ALAMOSA, Colo. – The #18-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team closed the 2020-21 regular season on Friday night with a 79-61 win over Adams State at Plachy Hall Gymnasium.
Denali Pinto was the leading scorer thanks to 16 points. She added seven rebounds, two blocks, two steals and two assists as well.
Liz Holter finished right behind Pinto with 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting while notching five steals, three assists and one rebound. Holter also shot 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.
Loralee Stock made three Orediggers to score in double digits by tallying 11 points. Additionally,
Sammy Van Sickle pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out four assists.
Ashley Steffeck capped it off with eight points, five steals, four rebounds and three assists.
Mines (15-3, 14-3 RMAC) produced its highest steals total of the season with 24 while forcing Adams State (3-10, 3-10 RMAC) to cough up 29 turnovers. Furthermore, the Orediggers had their second-best shooting night of the season and ended with their third-highest point total. The Grizzlies did cause 23 Mines turnovers, but the visitors offset that production with a 39-27 advantage on the glass. With the win, the Orediggers keep themselves in contention for the RMAC's regular season title. Mines will await confirmation from the conference office since the champion will be ground based on RPI rankings and not winning percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Friday's beautiful weather on The Front Range was matched along the San Luis Valley in south central Colorado and in Alamosa itself. With Saturday's contest at CSU Pueblo canceled, Mines strolled into Plachy Hall Gym knowing it would be the final regular-season game of 2020-21, and the Orediggers came out with their signature defense – opening the game with a steal. Pinto converted the points off the turnover with a layup. However, ASU opened the game shooting 50% from the field and stuck with Mines through the first 10 minutes. After the first quarter, the visitors only held a 14-12 lead.
The Orediggers stormed into the second quarter and expanded their margin with a 7-0 run. On defense, Mines held the Grizzlies to just three points through the first five minutes of the period. That 7-0 surge turned into a 22-5 outburst dating back into the opening frame. Adams State did hit a three-point basket at the halftime buzzer, but the Orediggers still boasted a 39-23 lead after two quarters. Pinto had accounted for 11 of those points and Mines touted 14 steals as a team.
At the start of the second half, the Grizzlies put together a 5-0 run and pulled within 11 points of their guests. Mines' response was to hold ASU without a field goal for two full minutes while piecing together a 7-1 run. As the game entered the fourth quarter, the Orediggers held fast to a 17-point advantage at 62-45. The margin made the final 10 minutes academic as Mines scored 17 and Adams State scored 16.
Shelby Nichols accounted for the Orediggers' final basket as they closed out the 79-61 victory.
NOTABLES
- Mines has defeated Adams State in 11 straight meetings.
- Oredigger Head Coach
Brittany Simpson has never lost to ASU as the skipper at Mines.
- Friday's victory helped Mines close the regular season with back-to-back wins and a 10-1 record over its last 11 games.
- The Orediggers' largest lead against Adams State was 25 points with 7:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.
- Eleven of Mines' 15 wins have come by double digits.
- Coach Simpson is 147-101 in her ninth season as head coach.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines opens the RMAC Tournament in Golden on Tuesday evening at Lockridge Arena. The Orediggers await the completion of conference play on Saturday to learn their opponent. More information will be available 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.
