DENVER, Colo. – The #9 Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team dropped a heartbreaking, 74-67 loss in overtime to MSU Denver on Friday Night at the Auraria Event Center.
 
Mines suffered defeat even with Denali Pinto leading all players on 24 points including six three-pointers. Megan Van de Graaf and Quincey Baum scored 10 points each as well. Van de Graaf also pulled down seven rebounds, grabbed two steals, blocked one shot and dished out one assist from the post. Liz Holter finished with five points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Also notable was Ashley Steffeck touting eight points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals with only one turnover.
 
Friday marks the second loss in the last four games for Mines (17-3, 12-2 RMAC), but the Orediggers still hold a one-game lead atop the RMAC standings. MSU Denver (14-5, 10-4 RMAC) earned the win by holding its guests to 30-percent shooting and winning on the glass, 51-36. The Orediggers did produce 13 steals and forced 28 Roadrunner turnovers. Mines also hit 11 three-point baskets but only managed 16 points in the paint compared to 30 from the home team.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
One run in the first quarter and another in the second quarter keyed the visiting Orediggers to a 29-25, halftime lead on Friday evening in downtown Denver. The surge in the opening frame started with back-to-back three-pointers by Baum and Steffeck which helped Mines roar back to tie the game at 12-12 thanks to nine unanswered points. The second-quarter push was of the 8-0 variety and featured five more points from Baum including another bucket from behind the arc. At the break, Mines found itself leading by four as five three-pointers offset 31-percent shooting from the floor and a 57-percent clip at the charity stripe.
 
Coming out of the locker room, the home team chipped away at the lead with a 17-14 third quarter that made the score 43-42 in favor of the Orediggers. MSU Denver won the fourth quarter as well, but Pinto thought 40 minutes wasn't enough. After the Roadrunners completed an and-one play to take a 61-58 lead with 17 seconds to play in regulation, Pinto stepped up and nailed a shot from behind the arc with eight seconds to play which eventually sent the game into overtime. However, MSU Denver dominated the extra period with 13 points on 40-percent shooting while holding the Orediggers to six points on two field goals over the course of five minutes. Free throws down the stretch sealed the deal for the Roadrunners.
 
NOTABLES
- Friday marked Mines' second overtime game of the season. The Orediggers are now 1-1 in affairs featuring an extra period.
- MSU Denver snapped a run of six consecutive losses to Mines. The Orediggers are now 28-55 in the all-time series. It was Mines' first loss to the Roadrunners in Denver since Jan. 25, 2019.
- Pinto took sole possession of #3 on Mines' all-time list for three-pointers made in a career. The senior now has 183 in less than four years. She moved passed former teammate Cassidy Budge who drained 182 from 2015-19.
- Holter's five points put her at exactly 700 points as a collegian which includes 171 at NCAA Division I Incarnage Word along with 529 at Mines.
- Van de Graaf surpassed 500 career points thanks to her 10-point outing on Friday evening.
- Steffeck moved to #4 on the Orediggers' all-time steals list. She now has 196 as she surpassed Kelly Hadley who notched 195 from 1983-87.
- Coach Simpson is 166-104 in her 10th season as head coach.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines faces Colorado Christian on Saturday night in Lakewood at 5 p.m. 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.