by RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines women’s basketball team returned to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play and hosted Fort Lewis College Friday night at Goodell Gymnasium.
In a tight battle that saw 15 lead changes and 12 ties, the Hardrockers took the Skyhawks to overtime before falling 77-73.
Junior guard Piper Bauer got the Hardrockers going with a 3-pointer and South Dakota Mines jumped out to a 9-6 lead on two baskets by senior Naomi Hidalgo and another by freshman Morning Grace Spotted Bear. The Hardrockers then ran off eight straight points, including five more points from Bauer, for a 17-6 advantage. The ‘Rockers hit 7 of their first nine shots, including 2-of-4 3-pointers.
Fort Lewis, however, ran off seven straight points to get back in the game before sophomore Lauren Herman hit a pair of free throws at the 1:51 mark. Bauer had 10 points as the Hardrockers led 21-16 after the first period.
The Skyhawks opened with a 10-4 run to open the second period to take its first lead of the game at 26-25 with 5:31 until halftime.
Senior Madelyn Heiser’s old-fashioned three-point play and a 2-point jumper by Bauer put the Hardrockers back up 30-28. Herman’s late 3-pointer gave the ‘Rockers a 33-31 lead at the halftime break. Bauer led South Dakota Mines with 12 points at halftime, while Herman chipped in with 10.
South Dakota Mines took that first-half momentum and opened the third period with a 3-pointer by sophomore Savea Mansfield and baskets by Hidalgo and Spotted Bear for a 40-31 lead. Jumpers by Heiser and Bauer kept the Hardrockers up by seven, 47-40.
Fort Lewis used an 10-2 run to regain the lead at 50-49 before Spotted Bear’s putback ended the drought. The Skyhawks hit a last-second 3-pointer to take a 53-51 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Hardrockers were scoreless for over three minutes to begin the fourth quarter before Spotted Bear hit a jumper and Herman added a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 57-56 with just under six minutes to play. Fort Lewis, however, responded with six straight points for its largest lead of the game at 61-56.
Herman’s 3-pointer, her fourth of the game, cut the lead to 61-59 and Heiser’s short banker tied the game with 2:25 to play. Bauer’s free throw put the ‘Rockers back in front, 62-61, with just over two minutes remaining.
Hidalgo hit 1-of-2 from the line to tie the game at 65-65 with 43 seconds remaining. After Fort Lewis hit one free throw to regain the lead, the Hardrockers called time out with 39 seconds remaining. SD Mines couldn’t get a shot off and was forced to foul. Fort Lewis hit two free throws with 16 seconds for a three-point lead.
Heiser came through for the Hardrockers and nailed a 3-pointer with seven seconds to tie the game again for the 10th time. The ‘Rocker defense stopped the Skyhawks without a shot and the game went into overtime at 68-68.
The Hardrockers won the tip and regained the lead on two free throws by Herman. After Fort Lewis responded with a 3-pointer, the ‘Rockers came back with a basket by Hidalgo. Skyhawks then regained the lead at 73-72 with 1:25 to play.
Heiser was fouled on a 3-point attempt with one minute to play and she hit one shot from the charity stripe to tie the game at 73-73.
Fort Lewis hit two free throws with 21 seconds remaining to break the tie. The Hardrockers missed a field-goal attempt and fouled with eight seconds remaining. The Skyhawks hit both free throws for the final 77-73 score.
GAME NOTES
The Hardrockers had four players score in double figures, led by Lauren Herman who scored a career-high 20 points on 4-of-10 3-pointers and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. She also grabbed seven rebounds, had one steal and one blocked shot. Piper Bauer added 18 points of 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 3-pointers, along with six rebounds. Morning Grace Spotted Bear earned her first double-double of her career with 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting and a game-high and career-high12 rebounds.
