RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team fell to South Dakota Mines on Saturday afternoon in tough, 56-54 loss inside the King Center.
 
The loss came not for lack of trying as Denali Pinto led all players with 25 points. She also grabbed nine rebounds, notched two steals, dished out two assists and blocked a shot. Anna Kollmorgen also scored in double digits with 10 points while adding eight rebounds and one steal.  Raven Herrera stood on the precipice of a double-digit night with nine points.
 
Mines (16-10, 13-8 RMAC) finished the weekend 0-2 in its trip to South Dakota after falling to Black Hills State Friday night. The loses come despite the Orediggers dominating the boards as they outrebounded the Hardrockers 44-28. South Dakota School of Mines (11-14, 8-13 RMAC) has won two straight and three of its last four despite being out of contention for the RMAC Tournament. The Orediggers await the conclusion of Saturday's slate to see where it will fall in the conference standings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams came out hot in what quickly turned into a dog fight. For each basket the Orediggers scored, it seemed the Hardrockers would answer with a three-point shot of their own. Pinto got Mines on the board first with a layup less than 20 seconds into the game. Then, a pair of three-pointers from SDSMT ended up tying the game 8-8. Pinto would finish the first quarter with nine points but the Orediggers trailed by one due to a late layup from the Hardrockers.
 
The next three quarters brought much of the same as there were nine ties and 13 lead changes over the course of the game. Heading into the fourth quarter, SDSMT was clinging to a 43-42 advantage over the visitors and the final frame started just like the rest of the game. Both teams swapped baskets and free throws all the way up to 48-48. However, the Hardrockers put together a 6-0 run early in the period and that was the difference. Mines was unable to find its way back into the lead even though Pinto hit a jumper with 30 seconds remaining to pull within two. A series of rebounds and turnovers ended the game in unspectacular fashion.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 4-5 in the all-time series against South Dakota Mines.
- Pinto has scored at least 20 points in six games this season.
- Cassidy Budge grabbed four offensive rebounds in the loss.
- The Orediggers are one win away from clinching a berth in the 2019 RMAC Tournament.
- Head coach Brittany Simpson is 111-87 in seven years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines returns home for its regular-season finale Friday against UCCS at 6 p.m. Seniors will be honored at halftime of the men's game on the same night. 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.