GOLDEN, Colo. – The #11 Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team played its 2022-23 home opener Saturday night against Nebraska-Kearney at Lockridge Arena, but could not pull of the win as the Lopers down the Orediggers, 59-47.
 
Despite the loss, Ashley Steffeck and Jessica Rios found double digits in the scoring column. Steffeck dropped 11 points along with three steals, two assists, two rebounds and one block. Rios had 10 points while adding four rebounds and three steals. Sammy Van Sickle owned the glass, grabbing 12 rebounds. She also added four points, two blocks, one assist and one steal. Also notable was Rios' 4-of-6 shooting from the field including 2-of-3 from three-point range.
 
Mines (2-1) dropped its first game of the season even though the Orediggers had more steals, the same number of blocks, and fewer turnovers than Nebraska-Kearney (5-1). The Lopers made up the difference with a 37-30 rebounding margin while also shooting 37 percent from the floor compared to Mines' 33-percent shooting percentage. The other big difference in the game came at the free-throw line. Nebraska-Kearney went 21-of-29 from the stripe. The Orediggers were 10-of-20.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Through the first four minutes of action, Mines found itself facing a 9-2 deficit. The Orediggers provided an emphatic response with a 10-2 run lasting more than four minutes of the first quarter. After 10 minutes, the home team found itself with a one-point, 14-13 advantage. Nebraska-Kearney won the second quarter, 14-11, despite Loralee Stock's five points. At the half, it was UNK 27 and the Orediggers 25. It was a 15-8 scoring difference in the second quarter that allowed the visitors to pull away. Mines poured in 14 points during the final 10 minutes, but it would not be enough.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 10-35 in the all-time series with Nebraska-Kearney which used to be a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
- Sammy Van Sickle's 12 rebounds against the Lopers pushed her to 685 boards in her career. That ranks #6 on the Orediggers' all-time list, surpassing 683 from Marissa Eichhorn (1998-02)s
- Jenna Siebert scored the first three-pointer of her career on Saturday night.
- Stock has exactly 100 rebounds in her collegiate career thanks to one board against UNK.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 176-108 in her 11th season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines heads to Regis on Friday and Saturday to play Central Washington and Seattle Pacific. Live coverage 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.­­­