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Women's basketball: Mines faces road tests
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FarkRAPID CITY - Before Dakota Athletic Conference play started, South Dakota Mines women's head basketball coach Barb Felderman said this year's league looked to have the most parity she has seen in quite some time.
She also said that the conference champion would probably have a number of DAC losses before it was all said and done.
Felderman's predictions are certainly holding true after games this past weekend. While the Lady Hardrockers (ranked 23rd in the latest NAIA Division II poll) posted two wins at home to improve their DAC record to 2-1, upsets were occurring elsewhere across the conference, basically making it a log-jam in the DAC standings.
Along with Mines, Black Hills State, Mayville State and Valley City State all have the same 2-1 mark, while the rest of the conference, Dakota State, Jamestown College, Dickinson State and Minot State all have identical DAC records of 1-2.
"We will just play ball and how it shakes out is how it shakes out," Felderman said.
After a short home stand, the Lady 'Rockers are back on the road for two straight weeks. Friday they will travel to Mayville State and then play Dakota State Saturday in Madison.
Friday's game will pit the Hardrockers against an 11-6 overall Comet team as well as a matchup with the current DAC scoring leader in Laura Big Crow.
The 5-foot-11-inch former Pine Ridge standout is averaging 20.3 points a game this season. That mark also puts her ninth in NAIA for average points a game.
"They've also got some good outside shooters," Felderman said. "They are a very good team."
The Lady Comets, ranked 12th in the latest NAIA top 25 also have a vast arsenal of other weapons, such as junior guard Cassie Leraas.
Feldman said Leraas is very good at shooting the long-range shot. She is leading the conference in three-pointers made with a total of 45. She averages three a game and is ranked eighth in the NAIA in that category.
Another standout for Mayville State is guard Michelle Halvorson. The 5-6 senior sees the court very well and is leading the DAC in assists. She has 109 on the season which gives her an average of 6.81 a game.
"They want to go inside obviously with (Big Crow), but if it's not there they will shoot it from the outside," Felderman added.
Saturday's game matches South Dakota School of Mines against a preseason favorite in the Dakota State Lady Trojans.
The Lady T's have an overall record of 8-8, but their record may be a bit deceiving, given the fact that Dakota State has played a lot of upper-tier teams.
"They were picked No. 1 preseason in the conference," Felderman said. "They have played a very tough schedule."
Dakota State is also a team that has some height.
"They definitely have rebound capabilities, Felderman said.
Junior forward Jessica VanLoy is the points leader for the Lady T's, averaging 10.4 a game. She also has 61 total assists on the year and is ranked 12th in the NAIA in steals per game (3.1).
South Dakota Mines forward Amber Deweerd, right, tries to take the ball to the basket on Kelly Latozke, left and Megan Matthews of Mayville State during play last season in this Journal file photo. The Lady Hardrockers have critical Dakota Athletic Conference games this weekend against Mayville State and Dakota State. (Journal file photo)
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