Mines (3-2) at UCCS (0-4) – Saturday, 5:30 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
Colorado Springs, Colo. – Gallogly Events Center
 

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ON THE RMAC NETWORK
Every Mines home game and RMAC game on the road can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC".
 
2018-19 RMAC OPENER
According to the Rockey Mountain Athletic Conference's record book, Saturday marks the 41st season of RMAC women's basketball. The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team will celebrate the start of the conference season by traveling to Colorado Springs to face winless UCCS. The Orediggers enter the weekend at 3-2 on a two-game win streak after dropping a pair of tough contests to regionally-ranked St. Edward's (7-1) and nationally-ranked West Texas A&M (7-0). Mines will look to stay hot behind the senior leadership of Anna Kollmorgen and Nicole Archambeau combined with the young talent of Denali Pinto and Sammy Van Sickle.
 
LAST WEEK IN REVIEW
Mines started its two-game win streak last weekend with a pair of dominant wins over in-region opponents Texas A&M-International and Texas-Permian Basin. The Orediggers defeated TAMIU 88-64 behind 19 points from Denali Pinto and Raven Herrera's 18-point, 13-rebound double-double. Herrera came to play in Mines' Saturday-night win over Texas-Permian Basin with her second straight double-double fueled by 13 points and 14 rebounds. Cassidy Budge led all scorers dropping 15 points on the Falcons.
 
SCOUTING UCCS
While UCCS may be winless, the Mountain Lions' should not be overlooked. Two of their four losses came against undefeated, nationally-ranked opponents in West Texas A&M and Fort Hays State. The combined record of UCSS' opposition thus far is 18-7. However, one glaring loss for the Mountain Lions is a 60-61 heartbreaker against 1-5 Texas-Permian Basin. Leading the UCCS offense is Jae Ferrin putting up 11.5 points per game. She's the only Mountain Lion averaging double digits. Ferrin also leads on the glass with 4.5 rebounds per game while Kelly O'Flannigan is dishing out 2.0 assists per game. If anything, UCCS is physical as they rank #39 in NCAA Division II in personal fouls per game at 15.6 whistles per contest.
 
CAT FIGHT
Fans who followed Mines men's soccer and volleyball through the fall know that Mountain Lions hold the record for the animal with the highest number of names including 40 designations in English alone such as cougar and puma. Those same fans also know that the mountain lion is the biggest cat in North America and second-heaviest cat in the western hemisphere. However, what fans may not know is catamounts are faster than you think. They have been clocked up to 43.5 miles per hour and can change directions rather quickly thanks to their flexible spine. Lastly, fans may be interested to know that ghost cats do not get along. When they encounter each other in the wild, pumas initially hiss and spit at one another until one gives up. A battle to the death is sure to ensue if neither backs down. And now you know.
 
GALLOGLY EVENTS CENTER
Opened on Jan. 8, 2010, the Gallogly Events Center serves as the home for Mountain Lion basketball and volleyball. The arena seats 1,250 and features layout somewhat similar to Lockridge Arena with courtside seating rising to a concourse level. The facility was named after Tommy Gallogly who earned his degree from UCCS in 1970 and another degree in 1973. It is the first building on campus to be named after a UCCS alum.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Mines and UCCS first met nearly 30 years ago in 1990. That initial meeting resulted in a 65-64 loss for the Orediggers. Since that time, the Mountain Lions hold a slight 20-18 edge in the all-time series. However, Mines took a bite out of that series lead last season as the Orediggers went 2-0 against UCCS at outscored the Mountain Lions by an average of 17.5 points per game. Lucky for Mines, Anna Kollmorgen and Nicole Archambeau were the biggest thorns in UCCS' side as they combined to average 27 points and 12 rebounds per contest over the two meetings. Both Orediggers are back as seniors for the 2018-19 edition of Mines vs. UCCS.
 
RMAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
True freshman Denali Pinto was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Monday after her impressive performances against Texas A&M-International and Texas-Permian Basin. Pinto claimed the first weekly award of her young career by dominating nearly every aspect of the game. The Boulder, Colo., native led all players in blocks and steals against Texas A&M-International with three stuffs and four swipes. She also added 19 points with four assists. Pinto was also stalwart against Texas-Permian Basin as she added two more blocks and a steal while dishing out three assists. She finished the weekend averaging 2.5 blocks, 2.5 steals, 3.5 assists and 11.5 points per game. Pinto's award marks the second straight week Mines has claimed an RMAC honor after Kollmorgen was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week Nov. 19.
 
CHASING 1,000
The senior duo of Cassidy Budge and Anna Kollmorgen are both within reach of 1,000-career points. With a combined 1,508 points, Budge boasts 791 for her career while Kollmorgen touts a total of 717. Based on previous seasons, both Orediggers are within reach of the 1,000-point mark but will need to be efficient in their scoring. Additionally, Budge currently ranks third all-time at Mines with 156 three-point baskets in her career. Kollmorgen sits #5 on Mines' all-time assists list.
 
NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
While the Orediggers are just one game over .500, they have put up some decent numbers so far in 2018. Mines ranks #13 in NCAA Division II in offensive rebounds per game. The Orediggers also rank #18 in three-point field-goal percentage and #35 in rebound margin. Individually, Cassidy Budge leads all of DII with her 72.7 shoot percentage from behind the arc.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines' RMAC road trip continues Dec. 7-8 as the Orediggers travel to Gunnison, Colo., and Grand Junction, Colo., to play Western Colorado and Colorado Mesa. Live stats and video will be available at MinesAthletics.com.