UNDATED – Black Hills State women’s basketball fell to the Westminster Griffins 65-74 in Grand Junction, Colo. Friday night.
The Yellow Jackets were led by senior guard Racquel Wientjes who recorded 23 points against the Griffins. Morgan Ham and Danica Kocer were both hot from beyond the arc which allowed them each to record double digit nights at 11 and 10 points apiece.
Although the Yellow Jackets were able to shoot 43.9% from the field it was not enough to overcome a Griffins offense shooting 64.4% from the field.
After a slow start to the game the Yellow Jackets offense got hot in the first quarter allowing the team to go up by five over the Griffins. Morgan Ham was hot from beyond the arc sinking two 3-pointers in the first quarter helping the Yellow Jackets to a 20-15 lead at the end of quarter play.
The Griffins would shift the momentum in their favor coming out of the quarter break getting hot offensively shooting 86.7% from the field compared to BHSU’s 40%. The Griffins would take the lead from the Yellow Jackets on a 10-3 scoring run and would not look back. The Yellow Jackets would find themselves outscored 13-28 in the quarter giving the Griffins a ten-point lead headed into the halftime break.
Coming out of the break the Yellow Jackets would battle back looking to make up the ten-point deficit from the second quarter. Wientjes and Kocer would lead the rally recording seven points apiece while outscoring the Griffins 21-12 throughout the quarter. Heading into the final ten minutes of regulation the Yellow Jackets would be down by one to the Griffins 54-55.
After turning the ball over seven times in the third quarter the Griffins would tighten up on offense and look to keep the ball out of the hands of the Yellow Jackets. BHSU would keep the game close taking the lead in the fourth quarter once before the Griffins would take the lead back and look to edge out the Yellow Jackets. Despite the game being within one with just over three minutes left to play the Griffins would outscore the Yellow Jackets 8-0 in the final three minutes to secure the victory defeating the Yellow Jackets 74-65.
The Yellow Jackets shot 43.9% on the night making 25 of 57 shots from the field while shooting 39.1% (9-of-23) from beyond the arc. BHSU shot 75% from the charity stripe making 6 of 8 free throws.
Leading BHSU defensively was Niki Van Wyk who recorded seven rebounds and three steals throughout the night.
The Yellow Jackets will now head into offseason preparation.
