GOLDEN, Colo. – Eight straight free throws in the final 54 seconds on Tuesday night carried the #19 Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team to a 78-70 win over Regis and a 1-0 record in RMAC play as the Orediggers opened conference action inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Denali Pinto contributed two of the eight key free throws on her way to a game-high 20 points. Four other Orediggers scored in double digits as well with Ashley Steffeck touting 13 points and Megan Van de Graaf boasting 12 while Courtney Stanton and Sammy Van Sickle scored 10 apiece. Six of Van Sickle's 10 points were the other six free throws to close out the game. Steffeck bolstered her line with seven rebounds, five steals, three assists and two blocks. Liz Holter and Van de Graaf tied for the game high in rebounding with nine boards each.
 
Nearly every statistical category featured small margins. However, Mines (6-1, 1-0 RMAC) found two big edges in rebounding and blocked shots with advantages of 40-30 and 6-1, respectively. The Orediggers also overcame the Regis (4-3, 0-1 RMAC) narrow lead in overall shooting by converting over 45 percent of their three-point baskets. The Rangers found 29 points of their bench, but only managed two points on second chances while Mines poured in 19 second-chance points. With the win, the Orediggers take sole possession of first place in the conference standings as the only team with a win in RMAC play thus far.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines and Regis took the court on Tuesday evening as the first, and only, contest on the docket. As the sun set behind Mt. Zion and provided a red-orange glow over Golden, both teams burst out of the gates red hot. The Orediggers converted 61 percent of their shots in the opening period while the Rangers returned the favor with 61-percent shooting in the second quarter. By halftime, Mines owned a narrow, 47-41 lead. While the first-half shootout provided excitement for nearly 200 in attendance, it was the second half that proved pivotal.
 
The third quarter saw the visitors produce a combined run of 14-3 as the Rangers outscored the Orediggers, 18-7. With just 10 minutes left to play, Mines found itself looking up at a 59-54 deficit. However, Pinto was not having it. She took over the final period with 12, fourth-quarter points. The Orediggers and RU exchanged early buckets before the guard from Boulder put Mines on her back and scored 10 of the home team's next 12 points. Stanton contributed the other four during that run which provided the Orediggers a 68-63 lead. Even though Regis remained close down the stretch, Van Sickle grabbed the baton from Pinto and scored eight of Mines' last 10 points including six consecutive free throws starting with 54 seconds to play. In typical Oredigger fashion, the home team closed out the win by forcing a RU turnover off a Stanton steal and that was all she wrote as the clock hit 00:00.
 
NOTABLES
- Tuesday marked Mines' sixth straight win against Regis as the Orediggers sit 28-53 in the all-time series.
- Pinto now has two performances of 20 points or more and four double-digit scoring outings through seven games.
- Steffeck's two blocks match her game best for the ninth time in less than three seasons. She also moved over 400 points for her career.
- Mines' three-point clip of 45.5 percent marks its best long-range production of the season.
- The Orediggers' six blocks are also a single-game best so far in 2021-22.
- At 6-1, Mines has matched its best start in program history which it first accomplished in the 2001-02 season. The Orediggers have never started a season 7-1.
- Coach Simpson is 155-102 in her 10th season as head coach.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts South Dakota Mines on Thursday 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.