RAPID CITY, S.D. – The women's basketball team is back on the road this week as they take on Colorado Mesa and Western Colorado.
The first matchup is scheduled for Thursday evening against the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa, while a Saturday afternoon matchup is slated with Western Colorado.
GAME INFORMATION
Colorado Mesa
Date/Time: Feb. 20 / 5:30 pm
Site: Grand Junction, Colo.
Arena: Brownson Arena
Series Overall: Colorado Mesa leads 10-0.
Streak: Colorado Mesa Won 10
Series at Colorado Mesa: Colorado Mesa leads 5-0.
Streak at Colorado Mesa: Colorado Mesa Won 5
Watch Live: RMAC Network
Western Colorado
Date/Time: Feb. 22 / 1:00 pm
Site: Gunnison, Colo.
Arena: Paul Wright Gym
Series Overall: South Dakota Mines leads 8-6.
Streak: Western Colorado Won 1
Series at Western Colorado: South Dakota Mines leads 5-3.
Streak at Western Colorado: South Dakota Mines Won 1
Watch Live: RMAC Network
OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING
As they have done throughout RMAC play, the Hardrockers own the offensive boards as they lead the RMAC with 12.7 offensive rebounds per game during RMAC play.
Their overall rebounding margin has continued to increase, as they are now +5.1 in rebounding margin per game in RMAC play, fourth best.
DOMINANT DEFENSE
South Dakota Mines' defense has continued to improve throughout the season. In their last seven games, they have given up just 59.4 points per game, which would be fourth in the league for the full season.
A defensive strength throughout the season has been the Hardrockers' ability to defend the three-point line. They allow opponents to hit just 27.2% in conference play, second best in the RMAC.
STAT STUFFER
Morning Grace Spotted Bear is having a great season for the Hardrockers. During league play, she ranks in the top 11 of the RMAC in points per game and rebounds per game.
She also hits 44.1% of her field goal attempts, averages 2.8 assists per game, .7 blocks per game, and 2.1 steals per game, all numbers that are in the top 11 of the conference.
Spotted Bear shows no signs of slowing as she recorded 21 points and 11 rebounds, along with four steals against MSU Denver for her ninth double-double of the season in the win.
SCOUTING COLORADO MESA
The Mavericks have had a great season thus far, already having clinched a berth in the RMAC Championships after winning 12 in a row. They are 19-4 overall and 14-2 in RMAC play. As a result, they are ranked 24th in the D2CSC Poll while receiving votes in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll.
Offensively, they are strong in several areas. They lead the league in assists per game (16.6), field goal percentage (44%), scoring offense (71.7 points per game), and three-point percentage (33.5%). They are near the top of the Division II level in many of these categories and also turn the ball over just 11.4 times per game, second in Division II and first in the RMAC.
They are the second-best rebounding team in the RMAC with a +6.9 margin and allow 57.6 points per game, also second in the league.
Kylie Kravig, Olivia Reed, and Riley Hayes are a potent trio for the Mavericks.
Kravig leads the league in total assists, assists per game, and assist-to-turnover ratio while being in the top six at the Division II level in the first two categories.
Reed is a nightly double-double as she has 15 on the year, second in the RMAC and third in Division II. Her shooting percentage of 58.3% is tops in the league, while she scores an average of 22.8 points per game and 11 rebounds per game, both top 10 in Division II and second in the league.
Riley Hayes averages 13.6 points per game but is second in the RMAC in three-pointers made per game and three-point percentage.
SCOUTING WESTERN COLORADO
Western is also having a strong season. After winning four in a row, they stand second in the RMAC with a 12-4 conference record and are 17-6 overall.
The Mountaineers' success is primarily attributed to their defensive play and rebounding.
They allow opponents to make just 35.2% of their shots, which is the best in the RMAC and among the top 25 in NCAA Division II. As a result, they allow their opponents to score just 56.6 points per game, which is also the best in the RMAC.
Western Colorado's rebounding is impressive as well. They lead the RMAC, averaging 40.43 rebounds per game, and they also have a +9 margin per game, which is among the top 10 in NCAA Division II.
Ivey Schmidt and Rachel Cockman are their two top offensive threats, averaging 12.5 and 12.4 points per game.
Both are difference makers, as Schmidt averages 2.7 assists per game, while Cockman is third in the RMAC in blocks, averaging 1.39.
Cockman averages 7.4 rebounds per game, while Schmidt averages 6.0.
LOOKING AHEAD
South Dakota Mines wraps up its regular season with games against New Mexico Highlands and Fort Lewis on Thursday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Mar. 1.
You can find the latest on South Dakota Mines women's basketball all year long on X and Instagram (@hardrockerwbb), and you can also follow 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 and four associate members located in California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
