GOLDEN, Colo. – Jessica Rios had a career night for the #11-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team as the Orediggers outran the MSU Denver Roadrunners on Saturday night, 79-62, inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Rios poured in 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor including a 4-for-5 mark from three-point range. She added five rebounds and four steals as well. Megan Van de Graaf finished with 15 points, Ashley Steffeck scored 14 points, and Josephine Howery notched 12 points. Steffeck and Sammy Van Sickle each had two blocks and four assists. Jenna Siebert also matched Rios' four steals. Van de Graaf's eight rebounds were tops on the team.
 
Mines (9-1, 5-0 RMAC) pushed its win streak to seven games thanks to 34 points off 25 MSU Denver (4-7, 2-3 RMAC) turnovers. The Roadrunners did match the Orediggers' 26 points in the paint, and were more efficient shooting from the field. However, the home team was 19-of-22 at the free-throw line compared to MSU Denver's 8-of-26 mark. Mines also committed just 15 turnovers and racked up 14 steals to keep sole possession of first place in the RMAC standings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saturday evening was a game of runs, at least in the first half. Mines dominated the first quarter, 26-12, thanks to a 10-run spanning 6:13 of play. After 10 minutes, Steffeck and Van de Graaf had combined for 17 points. The second quarter was all MSU Denver. The Roadrunners used an 11-0 run spanning over six minutes in the second frame to cut Mines' lead to 40-38 at halftime. But it was all Orediggers after the break. Rios scored 11 points to fuel a 25-9 third quarter. That made MSU Denver's 15-14 win in the final period a moot point. Mines found its biggest lead of the game, 20 points, with 9:19 to play in the game, and did not look back.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 29-55 in the all-time series against MSU Denver. The Orediggers have won five of the last six in the rivalry.
- Rios topped her previous career scoring high of 17 points which she scored during her time with NCAA Division I Sacramento State.
- Siebert's four steals marked a single-game high for the redshirt freshman.
- Sammy Van Sickle took sole possession of #5 on Mines' all-time blocks list, surpassing Courtney Martin who had 112 from 2012-16.
- Van Sickle also surpassed Gabi Sandoval for #6 on the program's all-time steals list.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 183-108 in her 11th season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines plays its last home game of 2022 on Sunday with Western Colorado coming to Lockridge Arena for a 5 p.m. tipoff. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesathletics.com/tv or at the door. Free live coverage will also 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.­­­