SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota Mines Women's Basketball fell to Sioux Falls and Northern State over the weekend at the USF Classic.
Game 1: Hardrockers at Sioux Falls, 59-84 L
In their opening game of the USF Classic, the Hardrockers fell to Sioux Falls 59-84.
The Cougars outscored the Hardrockers 10-27 in the first quarter. After
Savea Mansfield gave the Hardrockers an 8-5 lead, the Cougars went on a 22-0 run. That made the score 27-8 with 1:46 left in the first.
South Dakota Mines responded and outscored Sioux Falls 22-16 in the second quarter.
Morning Grace Spotted Bear nailed a three-pointer to start a 10-2 run for the Hardrockers to make the score 20-29.
Alexis Backhaus made it an eight-point game later with a layup. Sioux Falls went into halftime with a 43-32 lead.
In the second half, the Cougars outscored the Hardrockers 41-27 to win 84-59. Their eight-point deficit in the second quarter was the closest South Dakota Mines got to tying the game.
Mansfield led the Hardrockers with 16 points and five rebounds.
Megan Alexander totaled eight points, while Spotted Bear put up six points and five rebounds. 12 different Hardrockers scored as they shot 31.3% from the field and 36% from three-point range.
Game 2: Hardrockers vs. Northern State, 51-64 L
South Dakota Mines dropped a contest to Northern State 64-51 on Saturday afternoon.
The Wolves won the first quarter 21-12 over the Hardrockers.
Addison Miranda and Spotted Bear combined for five points to start the game. However, the Wolves recorded nine straight points to go up 9-5. A 6-2 run at the end of the quarter made it 21-12.
In the second quarter, Northern State outscored South Dakota Mines 15-12. Miranda drained a three-pointer to make it a six-point game in the first minute. With an 11-point deficit later, a 9-0 Hardrockers run made the score 24-26 with 3:43 left. The Wolves answered with an 8-0 run to lead 36-24 at halftime.
South Dakota Mines attempted a comeback as they outscored Northern State 13-10 in the third quarter. Both teams traded points throughout the quarter as the Hardrockers went into the fourth down nine points.
Northern State won the fourth quarter 18-14 to down South Dakota Mines 64-51. Mansfield brought the deficit to seven points with two made free throws. The Hardrockers could not get past the Wolves defense as Northern State won 64-51.
Miranda was 5-for-8 from the field and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc to total 13 points. She also added two rebounds, three steals and one block. Mansfield picked up 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Carolina Ruiz Molina had seven points and Spotted Bear collected six points and seven rebounds.
South Dakota Mines shot a collective 35.4% from the field and 30% from three-point range. They totaled 22 points in the paint and 18 bench points.
What's Next
The Hardrockers will travel to undefeated Colorado State for an exhibition contest on Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m. After that game, they return home to face Minot State on Nov. 29 at 1 p.m.
