GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team saw its 10-game win streak come to a close on Friday night in a 55-48 loss to Black Hills State inside Lockridge Arena.  
 
The loss came despite three Orediggers scoring in double digits. Denali Pinto led the way with 17 points including a trio of three-pointers. Heidi Hammond added 12 points on four shots from long range. Courtney Stanton rounded out the trio with 11 points nearly had the double-double, leading Mines with nine rebounds. Defensively, Pinto and Sammy Van Sickle notched two steals apiece and each had a block. Van Sickle proved tops in assists for the Orediggers thanks to four dimes while adding seven rebounds. Pinto also had seven boards and Ashley Steffeck added eight.
 
Mines (18-7, 15-5 RMAC) forced more turnovers and collected more rebounds than Black Hills State (16-9, 13-7 RMAC). The Orediggers also racked up more blocks with four and notched more steals with six. However, Mines struggled on offense as it shot just 28 percent from the floor including 24 percent from three-point range. Meanwhile, BHSU held on for the win by knocking down seven long-range baskets while converting 13 points off turnovers. Racquel Wientjes and Morgan Ham were the top individuals thanks to 22 points and 21 points, respectively. The loss drops Mines into third place in the RMAC standings as the Yellow Jackets rise into sole possession of fourth place.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The sun rose over Golden on Friday morning and sent temperatures soaring into the 50s. At the start of the game, Mines welcomed the parents of the players to floor in recognition and sent emotions nearly as high as the temperatures during the day. That led to a fiery first period featuring four ties and two lead changes through the opening 10 minutes. But after one quarter, the Orediggers found themselves in a 17-10 deficit – one that grew to 31-20 by halftime.
 
Mines made its move to rally in the third frame behind four points from Pinto and four more from Stanton. The duo upped the offense's efficiency to 40-percent shooting in the period while the defense held BHSU to zero field goals for nearly seven minutes and just six points in the panel. That defensive effort sparked an 11-1 run to end the quarter, pulling the Orediggers within four points at 37-33.
 
The home team proceeded to drop its deficit to two points in the final quarter thanks to a three-point basket off the hand of Hammond with 6:33 to play. Pinto followed her teammate's lead and went off four eight points in just seven minutes in the fourth. However, the comeback would fall short as the Yellow Jacket's Ham dropped 11 points of her own and kept the Orediggers out of reach all the way through the final buzzer.
 
COACH'S COMMENT
"Give Black Hills State credit tonight," said Mines Head Coach Brittany Simpson. "They had a great game plan and they executed it well. Our team has to learn from our mistakes and get better.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 6-7 in the all-time series against Black Hills State
- Pinto's 17 points put her over 500 on the season, which ranks #1 in program history.
- Additionally, Pinto moved into a tie for #4 on Mines' single-season three-point list and now sits #8 on the career list for three-point baskets made.
- Stanton moved pass 100 rebounds for the year thanks to nine on Friday night.
- Megan Van de Graaf scored six points against the Yellow Jackets. That put her over 200 points for her career.
- The last time Mines won 10 straight games was the 2015-16 season. It came as part of a 13-game run that led to a RMAC title.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 130-95 in eight years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines takes on South Dakota Mines at 5 p.m. on Saturday inside Lockridge Arena. It marks the Orediggers' regular-season home finale. Live stats and video of the game will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can follow Mines Women's Basketball on social media at @MinesWBB. Fans can also follow all of Mines Athletics at www.minesathletics.com or on social media at @MinesAthletics.