SPEARFISH, S.D. Host Black Hills State University hit a short jumper with two seconds remaining to break a tie and steal a 45-43 win over visiting Western Colorado University in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's basketball action Friday evening.

Grace Kirscher had provided the Mountaineers with a lead at 43-41 on a layup with 44 seconds remaining, but BHSU would tie the game on a layup with 23 seconds left, then turn a defensive rebound into the winning bucket by Haylee Weathersby.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Black Hills State def. Western Colorado, 45-43
Records: Western Colorado 2-4 (0-1 RMAC), Black Hills State 3-4 (1-0)
Location: Donald E. Young Center; Spearfish, S.D.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western had opened the game on a 7-0 run only to have the Yellow Jackets wrest the lead away later, at 11-9.
• The home-team advantage remained throughout most of the second quarter, until Kirscher banked in a 3-pointer from the right wing to lift Western in front, 19-18, with 2 minutes, 44 seconds until the halftime break.
• The Mountaineers extended their lead within the third quarter, taking an eight-point lead (29-21) on a Ky Buell layup not quite four minutes into the period.
• BHSU, though, would rally over the quarter's last six minutes, using a 15-5 run to exit the period leading 36-34.
• Kirscher's layup in the final minute finally erased Western's deficit, only to have the Yellow Jackets rally with the final four points of the game.

COURT NOTES

• Kirscher scored a game-high 17 points in defeat, counting in a pair of 3-pointers and a perfect 3-for-3 night from the free throw line. She also pulled down four rebounds and registered a pair of steals.
• The rest of the Western attack, however, was unable to get on track as four other starters combined to only equal Kirscher's night, and the bench accumulated just nine points.
• Katie Dalton led the rebounding efforts for the Mountaineers, with six, but Samantha Coleman and Kirscher chipped in with four apiece.
• Neither team was exceptionally sharp while on offense, as BHSU finished the win shooting 35 percent from the floor while Western was just over 34%.
• Free throw opportunities were somewhat of a factor in the outcome. The Yellow Jackets went to the line 14 times and hit 10 of their opportunities, with Western going 5-for-9 from the stripe.
• Morgan Hammerbeck's 12 points led a pair of Yellow Jackets in double figures, as Danica Kocer joined her with 10 points.

NEXT UP

• Western continues its RMAC-opening weekend with a trip to Chadron State College (Neb.) for a 5:30 p.m. contest against the host Eagles.
• Black Hills State welcomes Fort Lewis College to the Donald E. Young Center on Saturday for another RMAC game.