by Steve Carlson
SPEARFISH, S.D. – It was a career night for Raven Cournoyer as the Black Hills State University women’s basketball team (10-5, 7-4 RMAC) erased a 13-point halftime deficit to down the Thunderwolves of Colorado State University Pueblo (11-10, 6-7 RMAC) behind six 3-pointers and 21 points from Cournoyer. The Yellow Jackets have now won three-straight games and completed the weekend home sweep.
“No secret sauce. It all comes down to hard work and mentality,” noted head coach Mark Nore. “Raven has been working hard in the gym and she’s earned that performance, and our team earned that win!”
A slow starts for both sides as Colorado State University Pueblo held just a 2-0 advantage three minutes into the game. The Thunderwolves ran out to a 10-0 lead five minutes into the game with six points from Division I Northern Colorado transfer Alisha Little, forcing the Yellow Jackets to use an early time out. BHSU responded well out of the time out as Alessia Capley (Gr., Arvada, Colo.) put the first points on the board for the Jackets. Off a turnover, Jaylen Ostenson (Fr., Newcastle, Wyo.) hit a 3-pointer, picking up five quick points after the time out. The first quarter proved to be a quarter of runs with Pueblo responding with six-straight points after back-to-back 3-pointers. The Thunderwolves would lead 16-6 after the opening quarter.
Ostenson continued to be the offensive threat for BH early, hitting her second three of the to cut the Pueblo lead back to 10 points at 22-12. The first five minutes proved to be quiet offensively for both sides. Cournoyer (Gr., Mission, S.D.) hit a three late in the half to cut the deficit back to single digits, but the Thunderwolves responded with a bucket of their own to push their lead back to double-digits.
Ostenson led the contest with her nine first half points, but it was the Thunderwolves who held the 32-19 halftime advantage after shooting 46.2% from the floor in the first 20 minutes. Despite the score, the Yellow Jackets held a +5-rebounding margin in the half (19-14).
Cournoyer hit a corner three right in front of the BH bench to open the second half as it was evident the Yellow Jackets looked to become more aggressive with the ball. A pair of free throws from Ellie Moore (Gr., Phoenix, Ariz.) again put the game within single digits, sparking a 7-0 run for Black Hills State with another 3-pointer from Cournoyer in the run. The Thunderwolves would get buckets here and there, but the momentum finally seemed to shift in favor of the green and gold. The hot shooting continued for Cournoyer, as she hit a 3-pointer and was fouled, completing the four-point play and cutting the CSUP lead down to just 40-37. She heated up from the left corner in the third, hitting five in the third quarter alone, helping BH pull to within three by the end of the quarter (45-42).
The fourth quarter would be a grind it out, possession-by-possession contest keeping everyone inside A2 Arena on the edge of their seats. Gracie Haneborg (Jr., North Platte, Neb.) hit the first bucket in the fourth quarter, making it 45-44 CSUP, as the comeback was in full effect. A euro step lay-up from Kaycee Groves (So., Faith, S.D.) gave Black Hills State their first lead of the day with eight minutes to play, leading 48-47. Back and forth the two teams would go, trading buckets for the next couple of minutes. A 3-pointer from Kalla Bertram (Jr., Colome, S.D.) extended the BH lead up to four points, but four quick points from Pueblo pulled the game even. The Thunderwolves’ DI transfer took control, scoring the next five points, but Morgan Hammerbeck (Hamill, S.D.) stopped the small run with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. With a little over a minute to play, Groves got to the free throw line to tie the game once again at 63-63.
CSUP was unable to convert on their next possession, as Haneborg was fouled driving to the hoop. She went one-for-two at the line to give BH the 64-63 lead with 32.1 seconds to play. The Thunderwolves would split at the line and, again, would be tied at 64-64. Following a Black Hills State time out with 17.0 seconds left, the Yellow Jackets called on Bertram who hit a turnaround jumper to win the game and complete the comeback, 66-64.
