GOLDEN, Colo. – Senior forward Nicole Archambeau led the Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team Saturday with a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double in the Orediggers' 69-62 loss to St. Edward's inside Volk Gymnasium.
 
Archambeau led all players with her performance on the glass and tied the Hilltoppers' Isabel Hernandez as the game's leading scorer. Raven Herrera also busted out a double-digit scoring performance. Going 5-for-9 from the floor with two free throws for 12 points. Ann Kollmorgen rounded out Mines' double-digit scorers with 11 points of her own. On the glass, Sammy Van Sickle made her presence known with eight rebounds, while Megan Van de Graaf added seven.
 
As a team, Mines (1-1) forced 12 turnovers while recording six steals. The Orediggers outscored St. Edward's (2-0) in the paint by a margin of 30-16. It marks the third straight year Mines has split its opening contests of the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a game that featured five lead changes and two ties with no leads for either team in double digits. St. Edward's struck first with a three-point shot in the first minute of play. However, Herrera answered back with a layup and the battle was on.
 
Mines used a 6-0 run in the middle of the first quarter to tie the game 8-8. Archambeau and Van de Graaf combined for five more points in the opening quarter to keep the Orediggers within three points at 13-16 after 10 minutes of play.
 
The second quarter was nearly a carbon copy of the knock-down, drag-out first quarter. SEU jumped out to another five-point lead, but Herrera and Kollmorgen brought Mines back to take a 19-18 lead with 5:26 remaining in the half. Herrera struck again with 1:25 to go, making it 25-24 Orediggers. However, the Hilltoppers used a three-pointer and layup in the final 60 seconds to carry a 29-28 lead into the half.
 
After the break, St. Edward's started to pull away, but Mines would not give in. Archambeau slashed the Hilltoppers 40-32, third-quarter lead by more than half thanks to six points in the final minute of the third period. Then, the Preseason All-RMAC forward pulled the Orediggers within one to start the final quarter with jumper just 45 seconds into the period.
 
However, Mines was unable to find that final basket to regain the lead. The Orediggers stayed within seven points for the entire 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, but SEU sank free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 2-1 in the all-time series against St. Edward's.
- The Orediggers have outscored the Hilltoppers 199-177 in their three meetings.
- Saturday marks the 12th double-double of Archambeau's career.
- Mines outperformed SEU in the paint (30-16), on the fast break (8-0) and on second chances (7-4).
- The Orediggers are averaging 26 points per game in the paint so far this season.
- Head coach Brittany Simpson is 96-78 in her seven years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts #7 West Texas A&M Friday at 6 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. Live stats and video of the game will be available at www.MinesAthletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.