DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University women's basketball team grabbed their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference collecting a 67-59 win over the visiting South Dakota School of Mines Lady Hardrockers. The Rangers move to an overall record of 3-5 and 1-1 in conference play.

RU came out with something to prove. Bay'lee Purdy opened the first two minutes of play off with seven of the team's nine points. The hot streak continued as Purdy knocked one down from distance at the halfway mark and followed it up with a layup giving her 12 points in just the first quarter. RU held the Lady Hardrockers to just ten first quarter points to lead 22-10.

Ranger domination slowed down in the second quarter and South Dakota Mines was able to slightly outscore RU 13-12 giving the hosts a 34-23 advantage at halftime. Regis sat comfortably throughout the third quarter even as the Lady Hardrockers brought the lead to ten, 40-30. The Rangers kept their composure pushing the lead back to 54-38 by the end of the third.

South Dakota Mines flipped a switch in the fourth and began making plays to give RU a run for their money. The Rangers held a 14-point lead with 4:40 left to play as SDSMT kicked it into gear going on a 12-2 run bringing the score 62-54 with just under a minute remaining.

Time did not favor the Lady Hardrockers as RU squashed any lingering hopes of a comeback knocking down 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to solidify their first conference win.

For a South Dakota Mines team that averages seven three's per game and has the third-best three-point shooting percentage in the league at 33.1, the Rangers held the visitors to just four three's at 19-percent.

Purdy scored her second most on the season with 22 going 7-of-14 from the field, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-5 from the line. Purdy also pulled down five rebounds and snagged one steal. Kaylie Rader recorded her second double-double of the season adding 11 points and ten rebounds, including four offensive. Rader also tallied two assists and a steal. Caresse Williams chipped in with ten points; her eighth game thus far this season of scoring double-digits.

The Rangers play hosts again against Black Hills State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, December 12 in their last game before the holiday break.