GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The #18-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball produced a strong, consistent second half on Friday night at Brownson Arena to earn a 67-55 win against Colorado Mesa in the Orediggers' 2022-23 conference opener.
 
Josephine Howery led a balanced scoring attack with 13 points. Ashley Steffeck added a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double while notching two blocks and an assist as well. Sammy Van Sickle matched Steffeck's 12 points. Megan Van de Graaf scored 11 and dished out four assists. On the glass, Howery pulled down an additional eight boards. Also notable were three assists apiece for Sammy Van Sickle and Jessica Rios along with three steals by Howery.
 
The Orediggers (5-1, 1-0 RMAC) used its trademark defense to get the win. They only had eight steals but forced Colorado Mesa (1-6, 0-1 RMAC) to commit 18 turnovers. Mines only had 14 turnovers and shot nearly 40 percent from the field. An 18-9 margin in second-chance points also proved big for the visitors. As did 42 rebounds compared to 27 boards for CMU. That margin included an 18-5 discrepancy on the offensive glass. Impressive performances for the Mavericks included 19 points from Laura Gutierrez and nine assists from Kylie Kravig.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Friday night's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for Mines and Colorado Mesa featured six ties and four lead changes. The first quarter saw four of those ties and three of those lead changes as the home team escaped the first 10 minutes with a 17-14 lead. However, the margin proved much too small. The Orediggers surged in the second quarter and closed the half on a 6-0 run to claim a 33-27 lead. Howery accounted for seven of those first-half points and Mines never looked back. Identical, 17-14 scoring margins in the third and fourth quarters kept the visitors comfortably in the lead. Sammy Van Sickle and Steffeck teamed up as closers for the Orediggers, combining for 17 points and 11 rebounds in the final 20 minutes of play.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 19-60 in the all-time series against Colorado Mesa.
- The Orediggers have taken five of the last six from the Mavericks, and are 5-5 in the last 10 meetings.
- Mines has now started three straight seasons 5-1 through six games.
- Steffeck's double-double was the fifth of her career and first since Jan. 22, 2022.
- Multiple rebounding milestones were hit at CMU. Howery surpassed 100 for career and set a personal, single-game high, Steffeck moved over 400 for her career, and Sammy Van Sickle broke the 700-rebound plateau.
- Van de Graaf's four assists marked a career high for the graduate student. Her previous best was three dimes on three occasions.
- Steffeck notched multiple blocks in a game for the 11th time in her career.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 179-108 in her 11th season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines faces Westminster in Salt Lake City on Saturday night at 5 p.m. 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.­­­