SPEARFISH, S.D. – Thanks to a season-high 11 three-pointers, including four off the bench by sophomore Danielle Skinner, the Colorado School of Mines women's basketball team snapped its three-game road losing streak Friday, defeating Black Hills State 72-65 at the Donald E. Young Center.
The Orediggers showed no signs of weariness from their first trip to Spearfish, South Dakota, taking an 11-point lead after the first 20 minutes in part to 43.8 percent (14-of-32) shooting and six three-pointers.
Mines fell behind early and trailed throughout the opening five minutes, before reclaiming the lead at 15-11 at the 14:16 mark, its first lead since 2-0, on consecutive treys from sophomore Taylor Helbig.
The Orediggers twice went ahead seven in the ensuing 3:13, first on a jumper in the lane from junior Tory Langas and later at 24-17 on a triple by senior Angie Charchalis.
The Yellow Jackets remained within two scores until the final minutes when the women rattled off seven straight points in the last 1:18 as part of a 9-0 run, capped by Skinner's first three-pointer with four seconds left to close the half up 39-28.
Helbig went for 18 points in the frame, converting 7-of-12 looks and 3-of-6 three-point attempts in 17 minutes.
Mines built the advantage to its largest of the night at 44-28 just over three minutes into the second, but Black Hills State would not go quietly, steadily chipping away over the next 12 minutes and eventually evening the score at 59-59 with 4:51 remaining.
The Orediggers countered though with an 11-2 spurt, finishing with 13 of the game's final 19 points for their seventh road win and a three-game cushion over the Yellow Jackets in the RMAC standings.
The win moved Mines to 13-11 overall and into a tie for sixth with Colorado Christian at 10-8 in the conference. BHSU remains in ninth at 5-12 and 8-13. The top eight teams receive a berth in the RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals on March 5 with the top four seeds earning the right to host.
After Helbig sported the hot hand in the first, Skinner found the shooting touch in the second, scoring 13 of her career-high 18 points in the half on 5-of-6 field goals, including 3-of-3 from distance. She ended the night 7-of-9 overall and 4-of-5 on threes with two assists and one steal in 21 minutes as the Orediggers outscored BHSU 24-to-7 in bench points.
Helbig finished with a team-high 22 points to extend her double figure scoring streak to nine straight and 17 of the past 18 games. She has topped 20 or more points in five of her last nine.
Langas added 15 points on 5-of-7 field goals and 5-of-5 free throws in addition to seven rebounds, two blocks and one helper. Frontcourt classmate and RMAC leading rebounder Allie Grazulis pulled down a game-high 12 boards, her conference-leading 12th double-digit effort, and had three steals and two assists.
Mines shot 42.4 percent (25-of-59) for the game, its highest field goal percentage since hitting 49.1 percent at New Mexico Highlands on Dec. 1, and 39.3 (11-of-28) on three-pointers, while the 39 first half points was the second most this season.
Chelsey Biegler led the Yellow Jackets with 23 points; Bailey Kusser had 17 and Calli Bechtel added 10.
The Orediggers take on Chadron State at 6 p.m. tomorrow at Armstrong Gymnasium in Chadron, Nebraska in their final regular season road contest of the year.
