GOLDEN, Colo. – Megan Van de Graaf and Shelby Nichols owned the paint for the #9-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team on Friday night in the Orediggers' 94-58 win against CSU Pueblo inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Van de Graaf finished the game boasting a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double. She led all players in both categories, and produced two steals with only one turnover as well. Fellow post Nichols was right behind with 14 points and nine rebounds while adding three assists and two steals. Ashley Steffeck joined the scoring by pouring in 15 points which included a trio of three-point baskets. Josephine Howery gave Mines a quartet of double-digit scorers by notching 11 points. Sammy Van Sickle's utilitarian effort featured nine points, six rebounds, six assists, five steals and one block. Her steals, assists and blocks were all game highs. Howery also had five assists.
 
With the victory, Mines (12-1, 8-0 RMAC) extended its win streak to 10 games and strengthened its hold on first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings. CSU Pueblo (8-6, 5-3 RMAC) suffered its second straight loss after a four-game run going into New Year's Eve. The Orediggers scored 42 of their 94 points in the paint and limited the ThunderWolves to 20 points from close range. Mines' efficiency inside led to a shooting percentage of 50 for the game. On defense, the home team forced 21 turnovers on 17 steals resulting in 27 points off turnovers. The Orediggers also won on the glass with a 44-24 rebound margin. CSU Pueblo did find 26 points off the bench and shot over 87 percent at the free-throw line.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Orediggers exploded like a powder keg in the first 92 seconds of the game, as they roared out to a 7-0 lead. It marked the start of another wire-to-wire, double-digit win. CSU Pueblo did attempt to claw back into the game in the first quarter, holding Mines scoreless for more than two minutes of play. But Jessica Rios broke the scoring drought with a three-pointer at the 1:34 mark, and she hit another in the final seconds of the opening period. That put the home team on an 8-0 run with a 24-12 advantage after 10 minutes of action.
 
Mines outscored "The Pack", 25-12 in the second quarter and headed into halftime touting a 49-24 lead. Van de Graaf nearly had her double-double in the first half alone thanks to 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting and eight rebounds. CSU Pueblo would up their scoring in the second half with 15 points in the third frame, and a 19-16 win in the second frame. However, Jenna Sibert and Steffeck combined for 19 second-half points as the Orediggers cruised to victory.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 27-38 in the all-time series against CSU Pueblo and sit 8-2 over the last 10 meetings with the ThunderWolves.
- The Orediggers have won all 12 of their games this season by double digits.
- Van de Graaf's double-double was the second of her career. Her first came earlier this season against Black Hills State.
- Nichols notched a new single-game high for scoring with her 14 points against CSU Pueblo and tied her career best rebounding performance.
- Steffeck's 15 points on Friday night put her over 800 points for her career. She also passed Marissa Eichhorn for #10 on the program's all-time list for three-pointers made.
- Rios surpassed the 300-point milestone for her career which includes 183 points from her time at NCAA Division I Sacramento State.
- Sammy Van Sickle moved over 200 career steals and 300 career assists. She is just the fifth Oredigger to ever record 300 assists in a career.
- Howery's five assists were a career best.
- Mines' 50-percent shooting from the floor and 94 total points marked its best offensive output of the season so far.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 186-108 in her 11th season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts New Mexico Highlands on Saturday evening at 5 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Free live stats and video will also 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.­­­