GUNNISON, Colo. – Megan Van de Graaf was tops for the Orediggers on Saturday night as the #19 Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team ran away to a 94-75 win at Western Colorado.
 
Van de Graaf's game resume included 22 points, five steals, three rebounds, and two assists. Ashley Steffeck poured in 20 points as well while adding five steals, two rebounds, and two assists. Her five steals made her Mines' all-time steals leader. Sammy Van Sickle and Loralee Stock added 10 points each. Van Sickle also had four rebounds, four steals, and one block. Also notable were five assists from Ashley Van Sickle along with nine points and one block from Jenna Siebert.
 
The Orediggers (15-3, 11-2 RMAC) maintained their hold on first place in the conference standings to a difference in games played. Western Colorado (4-13, 3-9 RMAC) lost its sixth straight game. Mines won the game thanks to 28 points off 23 WCU turnovers including 25 Oredigger points on fast breaks. The Mountaineers owned a 38-32 advantage on the glass and shot 50 percent from the floor. Mines shot 44 percent from the floor but only committed only committed six turnovers. That helped offset WCU's 50-percent shooting from behind the three-point arc.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines scored first. Western Colorado tied the game at five. That was the closest the home team came in the entire game. The Orediggers' 13-0 run in the first quarter was the biggest of the night and pushed them to a 32-17 lead after 10 minutes of action. That led to a second quarter where Steffeck scored four points and Mines' defense forced five Mountaineer turnovers. By halftime, the visitors boasted a 47-37 advantage. Van de Graaf scored nine points in the third quarter and nine more in the fourth quarter to secure the Oredigger victory.
 
As for Western Colorado, nine turnovers in the first quarter and six turnovers in the fourth quarter canceled out combined 11-of-20 shooting in both periods. The Mountaineers failed to force a Mines turnover in the first and third quarters. They also let the Orediggers go over 20 points in three of the four frames. While the 32-17 margin in the opening period was the biggest margin of the night, WCU's 35-percent shooting percentage in the third quarter proved unhelpful. There was only one tie and zero lead changes in Saturday's contest.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines moved to 31-38 in the all-time series against Western Colorado including six straight wins.
- The Orediggers haven't lost to the Mountaineers since Dec. 18, 2020. They haven't lost to WCU in Gunnison, Colo., since Dec. 7, 2018.
- Steffeck became Mines' all-time steals leader. She now touts 285 in less than four seasons which tops 284 from Claudia Fonio who had 284 steals from 1980-84.
- Van de Graaf's five steals marked a career high and her 22 points were one shy of a single-game best. Van de Graaf previously touted three steals in a single game on three occasions.
- Van de Graaf also surpassed 800 points for her career as an Oredigger.
- Sammy Van Sickle moved over the 900-point milestone.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 189-110 in her 11th season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines' next action comes at home against Fort Lewis on Jan. 27. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets. They can also be purchased at the door. Free live video and statistics 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.