ANAHEIM, Calif. – A fourth quarter rally comes up short as the Colorado School of Mines fall to Augustana 70-61 in the opening game of the season for both teams at the CCA D-II Tip-Off Classic. 

Junior forward Elizabeth Tomon posted a 16-point, nine-rebound performance, but Mines (0-1) was unable to overcome turnovers (20) and poor shooting (29.3%) against a formidable AU squad that brought back 11 players from a team that went 24-8 last season. 

The first quarter went as expected as both team's played each other nip-and-tuck. A Laura Tyree three-pointer gave Mines a 15-14 advantage with a minute left in period, but a free throw followed by a late three-ball from Sydney Rome put the Vikings up by three. 

The Orediggers came out and took an early three-point lead in the second quarter on a three-pointer from Amy Kleynhans, but Augustana went up 22-21 less than a minute later. From that point forward, AU would never relinquish the lead as they went on to a 40-30 advantage at intermission. 

Augustana continued its stellar play into the second half and led the game by as much as 22 (56-34) in third quarter. 

Down 56-42 at the start of the fourth quarter, Mines slowly chipped away at the lead and finally got back into single digits after back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore Cassidy Budge, but by that point there wasn't enough time left as Augustana held on in the season opener.

Notables
-    As mentioned earlier, Elizabeth Tomon was a bright spot for the Orediggers as she was six-of-nine from the field and four-of-five from the free throw line to score a team-high 16 points. She also pulled down nine rebounds –  four offensive. 
-    Cassidy Budge and Laura Tyree also reached double-digit scoring with 12 and 10 points, respectively. 
-    Emily Bailey pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Up Next
Mines returns to action tomorrow afternoon as they face-off with the University of Mary at 12:15 p.m. MST on day two of the D-II Tip-Off Classic.