GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team dropped a defensive, RMAC battle Friday night in a 61-50 loss to Westminster inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Courtney Stanton and Denali Pinto led the defensive charge with three blocks each, and Pinto chipped in one of the Orediggers' five steals. Anna Kollmorgen contributed two steals of her own while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out four assists on offense. Raven Herrera was Mines' top performer on offense with 16 points. Nicole Archambeau joined Herrera in double digits, scoring 13. The duo of Herrera and Archambeau combined for 16 rebounds as well.
 
Both teams came in well under their season scoring averages with the Orediggers (5-6, 2-4 RMAC) averaging over 60 points per game and Westminster (8-2, 6-0 RMAC) putting up more than 70 per contest. Mines outrebounded the Griffins 39-36 and held WC to just 37-percent shooting from the floor. However, Westminster was whistled for 10 less fouls and committed fewer turnovers to remain tied for first in the RMAC standings. Hunter Krebs led the Griffins with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines raced out to a 6-2 lead to start the game, fueled by buckets from Herrera and Archambeau. The visitors responded with an 8-0 run over nearly five minutes of action to take a 15-12 lead into the first-quarter break. A back-and-forth second period saw Mines outscore the Griffins 17-16 thanks to six points from Madelene McDonald off the bench. The Orediggers would go to the lockerroom at halftime trailing just 31-29.
 
The third quarter was an even draw as both teams scored 13 points apiece, but it was Archambeau stealing the show with seven points and seven rebounds as she played all 10 minutes. In the final period, WC shot 50-percent from three-point range and outscored the home team 17-8 as it pulled away with its seventh straight win.
 
NOTABLES
- The Orediggers are 3-3 in the all-time series against Westminster.
- Herrera has scored in double digits in six games this season.
- Archambeau has also put up double digit scoring numbers in six games.
- Friday marked the second three-block game for both Stanton and Pinto.
- Stanton's last three-block performance came Dec. 17, 2017 against UCCS.
- Pinto recorded three blocks earlier this season against Texas A&M-International.
- Mines has not surrendered more than 60 points in one game since Dec. 7 at Western Colorado.
- Herrera's 16 points put her over 200 in her career at Mines.
- Head coach Brittany Simpson is 100-83 in seven years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts Dixie State Saturday at 5 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. Live stats and video of the games 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.