#15 Mines (0-0) vs. St. Edward's (0-0) – Friday, 5 p.m. CT – San Antonio, Texas [Live Stats] [Live Video-PPV]
#15 Mines (0-0) at St. Mary's (0-0) – Saturday, 5 p.m. CT – San Antonio, Texas [Live Stats] [Live Video-PPV]

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BASKETBALL IS BACK
Scrimmages and exhibitions are done, and NCAA Division I opened its 2022-23 basketball season earlier this week. This weekend, it's Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball opening its campaign in Texas with matches against St. Edward's and St. Mary's of the Lone Star Conference. The Orediggers' true opener tips off Friday at 5 p.m. CT against St. Edward's in San Antonio. Saturday includes a 5 p.m. CT tipoff against the hosting Rattlers of St. Mary's.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Live video for both games will be offered on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network which is pay-per-view. Purchasing options include a 24-hour pass for $10 or a season pass for $75. Archived downloads can be purchased for $10 per broadcast. Live stats will also be offered for free at the links above, on www.minesathletics.com, and on Twitter the day of the game.
 
SUMMARIZING 2021-22
Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball put together the best season in program history in 2021-22. The Orediggers finished 25-6 overall and 19-3 in conference play which netted them their second straight RMAC Regular Season championship. Mines eventually advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in fourth time in program history before falling to second-seeded and #7-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce. Among numerous records broken or tied were most wins in a season, most RMAC wins, longest winning streak, highest scoring average, largest margin of victory, and most points scored in a game. Head Coach Brittany Simpson was crowned RMAC Coach of the Year, and Ashley Steffeck was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. She led all of NCAA Division II in total steals and steals per game. Additionally, Denali Pinto and Sammy Van Sickle were named First-Team All-RMAC. Simpson, Steffeck and Van Sickle are all back for the 2022-23 season.
 
SCOUTING ST. EDWARD'S
The Hilltoppers of St. Edward's University out of Austin, Texas, finished the 2021-22 season with an overall record of 12-16 while going 5-12 in Lone Star Conference (LSC) play. That LSC mark tied SEU for #13 in the conference standings, putting it outside a berth in the LSC Women's Basketball Tournament. The Hilltoppers were picked #11 in the LSC preseason poll, and Lauren Catherman was named a Preseason Player to Watch. Catherman led St. Edward's in scoring in 2021-22 with 11.5 points per game while averaging 2.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Hilltoppers' leading rebounder Morgan Gary also returns in 2022-23 after grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game along with 9.8 points, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE HILLTOPPERS
Colorado School of Mines and St. Edward's have faced off in women's basketball five times with Mines leading the all-time series, 3-2. The rivalry began in 2016 in Lakewood, Colo., with a 78-71, overtime win for the Orediggers. Mines and SEU last played on opening weekend in 2021-22. Mines won that contest by a score of 65-52 thanks to Denali Pinto's 27 points. Also notable were four steals and six assists from Sammy Van Sickle. Mines dropped back-to-back games to SEU in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The Orediggers' other win in the all-time series was a 59-39 decision on Nov. 11, 2017, in Fort Smith, Ark.
 
SCOUTING ST. MARY'S
The St. Mary's Rattlers will open their season on Friday evening against Regis. The Rattlers enter the year after going 3-25 (2-14 LSC) in 2021-22. The Lone Star Conference coaches voted StMU #15 out of 16 in their preseason poll. The Rattlers do not return last season's leading scorer Hannah Wilson who averaged 15.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game which gives them a whole new look. Adding to the new look is first-year Head Coach Valerie Huizar. She took over after 16-year head man Jason Martens retired in the spring. One key returner is Faith Philips who pulled down 163 rebounds last year to rank second on the team.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE RATTLERS
Mines is 1-2 in the all-time series with St. Mary's. The two teams first played on Jan. 22, 1997. The Ratterls won that game, 53-49, in San Antonio. St. Mary's also won a neutral-site contest on Nov. 19, 2016, in Lubbock, Texas. That final margin was 75-61. The latest meeting in the series was an 85-54 win for the Orediggers in their 2021-22 season opener at Regis in Denver, Colo. Ashley Steffeck scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. She also added five steals and two assists. Quincey Baum notched 11 points and Josephine Howery had 10 points and four assists as well.
 
THE SCHEDULE
After opening their season in Texas, Mines will return to Golden for its 2022-23 home opener against Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. The Orediggers finish non-conference play on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26 with contests against Central Washington and Seattle Pacific at Regis University in Denver. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play begins on the road at Colorado mesa on Friday, Dec. 2. Mines opens home RMAC play on Friday, Dec. 9, against South Dakota Mines.
 
BOSS LADY
Head Coach Brittany Simpson enters her 11th season leading the Mines women's basketball program. During her decade tenure, she has become the winningest coach in program history both in terms of total wins and win percentage at 174-107 (61.9). Simpson is responsible for all three of the program's RMAC titles including regular-season championships in 2015-16, 2020-21, and 2021-22, as well as three of four trips to the NCAA Tournament. She is a three-time RMAC Coach of the Year who has guided 31 All-RMAC selections including 11 first-teamers, 11 second-teamers, one third-team selection and eight honorable mention performers.
 
SIMPSON'S SEASON OPENERS
Since arriving in Golden at the start of the 2012-13 campaign, Head Coach Brittany Simpson has guided her team to a 5-5 record in season openers. That mark includes back-to-back wins in 2020-21 and 2021-22. The Orediggers toppled MSU Denver to start the 2020-21 season. They also defeated St. Mary's, 85-54 to open last year's campaign. Notable is the fact that Coach Simpson has only opened one season at home since 2015.
 
KEY RETURNERS
In total, the Orediggers return eight players from their 2021-22 roster. Two of the key veterans have already been mentioned in Ashley Steffeck and Sammy Van Sickle. Both were named First-Team All-RMAC last season and Steffeck was defensive player of the year. The other six returners include Loralee Stock, Josephine Howery, Quincey Baum, Shelby Nichols, and Megan Van de Graaf. Seven of the eight on that list played significant minutes last season. The eighth was top prospect Jenna Siebert who took her redshirt season.
 
TOP TRANSFERS
Transferring into Colorado School of Mines isn't common, but the transfer portal and pandemic eligibility have changed that slightly. Coach Simpson took advantage in the offseason by bringing in two NCAA Division I transfers in Ashley Van Sickle and Jessica Rios. Van Sickle, sister of currently Oredigger Sammy, comes to Mines with one year of eligibility after playing four years at Montana State. She helped the Bobcat women win the 2022 Big Sky Conference Tournament and advance to the NCAA Division I tournament for a third time. Rios played two seasons at Sacramento State and totaled 44 appearances with 19 starts. Her DI career included 183 points with 51 three-pointers, 68 rebounds, 19 steals and two blocks.
 
FRESH FACES
The Orediggers didn't add just transfers during the offseason. Coach Simpson signed a freshman class of three including Suni Davis, Saya Sabus, and Alison Kantor. Davis was honored by NBA star Stephen Curry's organization with a scholarship. Sabus strengthens the pipeline running from Golden to Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colo. Kantor arrives from Oregon as a 6-3 center.
 
IN THE POLLS
Colorado School of Mines was picked #1 in the RMAC preseason coaches' poll earlier this fall. They earned eight first-place votes for 183 points. CSU Pueblo, Black Hills State, MSU Denver and Colorado Mesa rounded out the top-five in order with at least first-place vote apiece. The Orediggers also appeared in both national preseason polls. The Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) tabbed Mines #20 and the Division II Media Poll sponsored by D2SIDA put the Orediggers #15. Mines was the only RMAC team appearing in either poll. CSU Pueblo did receive votes in the media poll where Western Washington owned the #1 spot. Grand Valley State was #1 in the coaches' poll.
 
UP NEXT
Mines' next action will be its home opener on Saturday, Nov. 19, against Nebraska-Kearney at 6 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Live coverage 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.