RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines women's basketball program has officially signed six women in its signing period for the class of 2024. Head coach Jeri Jacobson Owsley has announced the additions of Mikah Hammerquist, Madeline Hartel, Reagan LaPlante, Emma Martin, Miquedah Taliman and Reese Terwilliger.

"We are looking forward to adding this group of exceptional young women to our Hardrocker family," said head women's basketball coach Jeri Jacobson Owsley. "They each bring different skillsets to our team on the court, but more than that--we are thrilled about the type of people they are and the work ethic they possess," Owsley added, "they all have a team-first mindset and are competitors who are going to help elevate our program on and off the court."

The first addition, Mikah Hammerquist is a combo guard who can play both spots in the backcourt.

Hailing from Monroe, Washington and North Creek High School, she was a double-digit scorer for three years, including scoring over 1,000 points in her senior year, averaging 17.5 points per game along with over 4 assists per game in her sophomore-senior seasons. Starting 55 games in her final three years, she is the current all-time leading scorer in North Creek history and broke eight school records in her final season and led the state in three-pointers made with 95. Hammerquist was a three-time all-league player and also participated in soccer for a season.

"Mikah being able to make 95 3s at the high school level is quite impressive," said Owsley. "We look forward to working with her and helping her develop into a shooter at the collegiate level. She has a couple people in our program who will be quite influential in her development," added Owsley.

Madeline Hartel joins the program from Erie, Colorado and Erie High School. A two-time all-conference and all-state selection, Hartel started 55 games over her final three years, averaging over 13 points per game in each season. Hartel helped lead the team to three state tournaments. In addition, Hartel was a track and field athlete and was named all-state twice and all-conference three times.

"Maddie is a Hardrocker through and through with her dad being a graduate from South Dakota Mines and we are excited for what she is going to bring to our program," said Jacobson Owsley. Owsley added, "Maddie is an extremely hard worker and has played against some of the nation's toughest players while on her club team and we look forward to the competition she will bring at the guard position."

Emma Martin joins the program after spending four seasons at Division II Pittsburg State University. Martin was a steady contributor for a consistently ranked program, playing in 61 games, including all 28 in her most recent season, averaging 10 minutes per game. Within that program, Martin was part of a team that made an NCAA tournament the past two years and won a conference championship last season. Martin was a three-time all-conference selection and an all-state selection during her high school career at Mountain Home High School in Mountain Home, Arkansas, helping to lead them to the state tournament in four consecutive years. In addition, she was a soccer, track and golf athlete in high school.  

"We are thrilled that Emma decided to join us for her final season of eligibility," said Owsley. "Emma brings championship experience at the Division II level and we are excited to see the impact she will have on our program on the court, in the locker room, across campus and in the community."

Reagan LaPlante is a transfer after spending the first two seasons of her collegiate career with Miles Community College after graduating from Custer County District High School. After not being a significant contributor in her freshman year at Miles CC, playing in 26 games and averaging six minutes per game, LaPlante started in all 31 games her sophomore year, averaging 5.8 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game. The 5-9 forward shot 44.8% from the field and 74.6% from the free throw line.
"Reagan will bring some depth to our forwards and will help to elevate that position with her work ethic and positive attitude," said Owsley. "She is passionate about engineering and understands what it takes to compete at the college level."

Miquedah Taliman also spent two seasons at a junior college as a significant contributor at Mesa Community College. Starting in 47 games and playing 52 across her two years, Taliman averaged over 20 minutes per game for her career. She scored an average of 7.1 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game. In her high school career, Taliman was a four-time all-conference selection along with an all-state selection and was named 3A North Region Player of the Year following her senior season.
"Kada was coached by former Hardrocker great Kori (Hoff) Stephenson for the past two years at Mesa and experienced a lot of success, finishing third in the nation this past season in the NJCAA National Tournament," said Owsley "Kada will bring experience to not only our guard group, but our entire team on what it takes to compete at the highest level."
 
The final addition to the 2024 class is Reese Terwilliger, from our backyard in Pierre, South Dakota, Reese attended T.F. Riggs High School. A four-year contributor, Reese was a two-time all-state and two-time all-conference selection. Terwilliger started 86 games in her career and was a two-time All-Tournament team selection in the state tournament, helping to lead her team there in her junior and senior seasons, making it to the state championship in her junior year. Terwilliger was a multi-sport standout also playing volleyball and was a member of the track team for four years. She was an all-state and all-conference selection in each of those sports, also earning an all-state tournament team selection in volleyball and winning a state championship in the shot put.

Owsley said, "Reese is a winner and competitor to her core and will add strength and athleticism to our post group." "Her ceiling is high and we cannot wait to get on the court with her. It's also exciting to once again have a South Dakotan on our roster!"
The women's basketball team opens its 2024-25 season on November 8th at the conference challenge in Texas.

Tickets for the 2024-25 season will go on sale soon.

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.