COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines' Angie Charchalis did it again hitting the game-winner with nine seconds left to secure the 73-71 victory for the Orediggers on the road over UC-Colorado Springs on Saturday evening in RMAC action.
The Orediggers led by as many as 17 points in the first half but the Mountain Lions managed to hang around. Mines led 28-11 with 5:37 left in the first half when UCCS went on a 16-5 to cut it to six heading into halftime.
The Mountain Lions picked up where they left off in the second half quickly pulling within two points on the Jeri Pikul jumper at 16:25. Mines answered with a 10-0 run to go up 12 on the Stephanie Fogle three-pointer with 10:46 left in the second half.
The Orediggers led by seven points with 2:17 remaining when UCCS made one final push for the win. Danielle Brown hit back-to-back three-pointers for the Mountain Lions to cut it to three points with 1:22 on the clock.
Charchalis hit a pair of free throws to push Mines' lead back to five points with 1:11 left in the game. Anna Kirchoff missed from behind the arc and Allie Grazulis pulled down the rebound but Brown came up big again this time with a steal. Pikul converted and the Mountain Lions trailed by just three with 52 seconds left.
For a second straight possession the Orediggers turned it over and Brown came away wit the steal. A foul sent Brown to the line with 43 seconds on the clock and she converted to make it a one-point game.
Charchalis made just one of her two free throws to give Mines a two-point lead. The next time down the court Mines fouled sending UCCS to the line with a chance to tie. Jessica Brown headed to the line and converted both tying the game with 23 seconds left.
The Orediggers like two weeks ago against Colorado Christian had the ball for the last possession with a chance to win. Mines got the ball into the hands of Charchalis who made the layup with nine seconds left to give the Orediggers the lead.
UCCS' Kirchoff had a look with three seconds on the clock but Tory Langas grabbed the board to secure the victory.
UC-Colorado Springs (15-12, 11-11 RMAC) shot 48.6 % in the second half and 42.9 % from the three-point line while out-scoring Mines 44-40. The Brown twins, Danielle and Jessica, each finished with 17 points.
Mines finished the game shooting 88.2 % from the free throw line and converted 10-of-11 attempts in the second half. The Orediggers controlled the boards with a 43 to 32 advantage.
Charchalis became the eighth player in program history to score 30 points in a game. Charchalis poured in a career-high 31 points adding seven boards and three steals. Langas notched her first career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Langas was perfect from both the field (5-of-5) and the free throw line (6-of-6).
The Orediggers (12-16, 11-11 RMAC) have earned the #5 seed in the RMAC Shootout and will play at #4 seed Western State on Tuesday, Feb. 28th at 7:00 pm.
