37 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Hardrockers had their best offensive quarter of the game in the fourth but could never make a dent on the Grizzlies lead. South Dakota Mines hit 8-of-15 from the field and 8-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter and outscored Adams State 24-22, with Spotted Bear leading the way with eight points and Hidalgo and Mansfield with six points each.
GAME NOTES
The Hardrockers had five players score in double figures that totaled 59 of the team's 61 points.
Morning Grace Spotted Bear and
Savea Mansfield led the way with 13 points each. Spotted Bear also earned her third double-double of the season with 10 rebounds. She was 6-of-16 from the field and had two assists. Mansfield was 5-of-9 from the field and 3-of-6 from the free-throw line, grabbing seven rebounds.
Piper Bauer finished with 12 points and nine rebounds on 4-of-15 from the field and 4-of-9 3-pointers. Sophomore
Alexis Backhaus finished with 11 points and five rebounds, while
Naomi Hidalgo scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds. As a team, the Hardrockers were 21-of-57 from the field for 37 percent, hitting 5-of-18 3-pointers for 28 percent. South Dakota Mines hit 14-of-18 free throws and outrebounded the Grizzlies 43-32. The 'Rockers did commit 24 turnovers that led to 23 points for Adams State.
UP NEXT
The Hardrockers return to action Saturday afternoon when they face Fort Lewis College at 4 p.m. in Durango, Colo. South Dakota Mines closes its season next weekend when it hosts Chadron State Friday night at 5:30 p.m. and Colorado Christian University at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Fans 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.
