Mines vs. UAFS, Friday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [Video]
Mines vs. St. Edward's, Saturday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [Video]

---

Mines returns to Colorado as they head to nearby Colorado Christian for the 2016 RMAC/Heartland Challenge. The Orediggers face both Arkansas-Fort Smith and St. Edward's this weekend. 

LAST WEEKEND REWIND
Mines opened the 2016-17 season last weekend in Anaheim, Calif. at the CCA D-II Tip-Off Classic. The Orediggers went 1-2 while going against good competition in Augustana, U-Mary and Simon Fraser. While they dropped close games against both Augustana (70-61) and SFU (72-67), Mines did pull out a 66-64 victory over Mary behind a dominating 17-3 offensive rebound difference.

STAR OF THE WEEKEND
Elizabeth Tomon got her junior season off to a roaring start as she averaged a double-double of 16ppg and 10.3rpg at the D-II Tip-Off Classic. Tomon shot an incredible .553 for the weekend, and 10 of her team-high 31 rebounds were offensive. She was her best against SFU where she posted a career-high 20 points on 9-14 (.643) shooting with 10 rebounds.

THE CHAMPS ARE BACK
Last season, the Orediggers put together quite possibly the greatest season in program history. Mines claimed the first outright RMAC Championship in program history last season as they posted program-bests in victories (21), conference wins (19) and consecutive victories (13). RMAC Coach of the Year Brittany Simpson along with All-RMAC honorees Courtney Martin, Laura Tyree and Anna Kollmorgen also led Mines to the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in school history.

LET'S RUN IT BACK
Coach Simpson and the Orediggers will attempt to run last season's success back again with practically the same squad. While replacing the low-post presence of Courtney Martin and the leadership of Brianna Robinson will be tough, Mines returns four starters and 11 varsity letterman in total. A better way to look at it is: Mines returns 82% of its points, 83% of its rebounds and 82% its assists.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
While they may be the defending RMAC Champions, Mines was picked second in the RMAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Orediggers received 166 total points and four-of the-15 first-place nods. RMAC Tournament Champion CSU-Pueblo was picked to win the league with eight first-place votes while UCCS was in third three first-place nods. A First-Team All-RMAC pick a season ago, Laura Tyree was the Orediggers' lone representation on the All-RMAC Preseason squad.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH
The Lady Lions went 21-9 last season and just missed the NCAA Tournament after being knocked out in the semifinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament. Led by first year head coach Trinity Valley, UAFS returns only three student-athletes from last season's squad, but were still picked second in the preseason conference coaches' poll. Senior guard Sydney Franklin (6.4ppg, 1.6rpg), senior guard Maya Perry (4.3ppg, 3.2rpgs) and junior guard Olivia Hanson (5.7ppg, 2.7rpg) are the only returning letterman.

SCOUTING ST. EDWARD'S
The Hilltoppers finished 12-17 last season, and were defeated by eventual national champion Lubbock Christian in the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship game. St. Edward's returns eight letter winners, including their entire starting five, and were picked to finish fifth in the conference preseason coaches' poll. Senior Shakera Barnes is the team's top returner as she averaged 13.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 29 games last season.