By Brad Blume, Sports Information Director
PHOENIX, Ariz. --- The South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball team left the Great White North Friday morning and had little trouble heating up as the Lady Hardrockers earned a double-digit visit in the warm Southwest, defeating the Arizona Christian University Firestorm,80-66, Friday evening in Phoenix.
SD Mines led by four points at the half, 36-32, and then mounted an impressive scoring surge over the final 20 minutes, outscoring the Firestorm, 44-34. The Hardrockers shot 43 percent from the field connecting on 32-75 while Arizona Christian made good on 28-74 for 38 percent.
As a team, the Hardrockers pulled down 49 rebounds, 24 assists, 18 steals and six blocks.
The Hardrockers had four players score in double-digits. Freshman Olivia Antilla led the way with 19 points, five assists and nine rebounds, senior Hillary Hawkins added 14 points, eight rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks while both freshman Devyn Asche and senior Katie Strandholm each had 10 points.
SD Mines overall record improves to 8-3 on the season and the Hardrockers have now won seven of their last eight games. The Lady 'Rockers will be back in action Saturday in a rematch against Arizona Christian in a 2 p.m. bout.