#9 Mines (17-2, 12-1 RMAC) at MSU Denver (13-5, 9-4 RMAC) – Friday, 5 p.m. – Denver, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
#9 Mines (17-2, 12-1 RMAC) at Colorado Christian (5-13, 2-10 RMAC) – Saturday, 5 p.m. – Lakewood, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
#9 Mines (17-2, 12-1 RMAC) at Regis (9-10, 5-8 RMAC) – Tuesday, 5 p.m. – Denver, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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ROUNDING OUT THE ROAD TRIP
Over the next five days, the #9-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team will round out a five-game road trip with three contests in the Denver area. The Orediggers start at MSU Denver on Friday before heading to Colorado Christian on Saturday and Regis on Tuesday. Mines remains alone atop the RMAC standings, but three teams are just two games back making each conference showdown critical as the Orediggers chase a second straight league title.
 
SCHEDULE UPDATES
Tuesday's contest at Regis wraps up the reschedules for the Orediggers. It accounts for the original contest between the two teams scheduled for mid-January. As of Feb. 3, the rest of Mines' games are accounted for.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
All of Mines' RMAC contests will stream live and for free on the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Network. The new watch portal is available online at www.minesathletics.com/tv or www.rmacnetwork.com. Fans can also download the RMAC Network app on their smart TV or device by searching "RMAC" in their respective app stores.
 
LOOKING BACK
Last week, Mines played three games in four days and finished the stretch with a 2-1 record. The Orediggers started with a record-setting, superlative, 108-29 win against New Mexico Highlands on Wednesday night inside Lockridge Arena. It marked Mines' most points in a single game – ever, and the Orediggers' largest margin of victory in program history. On Friday, Mines hit the road and took a 70-59 loss at CSU Pueblo which stopped the Orediggers' record-tying win streak at 13 games. The travelers quickly bounced back by rallying from behind for a 57-52 win at Adams State on Saturday night. Leading scorers for the week included Liz Holter and Quincey Baum on Wednesday, Ashley Steffeck on Friday and Courtney Stanton on Saturday.
 
SCOUTING MSU DENVER
MSU Denver started the season 5-4 before running off eight consecutive wins. That win streak stopped last Saturday with the Roadrunners' 62-53 loss to Black Hills State in Denver. MSU Denver now sits 13-5 overall with a 9-4 mark in the league which places the Roadrunners #6 in the RMAC standings. Significant wins for MSU Denver along the way include Angelo State (65-47), Texas A&M-Kingsville (50-44), two against then-ranked Colorado Mesa and a double-overtime victory at CSU Pueblo. Defending RMAC Player of the Year Allie Navarette leads the charge for the Roadrunners, ranking top-two on the team in most statistical categories thanks to 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Jaela Richardson is another name to watch as she averages 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. Not to be forgotten are Tosjanae Bonds and Kendra Parra with their 2.1 steals and 2.6 assists per game, respectively. As a team, MSU Denver ranks #15 in the nation in defensive rebounds per game.
 
SCOUTING COLORADO CHRISTIAN
Colorado Christian is under the leadership of first-year head coach and RMAC coaching veteran Diane Thompson. So far in Thompson's inaugural season, CCU is 5-13 overall while sitting 2-10 in RMAC play. The Cougars' two conference wins to date came at home against MSU Denver (70-63) and South Dakota Mines (77-75). Non-conference victories included decisions at Lynn and Palm Beach Atlantic in Florida followed by a home win versus Texas-Permian Basin. Currently, Colorado Christian is riding a seven-game skid as Regis comes to Lakewood on Friday before Mines arrives on Saturday. No individual for CCU is over double-digit points-per-game, but Lourdes Gonzalez serves as the player to watch thanks to 8.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Haley Hanson was the leading scorer with 9.1 points per game, but no longer appears on the Cougar roster.
 
SCOUTING REGIS
After dropping a 78-70 game to Mines in its RMAC opener, Regis has proceeded to go 5-7 over the 12 games following which includes an active, five-game losing streak. The Rangers are 9-10 overall with a 5-8 mark in the conference which ties them for #9 in the league standings. Regis' most-notable statistic as a team is ranking #7 in the nation in fewest personal fouls per game. Individually, Josey Ryan and Tashika Burrell lead the way in scoring, assists and steals. Ryan touts 12.6 points, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Burrell owns 10.9 points, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals per contest. Morgan L. Smith is tops on the glass thanks to 6.6 rebounds per game.
 
MINES AGAINST THE ROADRUNNERS
Mines trails the all-time series against MSU Denver by a margin of 28-54. However, the Orediggers do own a four-game win streak over the Roadrunners. The two teams last played on Nov. 28, 2020 in Denver. It was their only meeting of the season and Mines won by a score of 75-49 as Ashley Steffeck broke the program's single-game steals record with 10. She also led the scoring thanks to 15 points. The Orediggers haven't lost to MSU Denver since Jan. 25, 2019. They are 7-3 over the last 10 meetings.
 
MINES AGAINST THE COUGARS
The Orediggers lead the rivalry with Colorado Christian thanks to 36 wins and 23 losses since the series began on Dec. 4, 1987. Mines also touts a five-game win streak over CCU. The Orediggers and Cougars last met on Feb. 6, 2021. Mines won that contest at Lockridge Arena, 69-40, thanks to Denali Pinto's 15 points. Ashley Steffeck proved beastly as well, grabbing 10 rebounds with seven points, five assists, two blocks and two steals. The Orediggers haven't lost to Colorado Christian in early half a decade after dropping a 66-52 decision to CCU on Feb. 11, 2017 inside Lockridge Arena. Furthermore, Mines hasn't lost in Lakewood since Dec. 18, 2014. It was a 73-72 nail-biter.
 
MINES AGAINST THE RANGERS
Tuesday marks the 82nd all-time meeting between Mines and Regis. The Orediggers trail the Rangers by a 28-53 margin, but have won six straight showdowns against RU. Both teams met earlier this season which resulted in a 78-70, Oredigger victory at Lockridge Arena. Denali Pinto led all players in that contest with 20 points while five other individuals scored in double digits for Mines. Regis' last win over the Orediggers was Feb. 27, 2018. It came in the first round of the 2018 RMAC Tournament as the Rangers ended Mines' season by a score of 68-40 at Lockridge Arena. The Orediggers haven't lost inside Regis Field House since Feb. 5, 2016. Also notable is the meeting between Mines and Regis on Dec. 10, 2020 when Ashley Steffeck hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds for a 50-48 win in Denver. Mines is 8-2 over its last 10 meetings with RU.
 
PINTO BREAKS SCORING RECORD
Last week, Denali Pinto totaled 39 points over three games to become Mines' all-time leading scorer. The senior now boasts 1,470 career points which surpassed Ashley Gronewoller's 1,466 points scored from 2002-06. Pinto claimed the record in 94 games including 91 starts. Gronewoller's record covered 112 games and 104 starts. She broke the previous scoring record held by Kelly Hadley which was 1,349 points from 1983-87. Gronewoller (now Iverson) was inducted into the Mines Athletics Hall of Fame with the class of 2012. Pinto's name is now listed 19 times in the program record book. She's also approaching the all-time marks for three-pointers made in a career and free throws made in a career.
 
ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference unveiled its 2021-22 Women's Basketball All-Academic teams this week and Mines was at the top of the list. Both Denali Pinto and Sammy Van Sickle were voted RMAC First-Team All-Academic which tied the Orediggers for the most top-team selections in the league. Shelby Nichols, Courtney Stanton, Ashley Steffeck and Megan Van de Graaf were recognized as part of the RMAC Academic Honor Roll. The Orediggers' six total honorees tied for second most in the conference.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
Despite the road loss at CSU Pueblo last weekend, Mines remained firmly in the national rankings. The Women's Basketball Coaches' Association moved the Orediggers from #12 to #13. In the media poll sponsored by D2SIDA, Mines fell from #5 to #9. Other relevant movement saw Colorado Mesa fall out of the media poll while CSU Pueblo jumped in at #25. No other RMAC program appears on either list. Ashland holds the #1 spot in the media's rankings while Glenville State is #1 according to the coaches.
 
STEFFECK STEALING HISTORY
The following are some facts about Ashley Steffeck's 2021-22 season and career so far. Steffeck broke the RMAC's single-game steals record with 14 against Westminster on Jan. 22. That performance ranks tied for #4 in the NCAA Division II record book. No player in NCAA Division I or II has recorded 14 steals, or more, in a single game since 2010. Steffeck is the only player in the history of Mines women's basketball to register double-digit steals in a single game. She has accomplished it three times in her career including three times this season. Only one player – male or female – at any level of the NCAA has more steals than Steffeck this season. That is Calvin Cheek of NCAA Division III New England College with 99. Steffeck currently ranks #1 in NCAA Division II in total steals and #2 in steals per game. Her 82 steals this season currently rank #4 in the program record book. Steffeck also boasts 194 steals in her career which ranks #5 on Mines' all-time list. Steffeck still has more than two season of eligibility remaining. The end.
 
HOW IT'S GOING
The following are some facts about the 2021-22 season from the perspective of Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball. The Orediggers are 17-2 overall, 12-2 in RMAC play and rank #1 in the conference and #9 in the nation. Mines won 13 straight games which tied the program record for consecutive victories set in 2015-16. The Orediggers rank #1 in the RMAC in scoring offense and scoring defense. Mines' average scoring margin is plus-20.7. Nationally, Mines is #2 in turnover margin, #2 in steals per game, #3 in total steals, #5 in offensive rebounds per game, #5 in personal fouls per game, #6 in scoring margin, #7 in scoring offense, #10 in assist-to-turnover ratio and #10 in turnovers forced. In the RMAC, the Orediggers rank #1 in 15 out of 32 different statistical categories tracked by the NCAA and top-10 in 29 of the 32 categories. The 2021-22 Mines squad has already set program records for points in a game and largest margin of victory. The end.
 
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK
Over the past 4.5 years, plenty has been made about the RMAC ties for Head Coach Brittany Simpson and Assistant Coach Leslie Seymour. However, since she is only in her second season, this fun fact will focus on Assistant Coach Taylor Flanagan. This weekend, Flanagan faces off against her alma mater, Colorado Christian, where she played four years as Taylor Torres. She played for the Cougars from 2012-16. Flanagan earned Division II Bulletin All-America All-Freshman Team distinction and was named RMAC Freshman of the Year in 2013. She also added Second-Team All-RMAC and NCCAA All-Region in that same season. The 5-4 guard also garnered Honorable Mention All-RMAC honors in 2014-15. In her senior season, Flanagan averaged 9.5 points and 3.9 assists per game along with 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest. In her collegiate career, Flanagan helped the Cougars go 4-4 against the Orediggers.
 
UP NEXT
Mines returns home Feb. 11-12 to host Fort Lewis on Friday and Western Colorado on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesthletics.com/tickets or at the door. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network 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.