Box Score How It Happened
In a defensive slugfest at the defending RMAC Tournament Champions, the Colorado School of Mines (3-2, 1-0) picked up massive 64-63 OT victory at Colorado Christian in the RMAC season opener on Saturday, December 5.
In a contest in which they trailed for a majority of the contest, the Orediggers showed a lot of resiliency and heart as they battled back to force overtime and eventually got the come from behind victory at the Western Division favorite.
Trailing by one with only 33 seconds to go in overtime, redshirt-freshman Mikaela Moore beat her defender inside – who had cheated too far to the perimeter – with a chip shot layup to knock off the defending RMAC Champion.
Both teams opened the game on fire as they quite literally traded bucket-for-bucket with other. CSM took its hot shooting into the game's first media timeout with a lead over the home standing Cougars, 13-12. Unfortunately, the hot hand continued for CCU and not Mines as they finished the period on a 10-3 run to stake a 22-16 advantage.
Over the next 3:46, Colorado Christian slowly increased its lead to nine (29-20) as both team's defenses really settled in after the frantic start. Mines and CCU continued to play stellar defense over the next several minutes until the Orediggers finally got back within three at 31-28 at the 2:48 mark. Mines' new found momentum was short lived though as a few quick baskets by Christian down the stretch gave them a 36-30 lead at the break.
As the second quarter became very defensive, the third was even more so as both team's zone defenses became absolutely stifling. Mines' defense was particularly strong as they held CCU with a basket for almost the entire period.
Mines finally tied the game for the first time since 14-14 with senior Courtney Martin's layup at 4:31 to square the game at 38 apiece. Finally, at 1:48 left in the period, Moore gave Mines the lead at 40-39 with a nifty layup. With 14 seconds left in the quarter, CCU's Ali Meyer scored their only basket of the period to give her team the 41-40 advantage after three.
The scoring drought wouldn't continue for Colorado Christian as they came out with a pair of buckets early in the final period. Moore responded to the mini-run with a bucket at 8:07 to get back within three (45-42) before head coach Brittany Simpson called a timeout at the 6:20 mark.
Mines would stay within three for most of the next four minutes until junior Laura Tyree buried a triple with 2:37 to go to get the deficit down to one (51-50). Tyree then came down just a minute later and drilled another three-pointer to put CSM up 53-51 with 1:33 remaining. Both teams then traded free throw shots down the stretch to force the game into OT.
Notables
- Tonight's victory at CCU was the first for Mines since a 75-70 win on December 15, 2012.
- After a slow start, Mines has now won three consecutive games to get back over .500.
- After they shot 51.9% in the first half, CSM smothered the Cougars in the second half to tune of 17.2% (5-29).
- The Orediggers got a decisive 30-18 advantage off the bench with Mikaela Moore pouring in 14 of them.
- While Moore had the key buckets down the stretch, Laura Tyree was also instrumental in the comeback with a game-high 19 including four triples.
- Courtney Martin was the only other Oredigger to reach double-figures in scoring with her 10 points and five rebounds.
- Redshirt-freshman Emily Bailey gave Mines a nice all-around game of seven points, 10 rebounds (four offensive), four assists and three blocks.
Up Next
Mines will return to action next weekend when they head back out on the road in RMAC action against Fort Lewis and Adams State on Friday and Saturday, December 11-12.
