GOLDEN, Colo. – The #13-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team used 41 second-half points on Saturday evening to earn a 65-50 win against Western Colorado at Lockridge Arena.
Courtney Stanton led all players with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting while grabbing four rebounds with two assists, one block and one steal.
Ashley Steffeck scored 13 points and notched six rebounds, three assists, three steals and zero turnovers.
Denali Pinto's 10 points made a trio of Oredigger double-digit scorers. Van Sickle wore Mines' utility belt as she produced five steals, four assists, three rebounds and three points.
Loralee Stock's nine points, two rebounds and one block proved key as well.
It marked the fourth consecutive win for Mines (21-3, 16-2 RMAC) despite a 32-27 deficit on the boards. Western Colorado (10-12, 8-9 RMAC) dropped its second straight loss after the Orediggers forced 25 turnovers while collecting 14 steals. Ball security proved key for the home team with the Mountaineers close to 40 percent from the floor including six three-point baskets. Mines offset that by committing only 10 turnovers while WCU walked away with zero steals. Other big discrepancies were a 34-14 margin on points in the paint, and a 4-1 advantage in blocks – all in favor of the Orediggers. While Mines remains first in the RMAC standings, it benefitted from Adams State's upset of Westminster in Alamosa on Saturday night. The Orediggers now boast no less than a two-game advantage on every team in the conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The snow of Friday had stopped and the sun came out for a balmy, January Saturday. As daylight gave way to nightfall, the Orediggers and Mountaineers took the court. What followed ended up being a knockdown, drag-out battle – at least in the first half. The first volley was fired by the Mountaineers, specifically – Emery Wagstaff. She scored 12 of WCU's 14 first-quarter points – all from behind the arc – and did not score a single point the rest of the game. That afforded the visitors a narrow, 14-12 lead after 10 minutes. In the second quarter, Mines started 0-for-5 from the field and shot under 30 percent for the period, but still managed a 10-1 run that briefly gave the Orediggers the lead. However, by halftime, Western Colorado had increased its lead by one for a 27-24 advantage.
Mines tore out of the locker room and said farewell to the back-and-forth of the first half. Stanton's jumper 16 seconds into the third quarter sparked a surge that eventually turned into a 25-6 run dating back to the second quarter. The Orediggers' defense fueled the fire by limiting WCU to just seven points in the third quarter. That production on both sides of the ball sent the game into the final 10 minutes with the home team touting a 47-34 lead. Stanton helped her squad clinch the win with six more points in a fourth quarter that featured 34 combined points from Mines and Western Colorado. When the final horn sounded, the home team had completed the second-half weep with an 18-16 scoring advantage.
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 28-38 in the all-time series against Western Colorado.
- The Orediggers have won three straight when playing the Mountaineers.
- Mines had not defeated WCU inside Lockridge Arena since 2017.
- Saturday's win tied Mines' 2021-22 team for the most wins in a season in program history.
- Mines has won by double digits in 17 of its 21 victories.
- Stanton and Pinto were honored at halftime of the men's game later Saturday evening for Stanton reaching the 1,000-point milestone and Pinto becoming the Orediggers' all-time leading scorer.
- Holter's two assists pushed her into a tie for #5 on Mines' all-time, single-season assists list. She boasts 104 this season, 265 as an Oredigger and 326 in her collegiate career.
- Steffeck took over #2 in program history for steals in a season. Her three swipes gave her 98 for the season and 210 for her career.
- So far this season, Mines is 19-0 when shooting over 32 percent from the field.
- The Orediggers are 20-0 when holding their opponents under 70 points.
- Coach Simpson is 170-104 in her 10th season as head coach.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines heads to Westminster next Friday and Colorado Mesa on Saturday. Live stats and video of both games 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.
