GOLDEN, Colo. – The #19-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team dominated the second half on Thursday night inside Lockridge Arena, and earned an 80-51 victory against South Dakota Mines along with the best start to a season in program history.
 
Sammy Van Sickle was the star as she stuffed the box score with 18 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Her points, assists, blocks and steals led or tied all players in the game. Megan Van de Graaf, Courtney Stanton and Ashley Steffeck joined Van Sickle in the double-digit scoring category thanks to 16, 15 and 13 points, respectively. Additionally, Van de Graaf led all players with nine rebounds and Stanton pulled down eight boards. Steffeck and Loralee Stock matched Van Sickle with three steals each. Also notable was Liz Holter dishing out six assists.
 
With the win, Colorado School of Mines improved to 7-1 which marks the best start to a season in program history. The Orediggers' previous top mark was 6-1 to open the 2001-02 campaign. Colorado School of Mines earned the historic victory by forcing South Dakota Mines (0-7) to cough up 28 turnovers while the home team committed just eight turnovers. That defensive production resulted in 19 Oredigger steals compared to six from the Hardrockers. Colorado School of Mines also shot over 40 percent from the field while holding SDM under 35-percent shooting and limiting the visitors to zero second-chance points and no points off of fast breaks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the spirit of how the Orediggers performed, there's no fluff here. Stifling defense was the name of the game from the opening tip. It took nearly five minutes of game action for the combined score to reach five points. Even though South Dakota Mines claimed the 3-2 advantage, Colorado School of Mines was left unfazed. By the end of the opening period, the Orediggers owned an 11-8 advantage thanks to a Van Sickle three-pointer. That being said, the second quarter provided a drastic contrast with 41 combined points including six more from Van Sickle on two more buckets from behind the arc. By halftime, Colorado School of Mines found itself clinging to a 31-29 advantage.
 
Whatever Oredigger Head Coach Brittany Simpson said in the locker room worked. Colorado School of Mines came out of the break on fire. The home team shot 55 percent in the third quarter as Van de Graaf spurned the Hardrockers with 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting. From the 21st minute of the game to the 30th minute, South Dakota Mines was held to six points while the Orediggers exploded for 25. That production allowed the home team to cruise in the fourth quarter. Even so, Van Sickle decided to go 2-for-2 from three-point range for six more points as Mines secured its historic win.
 
NOTABLES
- The Orediggers are now 8-6 in the all-time series against the Hardrockers thanks to three consecutive wins.
- Colorado School of Mines outscored South Dakota Mines 38-12 in the paint and 31-9 off of turnovers.
- Thursday's win marked the Orediggers' largest margin of victory over the Hardrockers since the two programs started playing in 1999.
- Van Sickle now has 32 assists and nine blocks through eight games. Her eight assists against SDM mark a career high.
- Steffeck's 13 points pushed the junior over 400 points for her career at Mines.
- The Orediggers combined to go 7-for-7 at the free-throw line against the Hardrockers.
- Colorado School of Mines now boasts three different games this season with exactly eight turnovers. Additionally, Mines has scored at least 80 points in four of its eight games.
- Coach Simpson is 156-102 in her 10th season as head coach.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines' next action comes at UCCS on Dec. 11 in Colorado Springs. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be linked 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.