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ON THE RMAC NETWORK
Every Mines home game 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 TONY CORBETTA CLASSIC
The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team opens the 2018-19 season this weekend hosting the Tony Corbetta Classic featuring Colorado Christian, Arkansas-Fort Smith and St. Edward's. Named after longtime Mines supporter Tony Corbetta, the classic also serves as a crossover showdown between the RMAC and Heartland Conference featuring in-region competition that bolsters the schedules of all teams involved. The classic features two neutral-site games with Colorado Christian coming over from Lakewood to play SEU and UAFS along with two home games for the Orediggers.
 
LOOKING BACK AT 2017
Last season, Mines Women's Basketball went 18-11 overall and 15-7 in RMAC play on its way third straight appearance in the conference tournament. The Orediggers earned the #4 seed and hosted Regis in a first-round loss. Mines barely missed a berth in the NCAA Tournament with a #9-spot in the NCAA Regional Rankings. Emily Bailey, Nicole Archambeau and Anna Kollmorgen all earned All-RMAC honors. Additionally, Bailey became the eighth Oredigger to surpass 1,000 points in her career.
 
VENUE CHANGE
Historically, the Tony Corbetta Classic is hosted inside Lockridge Arena. However, the 2018 edition will be played in historic Russell H. Volk Gymnasium. The change comes due to Mines hosting the 2018 RMAC Volleyball Championships Friday and Saturday inside Lockridge Arena. All times and match-ups for the women's basketball opener remain the same. Volk Gym is located at 1350 Illinois St. in Golden. It served as the long-time home for Oredigger basketball until the opening of Lockridge Arena in 2008.
 
SCOUTING ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH
Arkansas-Fort Smith comes into Golden after being picked to finish third in the Heartland Conference Preseason Poll. The Lady Lions earned one first-place vote after going 20-11 overall and 10-4 in Heartland play in 2017-18. UAFS advanced to the NCAA Tournament after losing to Lubbock Christian in the Heartland Conference Tournament final. The Lady Lions return six players from last season's squad while losing both of their All-Heartland Conference performers from a year ago.
 
KING OF THE BEASTS?
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith prefers to go by UAFS and has gone by UA Fort Smith and Arkansas-Fort Smith in the past. The institution boasts a lion as it mascot with men's athletics teams carrying the nickname Lions and the women's referred to as Lady Lions. Most commonly known as the king of the jungle, a lion is defined as a muscular, deep-chested cat with a short, rounded head, a reduced neck and round ears. Lions typically inhabit grasslands and savannas. To date, lions are not considered common in western Arkansas where UAFS is located.
 
SCOUTING ST. EDWARD'S
St. Edward's University makes the trip north from Austin, Texas as the Hilltoppers are coming off a 11-17 (4-10 Heartland) season. SEU advanced to the Heartland Conference Tournament in 2017-18 but fell to the aforementioned Lady Lions. St. Edward's was picked to finish sixth out of eight teams in the 2018-19 Heartland Conference Preseason Polls. However, the Hilltoppers are just two years removed from their 2016-17 Heartland Conference regular-season and tournament crowns. St. Edward's roster features eight returners from last season. The Hilltoppers will look to the senior trio of Bailey Hill, Isabel Hernandez and Abby Hopper for its scoring.
 
WHAT'S A HILLTOPPER
St. Edward's University uses the Hilltoppers nickname for its athletics programs. The institutions mascot is a mountain goat. While there are no mountains in the Austin, Texas, area, the nickname originates from the school's location which is atop a hill overlooking downtown and Lady Bird Lake. A mountain goat, also known as the Rocky Mountain goat (insert more irony here), is a large hoofed mammal. It is defined also as a sure-footed climber commonly seen on cliffs and ice – neither of which are common in Texas.
 
RUSSELL H. VOLK GYMNASIUM
As previously referenced, this weekend's games will carry an old-school feel as they're hosted inside Volk Gym. The historic building is a tri-level complex featuring a competition gym, indoor golf practice space, racquetball courts, a wrestling room and an expansive weight room. While it was the long-time home for Mines basketball until the opening of Lockridge Arena, Volk Gym now serves as the primary home for the Mines wrestling team. There is seating accommodations for 500 spectators on wood bleachers.
 
CONFERENCE CROSSOVER HISTORY
The 2018-19 season marks the third year Mines will face UAFS and SEU in the conference crossover. The Orediggers are 2-0 against St. Edward's in the event, including a 78-71 overtime win in 2016. On the other hand, Mines is 0-2 against Arkansas-Fort Smith. The Orediggers nearly got the win in 2016-17 but a last-second, three-point shot from the Lady Lions beat the buzzer in a 76-75 loss. Overall, Mines averages 64.25 points per game in the conference crossover while giving up 65.25 points per game.
 
SIMPSON'S SEASON OPENERS
Brittany Simpson is the head coach of Mines entering her seventh season at the helm. Since the 2012-13 season, Simpson has gone 2-4 in season openers. However, Mines hasn't opened its season at home since 2015. Her last win in a season opener was 2014-15 in a 60-58 nail-biter against Eastern New Mexico. The seventh-year head coach also boasts an 80-74 win over then #22 Alaska-Anchorage in her first year at the helm. Simpson's teams average 57 points per game in their first game of the season while giving up 67 points per game.  
 
PRESEASON POLLS
The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team was picked to finish the season in a tie for fourth according to the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Mines earned 177 points in the poll and finished tied with CSU-Pueblo. Black Hills State received eight first-place votes as the conference favorites with MSU Denver picked second and Regis third. Ironically, CSU-Pueblo received six first-place votes but did not finish in the top three in voting.
 
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Senior forward Nicole Archambeau was voted Preseason All-RMAC for 2018-19. Archambeau earned 2017-18 Second-Team All-RMAC honors after leading the Orediggers in scoring, rebounding, free throws and minutes played. The transfer from Colorado Mesa nearly averaged a double-double per game with 12.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. She finished the 2017-18 campaign with 11 double-doubles and four games with 20 points or more. Archambeau also swept RMAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors Nov. 20 after averaging 17 points and 16 rebounds over two games.
 
RETURNERS AND NEWCOMERS
Coach Simpson's 2018-19 squad features 15 Orediggers with 10 returners and five newcomers. Mines' returners with the most experience include the previously mentioned Archambeau, Anna Kollmorgen and Cassidy Budge. Newcomers for the Orediggers include true freshmen Madisyn Wriedt, Denali Pinto, Sammy Van Sickle, Megan van De Graaf and graduate transfer Madelene McDonald.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines continues its season at home Nov. 16 as the Orediggers host West Texas A&M inside Lockridge Arena. Live stats and video will be available at MinesAthletics.com.