DENVER, Colo. – Ashley Steffeck was the tip of the spear on Tuesday night as the Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team earned a 63-62 win against MSU Denver at Auraria Event Center.
 
Steffeck finished the game boasting a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double. She added six steals, three assists and two blocks as well. Her rebounds, blocks and steals were all game highs. Josephine Howery, Sammy Van Sickle, and Megan Van de Graaf also scored in double digits. Howery posted 12 points. Van Sickle scored 11 points and notched two blocks with six rebounds, and three assists as well. Van de Graaf finished touting 10 points and six rebounds. Jenna Siebert and Shelby Nichols rounded out Mines' scoring with a combined 15 points.
 
Mines (14-3, 10-2 RMAC) bounced back from back-to-back losses despite MSU Denver (7-10, 5-6 RMAC) outperforming the Orediggers in nearly every statistical category. Mines did out-block the Roadrunners, 4-2, and produced nine steals compared to MSU Denver's eight steals. The Orediggers also found 15 points off their bench to offset 30 points in the paint and 21 points on fast breaks by the home team. It marks Mines' first single-digit win of the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tuesday's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference pitted the 2021-22 RMAC Regular Season Champions against the 2022 RMAC Women's Basketball Tournament Champions. It marked the second meeting between the Orediggers and Roadrunners this season. After Mines' 79-62 win against MSU Denver earlier this season, Tuesday brought the classic fans had craved.
 
In the spirit of a classic RMAC showdown, there were four ties and 14 lead changes. Steffeck led the Orediggers, and all player, with five points in the first quarter. Steffeck and Howery scored four points each in the second quarter. By halftime, Mines owned a narrow, 22-19 lead thanks to Howery's free throws in the finals seconds of the second quarter. Both teams were an identical 8-for-28 from the floor through the first 20 minutes.
 
The third quarter was all Siebert. She totaled eight points including a solo, 6-0 run as part of an 8-2, Oredigger run. Siebert accounted for all the scoring in that surge. It helped ensure a Mines 45-43 lead going into the final period. Despite numerous outstanding performances, multiple lead changes and many modest scoring runs, Tuesday night's showdown was all decided in the final 13 seconds that were very discombobulated.
 
With 13 seconds remaining in the game, Howery had just made two more free throws to give the visitors a 63-60 advantage. After that, Sammy Van Sickle was then charged with an intentional foul on a MSU Denver shot attempt. The Roadrunners converted both free throws. However, the home team turned the ball over on its ensuing possession on a physical baseline drive. The Orediggers returned the favor with their own turnover on a misguided inbounds pass with three seconds remaining. MSU Denver could not convert its final field goal attempt and Mines emerged victorious.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 30-55 in the all-time series against MSU Denver.
- The Orediggers have won back-to-back games against the Roadrunners and six of the last 10 meetings.
- Tuesday marked the narrowest margin of victory between Mines and MSU Denver since the Orediggers won a 57-56 contest in Golden on Jan. 12, 2013.
- Steffeck's double-double was the sixth of her career and second of the season. Her 13 rebounds matched her career high previously set against CSU Pueblo on Jan. 29, 2021.
- Sammy Van Sickle has recorded multiple blocks in four straight games and nine total times this season.
- Howery moved over 400 points for her career on Tuesday night.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 188-110 in her 11th season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines closes its four-game road trip on Saturday at Western Colorado. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. Free live coverage will be linked 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.­­­