GOLDEN, Colo. – It took a full team effort on Friday night, but the #11 Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team managed to keep its unbeaten conference record in tact thanks to its 59-51 victory over #23 Colorado Mesa inside Lockridge Arena.
 
On offense, it was Courtney Stanton and Liz Holter leading the Oredigger charge behind 15 points and 10 points, respectively. Holter added to the winning effort with six assists as well. Defensively, Sammy Van Sickle and Ashley Steffeck racked up four steals apiece while Stanton and Holter added two steals each. On the glass, Mines used a village as Denali Pinto, Megan Van de Graaf, Van Sickle and Steffeck combined for 24 rebounds with six boards going to each of those Orediggers.  
 
The victory also helped Mines (14-1, 9-0) extend its win streak to 11. The loss for Colorado Mesa (11-3, 6-3 RMAC) marks the Mavericks second defeat in their last three outings. Defense and rebounding made the difference for the Orediggers. They won the turnover battle 12-20 by generating 12 steals compared to five for CMU. More importantly, Mines outrebounded the Mavericks by a 44-34 margin after CMU entered the game touting the nation's #1-ranked rebounding margin at plus-13.2. Colorado Mesa's biggest statistical victory came by way of seven blocks while the home team blocked zero shots. The visitors also turned in a free-throw percentage well over 90 percent. Final overall shooting percentages came in at 30.2 percent for the Orediggers and 36.7 percent for the Mavericks. There were only eight combined three-point baskets in the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Friday afternoon and evening brought light yet slippery snowfall to the Front Range which set the scene for a heavyweight matchup between two of the nation's best defenses inside an electric Lockridge Arena. It was a nationally-ranked showdown that was never tied but featured four lead changes. All four of those lead changes came in the first half which fully lived up to the billing.
 
Van Sickle plugged in the power early to electrify the crowd by hitting a long-range basket less than one minute into the game off a steal by Steffeck. After that, Stanton took over the next 19 minutes with 10 points, two rebounds and two steals. She hit the bucket to help Mines retake the lead at 7-6 and she did the same again at 21-20 after the Mavericks hit another three for their second lead of the game. It also proved to be their last advantage as the Orediggers rolled into halftime on a 9-0 run capped by Josephine Howery's three-point basket at the 1:05 mark of the second quarter.
 
After the break, it was all Mines. The home team parlayed its 9-0 run into a 10-2 run to start the third quarter. Even though CMU ended that run, the Orediggers put together another 12-0 run sparked by none other than Stanton. During the surge Van Sickle nailed a three-pointer from the wing off an Oredigger offensive rebound to make the score 36-24. Holter ended the run with a long-range shot of her own which afforded Mines a 41-24 advantage with 5:02 to play in the third period, marking the home team's largest lead of the night. Even though the Mavericks battled back with 16, third-quarter points, the Orediggers still won the period by one and rolled into the last 10 minutes riding a 45-36 lead.
 
In the final quarter, Mines' five starters played all 10 minutes. Pinto led the charge with six points including four at the free-throw line. Steffeck scored four as well. Those 10 combined points proved just enough as Colorado Mesa's defense shut down the Oredigger offense for nearly four minutes of game time. Mines' saving grace was its own defense that held CMU scoreless for more than three minutes down the stretch. In the final two seconds, Pinto drained two of her four free throws and Holter followed up with a steal off a bad pass to seal the win.
 
NOTABLES
- The Orediggers still trail the all-time series against Colorado Mesa, but own four straight wins over the Mavericks. It marks Mines' longest winning streak in the rivalry which began in 1978.
- Mines hasn't lost to CMU since March 6, 2020.
- Friday also marked the Orediggers' first contest against a ranked opponent this season making Mines 1-0 against nationally-ranked opponents in 2021-22.
- The Mavericks' Daniella Turner led all players with 21 points. However, Mariah Martin who averages 17.8 points per game was limited to 10 points.
- Pinto's nine points on Friday night moved her up to #3 on Mines' all-time scoring list with 1,411 point in her career. She surpassed Emily Dalton's 1,403 scored from 2006-10.
- Pinto is now three points away from sole possession of #2 on the Orediggers' scoring list.
- Holter took sole possession of #7 on Mines' all-time assists list.
- The victory extended Mines' best start to a season in program history. The previous top start was 6-1 in the 2001-02 season.
- The Orediggers earned the win on Friday despite its lowest shooting percentage from the floor so far this season.
- Mines committed its fewest personal fouls of the season as well, with 12 in the game against CMU.
- Coach Simpson is 163-102 in her 10th season as head coach.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers host Westminster at 5 p.m. on Friday inside Lockridge Arena. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesthletics.com/tickets or at the door. Masks are required for all spectators regardless of vaccination status. 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.