CHADRON, Neb. – South Dakota Mines started fast and maintained their cushion, spoiling Chadron State women's basketball's home opener with a 75-51 victory over the Eagles in the Chicoine Center on Saturday afternoon. 

The Hardrockers led 30-15 after the first quarter and, despite Chadron State narrowly outscoring the Hardrockers in period two, the visitors took a 14-point lead into halftime and then outscored the Eagles by 10 points total in the second half. 

The result drops CSC to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in RMAC play. South Dakota Mines improved to 3-6 overall but a 2-0 start in conference. 

Chadron State outrebounded South Dakota Mines 43-24, but the Hardrockers earned some extra possessions by forcing 26 turnovers. South Dakota Mines finished with four blocks and 14 steals.

McKenzi Petersen finished just shy of a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds for the Eagles. Petersen shot 6 of 9 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line while four of her nine rebounds were offensive boards. 

Audrey Quintana was CSC's second-leading scorer with eight points and also logged a team-high three assists alongside Evelyn Oly Coyote. Ella Moser had six points, draining two of CSC's three three-pointers on the afternoon as the Eagles went just 3 of 19 from deep overall.

Freshman Keziah Toran had easily the best game of her young career. Making just her third appearance out of CSC's five games, the Springfield, Illinois native set career highs with 19 minutes played, six points and six rebounds while also recording her first career collegiate block.

South Dakota Mines shot 47.2 percent from the field, but netted a blistering 11 of 16 attempts (68.8 percent) in the first quarter. The Hardrockers were especially deadly from deep, making 5 of 7 (71 percent) in the first quarter before cooling slightly to 10 of 27 (37 percent) in the game overall. 

The Eagles managed to shoot 35.7 percent from the floor and were just 15.8 percent from behind the arc. Chadron State was nearly flawless from the free throw line, making 8 of 9 charity stripe attempts. 

The Hardrockers led wire-to-wire after taking the lead on a three-pointer by Carolina Ruiz Molina 35 seconds in. South Dakota Mines led 16-7 after four minutes and when the Hardrockers buried their fifth triple of the opening period to go up by 11 points at 26-15, the lead never dipped below double digits again.

Chadron State, which finally played at home 21 days after its first regular season game, will have two more home games next week as the Eagles host CSU Pueblo (4-5, 1-1 RMAC) on Thursday at 1 p.m. and UCCS (4-4, 1-1 RMAC) on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

Chadron State—McKenzi Petersen 18, Audrey Quintana 8, Ella Moser 6, Keziah Toran 6, Amya Winfrey 4, Bianca Bindzus 3, Kenna Wagner 2, Evelyn Old Coyote 2, Asia Gibson 2. Totals: 20-56 FG (3-19 3PT) 8-9 FT. 51 points, 43 rebounds, 9 assists, 26 turnovers.

​South Dakota Mines—Morning Grace Spotted Bear 18, Addison Miranda 14, Savea Mansfield 14, Carolina Ruiz Molina 9, Lauren Herman 9, Emma Martin 7, Reese Terwilliger 2, Abigail Dille 2. Totals: 25-53 FG (10-27 3PT) 15-17 FT. 75 points, 24 rebounds, 14 assists, 12 turnovers.