(Zach Carattini, CSC Sports Information)
Longtime Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival Black Hills State (16-8, 14-4 RMAC) forced multiple turnovers in a 58-46 dismantling of the Chadron State College women’s basketball team (7-16, 6-12 RMAC) Tuesday night in the Chicoine Center.
The Yellow Jackets used half-court press defense for all four quarters of the game, overwhelming the Eagles’ offense who turned the ball over 24 times. The Eagles also shot cold going 34% on field goals (16-47), 18.2% on three-pointers (2-11), and 57.1% on free throws (12-21).
The first quarter started with the Jackets scoring six unanswered points off a three-pointer and three free throws. Brittni McCully landed a layup to break the ice for the Eagles at 5:30. Black Hills landed two more three-pointers to pull away from Chadron State, ending the quarter with a 21-11 lead.
CSC began to warm up as both teams scored 14 points in the second quarter. Riley Aiono swished two field goals and a free throw during the Eagles’ best offensive performance of the game. The score at halftime was 35-25 Jackets.
The Yellow Jackets missed nine of their first 10 shots to start the third quarter. Samiyah Worrell and Olivia Waufle tried to capitalize when they landed back-to-back three-pointers to trim the Jackets’ lead to 35-31 at 8:51.
After the two threes, the Eagles were held scoreless until 2:03 as the Yellow Jackets eventually found their footing and scored 11 points before the quarter ended. The score was 46-38 Jackets heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter started with a three-pointer by the Yellow Jackets’ leading scorer Danica Kocer. CSC was held to only eight points as it turned the ball over nine more times before the clock expired. The final score was 58-46.
“I thought we had an improved defensive effort, but we turned the ball over too many times and they were able to convert them into points,” said Head Women’s Basketball Coach Janet Raymer. “We put up a good fight.”
The Eagles will drive north to Rapid City to play South Dakota Mines (4-20, 4-14 RMAC) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Chadron State—Ashayla Powers 13, Riley Aiono 12, Jori Peters 6, Brittni McCully 4, Samiyah Worrell 3, Olivia Waufle 3, Olyvia Pacheco 3, Bailey Brooks 2. FG/3PT/FT: 16-47/2-11/12-21, 46 points, 40 rebounds, 13 assists, 24 turnovers.
Black Hills State—Danica Kocer 22, Haylee Weathersby 9, Ashley Davis 8, Megan Engesser 6, Morgan Hammerbeck 5, Niki Van Wyk 5, Ashlee Beacom 3. FG/3PT/FT: 20-54/8-24/10-13, 58 points, 29 rebounds, 16 assists, 13 turnovers.
Chadron State 11 14 13 8 –46
Black Hills State 21 14 11 12 –58
3-pointers: CSC—Worrell 1, Waufle 1. BHSU—Engesser 2, Van Wyk 1, Kocer 1, Weathersby 1, Hammerbeck 1, Beacom 1, Davis 1.