GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team bowed out of the 2019 RMAC/Under Armour Women's Basketball Tournament Friday night with its 62-54 semifinal loss to #16-ranked and host Colorado Mesa inside Brownson Arena.
 
Senior Nicole Archambeau and true freshman Denali Pinto led Mines' offense with 13 points apiece. Pinto also led all players with nine rebounds while Archambeau dished out two assists. Raven Herrera added nine points of her own and Courtney Stanton pulled down eight rebounds. Four different Orediggers recorded a steal in the loss.
 
Mines' season likely comes to a close with the loss as the Orediggers (18-11) are currently outside the top-10 in the NCAA South Central Regional Rankings. Mines out-rebounded the top-seeded Mavericks 38-31 and benefited from 15 second-chance points. However, Colorado Mesa (25-3) maintained its unblemished home record behind 22 points in the paint as it advances to the RMAC Tournament championship game Saturday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Friday's contest was a true battle for both teams, featuring nine ties and eight lead changes. The first tie of the night came in the first minute of play as Mesa converted an and-one opportunity before Herrera did the same thing for Mines less than 15 seconds later, tying the game 3-3. The back-and-forth continued for three more minutes of action before the Orediggers exploded with a 14-0 run. Herrera sparked the surge and Pinto capped it with a three-point shot. The spree helped Mines into the quarter break with a 21-16 lead.
 
Colorado Mesa came out in the second quarter and shut the visitors down as the Mavericks limited Mines to just eight points while scoring 13 of their own. The five-point difference made it a tie game at the half. Pinto, Stanton and Cassidy Budge accounted for the Orediggers' eight points in the second frame.
 
The third quarter appeared as if it would go in favor of the home team, but Anna Kollmorgen drained a three-pointer at the buzzer. That basket sent Mines into the final period tied 44-44 with the #16 team in the nation. However, Mesa would prevail with defense over the final 10 minutes as it held the Orediggers to 26-percent shooting from the floor and 16-percent from long range. Five different individuals scored for Mines in the fourth period but it would not be enough.
 
NOTABLES
- Friday marked Mines' first semifinals appearance since 2009.
- The Orediggers are 2-1 in RMAC Tournament semifinal games.
- Mines now has five seasons with 18 wins or more.
- Pinto becomes Mines' first true freshman to average double-digit scoring numbers since Ashley Gronewoller.
- Archambeau has racked up 26 assists over her last seven games.
- Head coach Brittany Simpson is 113-88 in seven years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines awaits the NCAA Selection Show slated for 8 p.m. Sunday evening, but is a long shot for a bid to the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The Orediggers also await postseason awards selection from multiple organizations. Those awards will be announced at www.minesathletics.com.