GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team closed its opening weekend on Saturday afternoon with a 76-68 victory against St. Edward's inside Lockridge Arena.
Ashley Steffeck stuffed the box score for the Orediggers with a 31-point, 13-rebound double-double. She was 10-of-22 from the field including five three-pointers. Steffeck added three assists, three steals, and one block as well.
Josephine Howery also scored in double figures, notching 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
Loralee Stock played the utility role with four steals, three assists, and seven points in 23 minutes of action. Also notable was
Emma Sixta who had six rebounds, four points, three steals and two assists.
The Orediggers (2-0) were held to 39-percent shooting by St. Edward's (0-2), but used eight three-pointers to offset the deficiency. Mines also worked a 42-36 advantage in rebounding and stacked up 13 steals. The Hilltoppers shot over 40 percent from the field, won the turnover battle, and scored 40 points in the paint. However, SEU only had three baskets from behind the arc and went 15-of-30 at the free-throw line. The Orediggers also benefited from 16 assists compared to 10 Hilltopper dimes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines powered out to a 5-0 lead after tipoff thanks to a
Jessica Rios jumper and Steffeck's first three-pointer of the game. St. Edward's eventually responded with a 6-0 run to take a 16-10 lead, but Steffeck and Howery had the answer with back-to-back threes. The back-and-forth continued through the first 10 minutes, resulting in 12 ties and five lead changes. By the time the opening quarter came to an end, SEU held a 20-19 advantage despite Steffeck's 12 points on four three-pointers in the first frame.
The next two quarters were all Orediggers. They carried momentum from a 17-11 second quarter and parlayed it into a 20-14 third quarter. Along the way, Steffeck added 10 more points to give her 22 at halftime. Stock helped the effort with three assists and four steals in the first two quarters. Howery's five points in the third quarter were also key in giving Mines a 56-45 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Similar to their season opener on Friday afternoon, the Orediggers narrowly lost the fourth quarter, 23-20, but staved off any comeback attempt by SEU by going 12-of-13 at the free-throw line. Stock added seven more points, and Steffeck completed her double-double by pulling down four rebounds in the final period.
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 5-2 in the all-time series against St. Edward's including three straight victories.
- The win gives Head Coach
Brittany Simpson 200 victories in her career at the helm.
- The Orediggers haven't lost to SEU since 2019.
- Mines is 2-0 for a fourth straight year.
- Saturday marked the second 30-point game of Steffeck's career. It was the 21st game in program history featuring an Oredigger scoring 30 points or more.
- Steffeck was the last Oredigger to score 30 points or more in game after dropping 32 in last year's RMAC tournament semifinals.
- Steffeck's double-double was her first of the season and ninth of her career. She posted 27 points and 13 rebounds against UT Tyler in last year's NCAA tournament.
-
Quincey Baum surpassed 100 points for her career thanks to five against St. Edward's.
-
Audrey Beaty now boasts 100 collegiate rebounds after grabbing four on Saturday. She now has six at Mines and 96 from her freshman year at Emporia State.
-
Suni Davis and
Jessica Rios matched their career bests by sinking four free throws apiece against SEU.
- Nichols has posted a career-high four assists on back-to-back nights to start the 2023-24 season.
- Stock's four steals from the Hilltoppers tied her collegiate best as well.
- Head Coach
Brittany Simpson is 200-114 in her 12th season leading Mines.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines takes its first road trip of the season next week. The Orediggers play at #24 Texas Woman's on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT. They'll face West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas, on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. Live stats and pay-per-view video will be offered for both games.
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.
