KEARNEY, Neb. – The #8-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday afternoon at the hands of Nebraska-Kearney by a score of 76-57.
Despite a cold-shooting day for the Orediggers,
Denali Pinto still muscled up 15 points to lead her team.
Ashley Steffeck offered 10 points as well while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out two assists. Also notable was
Sammy Van Sickle's resume which featured a team-high nine rebounds with three assists, two blocks, two points and one steal.
In the loss, Mines (3-1) won the turnover battle as the Orediggers committed just eight turnovers and forced nine by Nebraska-Kearney (3-1). However, the story of the game was shooting efficiency. Mines finished just over 30 percent from the field and 18 percent from three-point range. Meanwhile, UNK converted 48 percent of its shots including a 40-percent mark from outside the arc. The defeat snaps Mines' seven-game winning streak which dates back to last season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines came out of the gate fast and scored the first five points of the game. Van Sickle drew first blood with a layup on the opening possession.
Courtney Stanton followed up by converting an and-one opportunity. After the Orediggers' opening volley, the first quarter turned into a period of runs. Kearney rallied back to take a 10-point lead. However, Mines responded with an 8-0 run to close the quarter and pull within two points at 21-19. That led to a second quarter in which Pinto dropped seven points, but it wasn't enough to offset an 8-0 Lopers' run to start the period. By halftime, the home team owned a 42-33 advantage.
Unfortunately for the visitors, the second half was all Nebraska-Kearney. The home team extended its lead with 19 more points and 50-percent shooting in the third frame before coasting with a 15-10 margin in the final period. Mines was held to 26-percent from the floor in the third quarter and 25 percent in the fourth quarter. The cold shooting proved too much for the Orediggers to overcome despite going 3-for-4 on their final attempts of the game.
NOTABLES
- Saturday marked Mines' first loss to UNK since 2011. However, the Orediggers and Lopers had not played since the later departed the RMAC in 2012.
- The Orediggers last double digit loss was a 70-49 decision at UCCS on Feb. 28, 2020.
- Pinto's 15 points put her at 1,283 points for her career which moves the senior to #5 on Mines' all-time scoring list.
- Van Sickle surpassed 500 career rebounds thanks to her nine boards at UNK.
- Pinto's nine rebounds put her over 400 boards for her career.
- Stanton moved over 800-career points on Saturday.
- Nebraska-Kearney is the first team to score more than 70 points on Mines since Black Hills State dropped 73 last January.
- Coach Simpson is 152-102 in her 10th season as head coach.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines heads to Puerto Rico for games next Thursday and Friday. The Orediggers face the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez on Thursday at 10 a.m. (AT) before taking on the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon on Friday at 12 p.m. (AT).
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.
