SPEARFISH, SD. – With the regular season coming down to the last few weeks, the Regis University women's basketball team won the game against the Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets on Saturday, 77-62.

The Rangers (20-5 overall, 15-4 RMAC) made the adjustment after going into halftime down 33-28 and came back to outscore the Yellow Jackets (14-8 overall, 11-7 RMAC), 49-29, in the second half.

Graduate student guard Josey Ryan finished the game with a total of 26 points while Morgan L. Smith had a season-high 17 rebounds, 12 of which were offensive grabs.

"Our toughness tonight both physically and mentally exemplified a team that is hungry and fighting for each other," said Regis women's basketball head coach, Molly Marrin. "It was a thrilling back-and-forth game in a loud atmosphere."

HOW IT HAPPENED

Down 33-28 at the start of the second half, momentum swung back into Regis' favor as the Rangers shot 55.6% (10-for-18) from the field to score a game-high 27 points in the third quarter.

The Yellow Jackets were right on the Rangers' heels in the third as they scored 19 points, but three three-point makes from Ryan and senior guard Madison Diercks helped the Rangers re-take the lead at the 2:37 mark and never give it back.

"We adjusted our half court defense and guarded the ball screens and penetration better and as a team defensive unit," said Marrin. "I'm super proud of how we got each other's backs defensively as well and not allowing any points off O boards in the second half. That's what it takes to win in February and we earned it."

The Rangers finished the night being outshot from the field, the Yellow Jackets shot 45.6% (26-for-57) to Regis' 43.1% (28-for-65), but performance beyond the arc and at the charity stripe proved to be the difference maker. 

Regis went 8-for-21 (38.1%) from downtown to the Yellow Jackets' 26.3% (5-for-19) while at the charity stripe, the Rangers went 13-for-16 (81.3%) while BHSU shot a measly 50% (5-for-10). 

Despite being outshot from the field, at the glass, the Rangers dominated as they outrebounded the Yellow Jackets, 41-32. 

Leading that rebounding charge was Smith, who matched her career-high boards with 17. 12 of those boards were offensive rebounds, the most Smith has grabbed since Jan. 4, 2021 when she had 10 offensive boards against the Chadron State Eagles.

"It was definitely Morgan's best all around game as a Ranger and she put us on her back with her O boards and getting the extra opportunities we needed," Marrin said. "Any coach would be so lucky to coach a player like her who puts her heart out there every time she plays." 

Ryan led all Rangers in scoring with her 26 points while three other Rangers finished in double-digit scoring. Junior guard Athena Saragoza and McKinney-native Erin Fry both scored 17 points.

"Josey does so many things for our team and it was amazing to see her lead us tonight with toughness and a smile," said Marrin. "She never quits and is such a joy to coach."

Smith scored 10, which coupled with her 17 rebounds, earns her her seventh double-double of her career.

GAME NOTES

• With her 26-point performance, Josey Ryan is 33 points away from reaching the 1,000 point benchmark
• Regis had nine steals to BHSU's six

UP NEXT

The Rangers go on their last road trip of the 2023-2024 season to Gunnison, Colo. to take on the Western Colorado University Mountaineers on Friday. Tipoff is set for 5:00 PM.