SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Regis University Women's Basketball team suffered a 79-55 loss on the road to Black Hills State University (SD) on Thursday night. The Rangers fall to 5-7 (3-2 RMAC), while the Yellow Jackets improve to 9-3 (5-0 RMAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Rangers would strike first, as Athena Saragoza found Taylin Serlen for a jumper in the paint, then scored a jumper of her own. However, after Erin Fry hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 6-6, the Yellow Jackets took control of the game, going on a 19-2 run, broken only by Addison Branscum's layup, to lead 25-8 after one quarter.

Fiona Snashall and Saragoza both scored to start the second, but even after a Fry triple, Black Hills had an answer for each bucket. Fry would score or assist on the final 14 Regis points of the half, but RU still trailed 26-42 going into the break.

In the third period, Serlen would convert two and-ones as a part of a 10-0 Ranger run, and Saragoza added a basket from deep that sparked another 9-3 run for Regis. While BHSU scored the final two points of the quarter, the Rangers had still managed to close the deficit to just eight, 49-57.

The momentum did not carry into the fourth for the Rangers, as it took them over three minutes to score, and the Yellow Jacket built their lead back up to 20, 71-51. Fry hit a jumper, and Mary Crossland added a late layup, but the Rangers would lose, 79-55.

GAME NOTES

·        Serlen and Fry each scored 16 points, while Morgan Hammerbeck and Kalla Bertram posted a game-high 20 for the Yellow Jackets

·        Serlen also had five board, one block, and one steal for Regis; Fry dished five assists

·        Black Hills outshot the Rangers from the floor, 50% - 38%, and from deep, 31.5% - 23%

·        The Yellow Jackets also grabbed more rebounds, 43 – 26

UP NEXT

The Rangers return to action on Saturday, Jan 11 at Chadron State College, tip-off at 1 pm.