by RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines women’s basketball team looked to get back in the win column in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play when it hosted Adams State University Saturday afternoon at Goodell Gymnasium.
The Hardrockers did just that, upsetting Adams State 67-62. The Grizzlies were ranked 22nd in this week’s Division II National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (D2CSC) poll. It was the first win by South Dakota Mines against a ranked team since Jan. 13, 2018 against Fort Lewis College (#13).
With the win, South Dakota Mines handed Adams State its first loss in the RMAC (6-1), while South Dakota Mines moved to 3-5 in conference play with the win.
The Hardrockers got out to a blazing start, running out to a 14-2 lead behind five points each from junior guard Piper Bauer and senior post Naomi Hidalgo. Bauer and sophomore Lauren Herman added 3-pointers for a big 22-4 advantage with two minutes remaining in the first period.
South Dakota Mines finished 10-of-17 from the field in the first quarter and hit 4-of-7 3-pointers for a 24-9 lead. Bauer had 10 points in the opening frame to pace the team.
The Grizzlies began to put more pressure on the Hardrockers to begin the second quarter and they chipped away at the lead with an 11-3 run. Bauer’s third 3-pointer of the first half ended the South Dakota Mines drought and put the ‘Rockers’ back up by 10 with 1:30 remaining until halftime.
Adams State outscored South Dakota Mines 13-6 in the second to make it a 30-22 game at the break. Bauer continued to lead the ‘Rockers in scoring with 15 points.
Freshman Morning Grace Spotted Bear had four points and Hidalgo added a basket early in the third to put the Hardrockers back up in double digits. Bauer’s 3-pointer made it a 39-24 game with 5:24 to play in the quarter.
Spotted Bear’s two free throws put the score at 43-30 before Adams State slowed down the Hardrockers with an effective full-court press. The Grizzlies closed the period on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 45-38 with one period to play. Spotted Bear led the ‘Rockers in the third with six points.
The Grizzlies continued to press the Hardrockers and scored the first eight points in the fourth to regain a one-point lead before Bauer’s 3-pointer and two technical foul free throws with 5:38 to play put South Dakota Mines back in front, 50-46.
A basket by Spotted Bear, two free throws by Hidalgo and another big 3-pointer by Bauer kept the Hardrockers in the lead, 59-52 with 3:07 left.
Two free throws by Herman and another by Hidalgo put South Dakota Mines up by eight, but Adams State came back with five quick points to cut the lead to 62-59 with 57 seconds in the game. After a Spotted Bear free throw, Adams State hit a 3-pointer to make it one-point game with 17 seconds left.
Bauer was fouled with 9.8 seconds and she hit both free throws for a three-point lead. Senior Madelyn Heiser got a big steal and she was fouled with 3.4 seconds remaining. She connected on both shots from the free-throw line to seal the big 67-62 upset victory.
