GOLDEN, Colo. – Redshirt sophomore Raven Herrera recorded the first double-double of her career Friday evening as she helped the Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team defeat Texas A&M-International 88-64 inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Herrera scored a career-high 18 points and led the team with 13 rebounds. She also tied for the game high with four steals. True freshman Denali Pinto also had a big game, leading Mines with 19 points while racking up four steals, four assists, three rebounds and three blocks. Heidi Hammond's 14 points and Cassidy Budge's 11 rounded out the Oredigger's quartet of double-digit scorers. Budge also grabbed three steals and Anna Kollmorgen led all players with five assists. Nicole Archambeau came one rebound and point shy of another double-double.
 
As a team, Mines (2-2) finished the game with 15 steals and five blocks in an impressive defensive effort. The Orediggers outscored Texas A&M-International (0-6) in every facet of the game including 27-11 off of turnovers. Leading the Dustdevils was Jaden Gonzalez with a game-high 20 points while Ciera Walker led all players with 14 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines did not lead from start to finish, but it came very close. TAMIU struck first nearly 90 seconds into the game with fast-break, three-point basket to take a 3-0 lead. Back-to-back baskets from Archambeau served as the Orediggers' rebuttal. A pair of free throws from the Dustdevils' Christine Ortega gave the visitor's their last lead of the night at 5-4 with 5:36 remaining in the opening period. The Orediggers retook the lead with an 11-0 run and never looked back.
 
Hammond finished the first quarter 2-for-2 from the field with a pair of three-pointers. Pinto matched her teammate with six points as well as Mines carried a 20-11 lead into the first intermission. The Orediggers shot 50 percent overall and 60 percent from long range in the first 10 minutes of play.
 
The story of the second quarter was free throws and Hammond. Mines went 10-for-10 from the charity stripe while Hammond added five more points to her line. Herrera and Pinto added four points each, giving the Orediggers a 39-25 advantage at the half.
 
TAMIU put together a couple runs in the second half. However, Mines' long-range game was too much for the visiting Dustdevils. Over the final two periods, the Orediggers were 7-for-12 from long range while Herrera knocked down 14 second-half points. Mines ran away with the victory 88-64 marking its largest lead of the night at the final buzzer.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 1-0 in the all-time series against Texas A&M-International.
- The Orediggers are now 7-10 all-time against teams from Texas.
- Mines has increased its season high in scoring in back-to-back games.
- The Orediggers' 88 points are the most in a game since scoring 89 last season at Adams State.
- Kollmorgen has dished out five assists in back-to-back games.
- Hammond, Herrera and Pinto all set career highs in scoring against TAMIU.
- Archambeau scored the 400th point of her career Friday evening.
- Kollmorgen surpassed 700-career points with eight against the Dustdevils.
- Herrera's double-double is Mines' second this season.
- Head coach Brittany Simpson is 97-79 in seven years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts Texas-Permian Basin tomorrow (Saturday) at 3 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.