CHADRON, Neb. - Colorado School of Mines held off a hard-charging Chadron State to win their RMAC opener, 77-71, on the road on Friday.

The Orediggers (4-3, 1-0 RMAC) received 27 points, six boards, and three steals from Nicole Archambeau and a 12-point, seven-rebound night from Elizabeth Tomon to help them hold off the Eagles (2-4, 0-1 RMAC). 

Mines utilized 20 CSC turnovers and had their best night of the season at the line, shooting 28-of-34 (82.4 percent) to earn the win. Kalli Feddersen led CSC with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

The Orediggers worked a big second quarter to take a healthy lead at halftime, breaking out from a 15-13 lead after the first quarter to outscore the Eagles 22-15 in the second and go ahead 37-28 at the break.

Mines held steady in the third quarter to lead by 10, 57-47, but the Eagles started the fourth on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 57-54 with 7:35 left in the game. Mines quickly answered with four straight points by Tomon, and then four more from Archambeau to establish a 65-58 lead at the 4:11 mark, and a larger 7-0 run seemed to put the game away up 70-58 with 2:18 remaining.

Chadron State wouldn't quit, however, and answered with a 10-1 run over the next minute and a half to bring it back to a one-basket game, 71-68, with 49 seconds left. A Feddersen foul shot cut the Mines lead to two, but after a Mines timeout, Bailey made six free throws in the final nine seconds and CSC missed two field goal chances in that span to help Mines hang on for the win.

Bailey added 10 points while shooting 10-of-10 at the line. Kollmorgen and Heidi Hammond each scored nine as Hammond sank three three-pointers.

Mines continues RMAC play visiting Regis Sunday at 1:30 p.m.