GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team lost its first game of the year on Friday evening in a six-point decision to Western Colorado inside Lockridge Arena.
 
The defeat came despite a stellar performance from Courtney Stanton who scored 20 points with four blocks three rebounds and two assists. Nobody on the court scored more points than Stanton. Mines' other bright spot was found in Sammy Van Sickle. She led all players with 12 rebounds and did the same with four assists. Van Sickle added one block as well. The next closest scorers for the Orediggers were Denali Pinto and Megan Van de Graaf scoring six points apiece. Raven Herrera chipped in three assists to cap it off.
 
As a team, Mines (3-1, 2-1 RMAC) outperformed Western Colorado (4-0, 4-0 RMAC) in multiple categories including a 47-38 rebounding margin and 14 second-chance points compared to four from the Mountaineers. The Orediggers also scored 28 points in the paint while WCU managed 24. However, Mines only converted nine of its 13 free-throw opportunities and shot just 32 percent from the floor. However, the biggest difference was 20 Oredigger turnovers compared to 10 from Western Colorado. With the loss, Mines drops into a tie for second place in the RMAC standings while WCU positions itself alone at the top.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite snow earlier in the day and a slow start to the game, Mines found itself in full control through the first 20 minutes. Stanton score 10 points in the first two quarters, Van Sickle grabbed seven rebounds and the Orediggers rolled into halftime with a 27-20 lead over the #1-scoring offense in the RMAC. The success came in spite of a 30-percent mark from long range and a 66-percent conversion rate at the free throw line.
 
Both teams came out firing in the second half. A combined 15 points in the first three minutes saw Mines maintain a 35-27 lead with Loralee Stock's jumper in the lane. However, the next eight-plus minutes of action saw Western Colorado explode on a 19-0 run to take a 40-35 lead after the third quarter and a 46-35 lead early in the fourth quarter. Pinto stalled the run with a free throw which led to Mines' highest scoring period of the contest. It was not enough as WCU outscored its hosts, 17-16, and proceeded to clinch the win on the Orediggers' home court.
 
COACH'S COMMENT
"In the first half, we were able to execute our game plan pretty well," said Head Coach Brittany Simpson. "But our third and fourth quarter were not in rhythm with what we wanted to do. We need to get better on the offensive end and play together."
 
NOTABLES
- Stanton's four blocks mark a career high for the senior. She previously had three on two occasions.
- With 20 points on Friday night, Stanton came three shy of matching her career high.
- Steffeck scored five points to hit exactly 200 for her career.
- Mines has now lost three straight games to the Mountaineers.
- Coach Simpson is 135-99 in her ninth season as head coach.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines closes out 2020 on Saturday night by hosting Fort Lewis at 5 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. No spectators will be allowed, but live stats and video will be offered for free at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines women's basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @MinesWBB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.