Spearfish, S.D.,   The Western Colorado Women's Basketball team earns their third straight RMAC win after defeating Black Hills State by a score of 56-51 on Saturday afternoon.

JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Western Colorado University Def. Black Hills State 56-51
Records: Western Colorado overall 13-4 (RMAC 8-2) | BHSU overall 11-6 (RMAC 7-3).
Location: Spearfish, S.D. Donald E. Young Center
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountaineers won the tipoff, allowing senior Rachel Cockman to hit senior Brooklyn Seymour for an open layup 2-0. A missed pull up by BHSU allowed junior Ivey Schmidt to grab the defensive board and find sophomore Jayda Maves open for three 5-0. The Yellow Jackets tied the game at 5-5 after back-to-back buckets.
• Moments later, WCU gained an 18-13 advantage with two minutes left in the first quarter. BHSU put up six consecutive points in order to take the lead 19-18 going into the second quarter.
• Graduate Jayde Tschritter was immediately sent to the charity stripe to start the quarter, tying the game at 19-a-piece. Two layups in a row for the Yellow Jackets extended their edge 23-19. Cockman and Schmidt combined for six to make it a one-point game 26-25.
• Buckets were traded, the Mountaineers still down a couple until sophomore Alyssa Eckroth hit a shot from behind the arch 30-30. BHSU responded with a three 33-30. Cockman hit the last shot of the half to go into the locker room down one 33-32.
• Cockman gasped the lead for WCU with a turn around jumper 34-33. Schmidt allowed for a three-point edge after a driving layup 36-33. BHSU was not able to score until five minutes into the third quarter 36-35. Freshman Penelope Urquhart, junior Chloe Daniels and Eckroth recorded points to elevate the Mountaineers lead 43-35.
• The respective teams swap three points to initiate the final quarter 48-39. Another few points for BHSU made it a four-point game 48-44. Seymour was able to connect with the basket, giving WCU a six-point cushion 50-44. With four minutes left, BHSU comes with one 50-49.
• Cockman, taking charge, putting away layup after layup to secure a 54-49 advantage with two minutes to play. The final moments were intense, the two teams fighting for the win, but the Mountaineers overpowered the Yellow Jackets to defeat them 56-51.

 
COURT NOTES

• Cockman led the scoring with 18 points going 8-14 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line. Schmidt followed with 11 going 5-13 from the field, Eckroth had 7 going 3-5 from the field and 1-3 from three and Urquhart earned 5 going 2-5 and 1-3.
• Schmidt had 3 assists, Seymour and Urquhart each contributed 2.
• Schmidt and Cockman posted 8 rebounds. Cockman recorded 5 blocks and 3 steals.
• WCU shot 41.4% from the field, 21.7% from behind the arch and 75% from the charity stripe. The Mountaineers had 16 bench points, 7 steals, 34 points in the paint, 6 blocks and 10 assists.

 
UP NEXT
Mountaineer Women's basketball travels to RMAC opponent UC-Colorado Springs on Thursday January 30 at 5pm.  
 
For more information visit gomountaineers.com