RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines Women's Basketball team battled with New Mexico Highlands in the Hardrockers' penultimate game of the season.
The Hardrockers played a physical game and led nearly wire-to-wire, picking up their seventh RMAC victory with a 77-69 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
South Dakota Mines got off to a running start, taking a 15-6 lead in the first quarter, but New Mexico Highlands fought back to close the quarter with the Hardrockers holding a 15-12 lead.
In the second quarter,
Piper Bauer and
Lauren Herman hit back-to-back threes, giving SDM a 29-19 lead. Piper would hit another moments later, giving the Hardrockers a 12-point, 34-22 lead.
The Hardrockers' hot shooting continued for the remainder of the half, as they scored 44 points and led 44-36.
Early in the third, New Mexico Highlands would gain momentum, cutting the deficit to 46-42.
New Mexico Highlands would continue to cut into the deficit and end the third quarter with the Hardrockers leading by two, 57-55.
The fourth quarter started very physically, but the Hardrockers continued to hold a slight 60-57 lead until Bauer hit a three, expanding the lead to 63-57.
Samantha Darnell followed with a layup, and the Hardrockers held an eight-point, 65-57 lead with 4:58 to play.
Highlands cut the lead to three, but the Hardrockers would continue to answer as
Savea Mansfield converted an and-1 to expand the lead to six with just under two minutes to play, and the Hardrockers would hold on, picking up the 77-69 victory.
NOTES
Savea Mansfield scored 22 points to lead the team, while
Miquedah Taliman,
Morning Grace Spotted Bear, and
Piper Bauer were all in double figures with 15, 14, and 11. Spotted Bear recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds…Bauer led with five assists.
UP NEXT
The Hardrocker women's basketball team will host Fort Lewis on Saturday at 1 for its final regular-season game and senior day.
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.
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.
