RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines women's basketball team starts the new year with a pair of home games.
With the new league schedule, this week's games are set for Thursday and Saturday.
Tipoff on Thursday is scheduled for 5:30, while Saturday is scheduled for 1:00.
Those games are slated against MSU Denver and Colorado School of Mines.
GAME INFORMATION
MSU Denver
Date/Time: Jan. 9 / 5:30 p.m.
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: MSU Denver leads 12-5.
Streak: MSU Denver Won 1
Series at South Dakota Mines (Since 2015-16): Tied 4-4.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: South Dakota Mines Won 1
Tickets: Ticket Central
Watch Live: RMAC Network
Colorado School of Mines
Date/Time: Jan. 11 / 1:00 p.m.
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: Colorado School of Mines leads 13-6.
Streak: Colorado School of Mines Won 8
Series at South Dakota Mines (Since 2015-16): Colorado School of Mines leads 6-2.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: Colorado School of Mines Won 5
Tickets: Ticket Central
Watch Live: RMAC Network
DEFENSE IS KEY
The Hardrockers allow opponents to hit just 30.9% of their three-point shots, a number that is fourth best in the conference.
In addition, the Hardrockers defend at the rim, blocking three shots per game, the fifth most in the league.
APPROACHING A RECORD
Piper Bauer continues her quest to break the school record for made three-pointers in a career. Currently, she has 267, while assistant coach
Ryan Weiss has 276 as the all-time leader.
On the season, Bauer averages 2.45 threes per game, has made 27, and hits them at a 31% clip. Those numbers are third, third, and fifth in the RMAC.
DARNELL DIMES
As a redshirt freshman,
Samantha Darnell averages 2.9 assists per game in her first year of college basketball action after redshirting in 2023-24.
That number puts her just outside the top 10 in the RMAC.
GOOD MORNING GRACE
Morning Grace Spotted Bear is a true all-around player who can score points, defend at the rim and on the wing, and grab rebounds.
She has shown it throughout the year. Spotted Bear is seventh in the RMAC, averaging .91 blocks per game, and eighth in the RMAC in rebounds per game, averaging 7.9 per contest.
Morning Grace averages 11.8 points per game and has posted four double-doubles this season.
SCOUTING MSU DENVER
MSU Denver has not gotten off to a sterling start. They are on a four-game losing streak and sit at 2-10 overall with a 1-3 mark in the RMAC.
Despite the slow start, the Roadrunners do some things well as a team.
They have a strong bench, averaging 21.2 points per game, third most in the RMAC.
The Roadrunners get to the free throw line at a high rate and convert at a high rate, as they are third in the league in attempts and makes.
Forcing turnovers is another strength, as they are third in steals per game and fifth in turnovers forced among RMAC schools.
Mikylah Espinosa is a do-it-all for the Roadrunners. She leads the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game and is among the top 10 in the RMAC in field goal percentage, hitting over 36% of her attempts.
Additionally, she leads the RMAC and sits in the top 10 at the NCAA Division II level in total steals (41) and steals per game (3.67).
SCOUTING COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
Colorado School of Mines has started the year with a 3-9 overall record and a 1-3 record in conference play.
The Orediggers are strong as a team in several categories, including field goal percentage: They make 40.9% of their shots, which is fourth best in the league. They are also fourth best in blocks per game (3.2), rebounding margin (+4.9), and offensive rebounding per game (11.5).
Jenna Siebert is another dangerous, multi-faceted player. She averages 16.1 points per contest to lead the team and sit fourth in the RMAC. Scoring is not the only threat she provides, however, as she averages 2.9 assists per game. Siebert hits 37.9% of her shots, ninth in the RMAC.
The Hardrockers can't forget about Josephine Howery on the offensive glass, as she averaged 2.4 offensive rebounds per game.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following the home weekend, the Hardrockers will hit the road next weekend for matchups with Fort Lewis and Adams State on Thursday, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 18.
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.
