DURANGO, Colo. – The #15-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball Team dominated Fort Lewis on Saturday evening as the Orediggers earned an 87-53 win inside Whalen Gymnasium.
 
Megan Van de Graaf led or tied for the lead among all players with 20 points and nine rebounds. She also dished out two assists and nabbed one steal. Ashley Steffeck came up big as well thanks to 14 points, five steals, four rebounds and three assists. Denali Pinto added 12 points, two rebounds and one steal in 24 minutes of action. Other notable performances included four steals courtesy of Loralee Stock while Liz Holter led all players with five assists.
 
Mines (10-1, 5-0 RMAC) extended its winning streak to seven consecutive games thanks to 49-percent shooting from the field and an 86-percent mark at the free-throw line. Fort Lewis (2-10, 1-5 RMAC) dropped its second straight contest despite converting over 40 percent of its shots. Neither team thrived from long range as both the Orediggers and Skyhawks posted a 22.2 three-point percentage. Mines' biggest advantage was a 28-12 advantage in the turnover battle which included 18 Oredigger steals. The other big discrepancy was a 50-26 margin on points in the paint which fell in favor of the visitors. Mines stands as the only unbeaten team in the RMAC after CSU Pueblo fell to Colorado Mesa on Saturday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
On Saturday evening, Mines followed up a modest win over Western Colorado in Gunnison by absolutely dominating three of the four quarters against Fort Lewis. It all started with 25 points in the opening period led by Steffeck's seven points and three steals. The Orediggers then added 27 more points in the second frame while shooting over 60 percent from the floor as Pinto and Van Sickle combined for 10 points in the quarter. By halftime, Mines boasted a 52-28 advantage over the Skyhawks.
 
 The Orediggers' only real lull came in the third period where FLC earned a 15-14 advantage in scoring. However, Mines put an exclamation point on its win in the final quarter. Once again, the visitors shot over 60 percent in the frame and outscored the Skyhawks 21-10. Runs of 13-0, 13-2 and 17-4 highlighted the production. Van de Graaf was the individual star of the fourth as she scored nine points while going 3-for-3 from the field and 3-for-4 at the charity stripe. Fort Lewis scored six of its 10 points in the first three minutes of the final period.
 
NOTABLES
- Saturday marked Mines' third consecutive win in the series against Fort Lewis. The Orediggers are now 7-3 in their last 10 meetings with the Skyhawks while sitting 22-37 in the all-time rivalry.
- Additionally, Saturday's win was the Orediggers' largest margin of victory ever over FLC. The all-time series began in 1980.
- Mines hasn't lost in Durango since Feb. 17, 2017 – nearly half a decade ago.
- Van de Graaf's 20 points against Fort Lewis were a new career high. She had previously scored 17 in a single game on two different occasions. She was 8-of-9 from the field on Saturday night.
- Pinto took over #4 on the Orediggers' all-time scoring list as she moved to 1,359 career points thanks to her 12 points against the Skyhawks. She surpassed Kelly Hadley (1983-87) and sits just 44 points behind Emily Dalton (2006-10).
- Stock also produced a career best with her four steals.
- Liz Holter moved over the career milestone of 300 rebounds thanks to four boards in Durango.
- Additionally, Josephine Howery surpassed 100 points for her career.
- Every active Oredigger notched a minimum of two field goals each against Fort Lewis.
- Mines' shooting percentage of 49.3 and 87 total points both marked single-game highs for the 2021-22 season thus far.
- The Orediggers' victory also added to its best start to a season in program history which was previously 6-1 in the 2001-02 season.
- Coach Simpson is 159-102 in her 10th season as head coach.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers now take nearly two weeks off from competition for the holiday break. They return to action on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 against Chadron State and Black Hills State inside Lockridge Arena. Both games tip off at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesthletics.com/tickets or at the door. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network 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.