Box Score How It Happened
A strong second half enables #21 Colorado School of Mines (14-3, 12-1) to cruise past an upset minded Western State squad 68-48 on Saturday, January 23 in Lockridge Arena.
A day after their 13-game win streak was snapped by CSU-Pueblo, the Orediggers got back on the right side of the ledger with four different players reaching double-digits in scoring.
Early on it appeared as though last night's loss was hovering over into tonight's contest as CSM was under 30% shooting (28.6%) in the opening half.
Mines fell behind 8-4 with 3:27 left in the opening quarter before an 11-3 run – sparked by Laura Tyree – gave them a 15-11 lead at the end of the period. The Orediggers had to fight tooth-and-nail in the second quarter to keep the lead though as a pair of Emily Bailey free throws with a minute left in the half was the only reason they didn't go into the break tied with the Mountaineers.
The poor shooting by Mines continued for most of the third period until they took a 33-31 lead midway through the quarter and turned it into a 44-36 lead by the end of the period.
The little bit of offensive momentum found by CSM in the third turned into avalanche by the fourth quarter as they went on a 20-6 run to open the final period which put the game on ice. That game defining run was sparked by a trio of Orediggers as Cassidy Budge, Courtney Martin and Elizabeth Tomon each chipped in at least four points during the run.
Notables
- With the win and losses by both CSU-Pueblo and Black Hills State, Mines retakes a two-game lead for first place in the RMAC.
- While the Orediggers shot a lowly 28.6% in the first half, they really got it cooking in the second as they shot 41% from the field. Equally as important was they held WSCU to under 30%.
- Cassidy Budge's 13 points led four Mines players in double figures scoring. Laura Tyree had 12 points while Courtney Martin and Elizabeth Tomon each chipped in 10.
- After getting out-rebounded last night, the Orediggers owned the glass by a 53-31 margin. 23 of those rebounds were of the offensive variety which lead to 18 second-chance points.
- Mines also picked the pockets of the Mountaineers 12 times which lead to 28 points from turnovers. Budge led the catergory with a career-high four steals.
- CSM also assisted on 18 of their 26 made baskets with Anna Kollmorgen posting a game-high five of them.
- Brianna Robinson only had four minutes of run, but she made it count with two three-pointers.
Up Next
Mines will stay at home next weekend as they host both S.D. Mines & Tech. and Black Hills State on Friday and Saturday, January 29-30.
