BHSU WBB: Ham's double-double leads Jackets over NMHU

LAS VEGAS, N.M. - Morgan Ham had a double-double, as the Black Hills State University women's basketball team took down New Mexico Highlands University, 85-52, on Saturday evening.

Ham led the Yellow Jackets (13-8, 9-8 RMAC) with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Alyssia Martinez chipped in 13 points, six boards, six assists, and two steals. Ashlee Beacom had 12, and Julia Seamans added 11 points. The team combined for 24 assists in the game.

The Cowgirls (4-20, 2-15 RMAC) got off to a hot start, taking a 5-0 lead in the first two minutes. NMHU led by five, 19-14, with just over two minutes to play in the first quarter. However, Martinez found Beacom to score a layup off a back door cut, before Ham knocked down a trey to tie up the game, 19-19. The Yellow Jackets finished the first period on a 10-0 run to hold a five-point lead, 24-19, after 10 minutes of play.

The Green and Gold kept up their pressure in the second quarter, scoring the first six points of the period to lead, 30-19, with 8:48 to play in the half. BHSU led NMHU, 42-29, as they entered the break.

The Yellow Jackets outscored the Cowgirls, 20-7, in the third quarter, leading by 26 with 10 minutes to play. The visitors led by as many as 36 points, and ultimately earned the 33-point victory, 85-52.

BHSU shot 51.5 percent from the field (35-for-68), while NMHU was 35.8 percent from the floor (19-for-53). The Yellow Jackets were 13-for-28 (46.4 percent) from beyond the arc, while the Cowgirls were 5-for-18 (27.8 percent) on three-pointers. BHSU was 100.0 percent from the charity stripe (2-for-2), while NMHU was 75.0 percent (9-for-12). The Green and Gold outrebounded New Mexico Highlands, 45-24, including an 18-9 advantage in offensive boards.

Jordyn Lewis and Allyah George both had 14 games to pace the Cowgirls, while DeAvion Allen added 12 points.

The Green and Gold will next travel to MSU Denver on February 15. The game is scheduled to tipoff at 5:30 p.m.