CHADRON, Neb. – Oredigger point guard Liz Holter scored 22 points in Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team's 77-61 win over Chadron State on Sunday evening inside the Chicoine Events Center.
 
Holter's season-best outburst led all players on the court and came by way of 7-of-12 shooting from the floor including one three-pointer and 7-of-9 production at the free-throw line. She added three assists, two rebounds and one steal as well. Denali Pinto provided 18 points in the win while pulling down five rebounds. Courtney Stanton also scored in double digits by shooting 100 percent from the floor (3-for-3) and adding four free throws. Sammy Van Sickle was everywhere else on the court. She led all players with nine rebounds and boasted four steals, three assists and one block.
 
Mines (5-1, 4-1 RMAC) overcame a Chadron State team (0-3, 0-3 RMAC) that shot 48.9 percent on the game by converting 26 of its 35 free-throw opportunities. The Orediggers also forced 20 CSC turnovers and committed just seven of their own. While the Eagles went 9-for-20 from long range, Mines produced 32 points in the paint compared to 18 points in the paint from the home team. The icing on the cake was the Orediggers' 26 points off of turnovers. The victory gives Mines back-to-back wins thanks to a 75-63 decision over Fort Lewis on Dec. 19. It also keeps the Orediggers hovering around second place in the RMAC standings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the far northwest corner of Nebraska, just south of the Black Hills and west of the Sand Hills, sunny skies and warm temperatures set the scene for Mines' first action of 2021. It marked the Orediggers' first trip out of the state of Colorado this season, and heavy legs from the extended bus trip made a showing early on as Mines went 1-for-4 to start the game. However, Holter quickly recovered and poured in seven points while playing all 10 minutes of the first quarter. That production and a Pinto three afforded the Orediggers a 16-15 lead after one period.
 
Holter's momentum carried into the second quarter with four quick points before Van de Graaf took over the game. With Courtney Stanton in foul trouble, Van de Graaf came off the bench and sparked her team with nine points in the second period while grabbing three rebounds. Her 5-for-6 efficiency at the charity stripe also contributed to a brief 5-0 run for Mines. Three-pointers from Steffeck and Pinto completed the push to a 35-29 halftime lead. The Orediggers saw their efficiency go from 28-percent shooting in the first quarter to 44 percent in the second 10 minutes while Chadron State converted 44 percent of its attempts in the half.
 
Mines continued its tradition of hot starts to the second half by bursting out with an 18-4 run to open the third quarter. The surge was fueled by seven more points from Holter and seven from Pinto as well. Loralee Stock's entrance off the bench provided four points and helped the visitors to their biggest lead of the game at 55-38 with 3:15 to play in the third period. However, the Eagles fought back and closed the frame riding an 8-0 run of their own, cutting Mines' lead to 57-49.
 
Four more CSC points at the start of the fourth quarter pulled the home team within four points at 57-53. It also put Chadron State on a 15-3 run before Stanton knocked down a free throw and a jumper to cushion Mines' 60-53 advantage. Then, neither team scored for nearly three minutes of game action. It was Stanton again breaking the silence with a pair of free throws. Stock followed her teammate's cue and made a put-back layup for a 64-55 lead. Two free throws off the hand of Pinto put the Orediggers' lead back into double digits with 5:15 to play in the game. It was all Mines needed to clinch the victory. The Orediggers' defense took over with three turnovers and one steal in the final six minutes while holding CSC to one basket in the last two minutes.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines' victory over Chadron State pulls the Orediggers within three games in the all-time series at 31-34. It also extends Mines' winning streak to four straight against the Eagles.
- Holter's 22 points mark the second-best single-game performance of her career. She also scored 26 against Chadron State on Jan. 25, 2020. She now has back-to-back, double-digit scoring games.
- Furthermore, Holter surpassed 300 points in her career at Mines. She scored 171 points while playing at NCAA Division I Incarnate word, making her career total 477.
- Pinto's 18 points put her at 1,034 for her career which ranks #10 on Mines' all-time list, just 37 behind Emily Bailey in ninth.
- Chadron State's 48.9 shooting percentage along with 45 percent from three-point range are the best numbers from any of Mines' opponents this season.
- The Orediggers' 77 points at Chadron State are their most in a single game this season.
- Coach Simpson is 137-99 in her ninth season as head coach.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines takes on Black Hills State on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in Spearfish, S.D. 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.