BAYAMON, P.R. – Balance was the name of the game for the #22-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team as three Orediggers scored double digits in a 63-36 win over the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon.
 
Courtney Stanton led all players with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting while grabbing five rebounds, handing out one assist, grabbing one steal and blocking one shot. Megan Van de Graaf was right behind thanks to 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Josephine Howery rounded out the trio thanks to 11 points at a 50-percent clip. Defensively, Denali Pinto, Liz Holter and Ashley Steffeck each registered six steals apiece. Sammy Van Sickle also produced a notable resume thanks to 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two points.
 
Once again, Mines (5-1) used its trademark defense to get the win as the Orediggers racked up 29 steals while forcing UPR-Bayamon (0-1) to commit 30 turnovers. Mines also limited the Vaqueras to 26-percent shooting from the floor while converting 40 percent of its own opportunities. Another big day for Oredigger reserves resulted in 33 points off the bench. Mines' other big advantage was a 18-2 margin on second-chance points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Friday's contest that started at 12 p.m. local time and 9 a.m. in Colorado began with a very different tone than Thursday's runaway victory. Whether it was tryptophan from the Thanksgiving turkey, or a Bayamon squad hyped for its season opener, the early going was a grind for both teams. In fact, neither squad found the bottom of the net until the 6:13 mark of the first quarter. It was the Vaqueras striking first and they did not trail until Holter hit a shot with 97 seconds to play in the opening period. That basket afforded the Orediggers a 7-5 advantage heading into the first break.
 
The second quarter and the rest of the game proved to be a different story. Mines burst out of the huddle and exploded for 23 second-quarter points while limiting Bayamon to just 11. Van de Graaf led that charge with nine points in the second frame as the Orediggers shot 61 percent from the field. It offset the Vaqueras' respectable 40-percent mark in the frame which was held up by 0-for-4 production from three-point range. By halftime, Mines boasted a 30-16 advantage which would only grow in the second half.
 
After the break, the Orediggers outscored their hosts 33-20 over the final 20 minutes. The trio of Stanton, Howery and Loralee Stock accounted for 21 of those 33 points as Mines cruised to victory. At the final horn, the Orediggers touted exactly 30 points in the paint, 22 points off turnovers and had pushed their lead out to 30 in the final minutes of the contest. Puerto Rico-Bayamon did find a bright spot by forcing Mines to commit 27 turnovers while the Vaqueras found 19 points of their bench, 18 in the paint and 17 off of turnovers.
 
NOTABLES
- Friday marked the series premier in the rivalry between Mines and Puerto Rico-Bayamon. The Orediggers now lead the series 1-0.
- Mines Head Coach Brittany Simpson is now 6-2 the Friday after Thanksgiving including six straight wins dating back to 2014.
- Howery's 11 points on Friday morning marked a career high for the sophomore.
- Pinto and Holter both put up single-game bests with their six steals. Holter also surpassed 200 rebounds in an Oredigger uniform.
- Shelby Nichols notched the first block of her career thanks to one stuff against UPR-Bayamon.
- Mines' 29 steals on Friday are the most for the team in a single game so far this season
- Coach Simpson is 154-102 in her 10th season as head coach. That mark includes a record of 13-5 the week of Thanksgiving.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines returns home and opens conference play on Tuesday night against Regis at 5:30 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. Masks are required for all fans regardless of vaccination status. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be offered 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.