GOLDEN, Colo. – Quincey Baum and Ashley Steffeck were the key cogs in the Orediggers' upset of #10 MSU Billings on Saturday night as the Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team toppled the Yellowjackets by a score of 75-71 to close the Thanksgiving Classic inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Steffeck's 25 points tied for the game high. She also led all players with six assists and two blocks while adding four rebounds and three steals. The Fort Collins, Colo., native was 6-of-12 from the field including a 3-for-5 mark from three-point range while going 10-of-11 at the free-throw line. Baum turned in a career night by scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds with one assist. Other blocks were provided by Jessica Rios and Michaela Lee. Shelby Nichols finished with nine points.
 
Mines (5-1) played 11 player and 10 appeared in the scoring column as the Orediggers earned their third straight win. MSU Billings rode the hot hand of Kola Bad Bear who produced 25 points, but saw its five-game win streak snapped as the Yellowjackets suffered their first lost since the season opener. The nationally-ranked visitors committed just one more turnover and had more steals and rebounds. However, Mines shot 45 percent from the floor including six three-pointers while going 21-of-25 at the free-throw line. MSU Billings' shooting numbers came in at 38 percent from the floor, 11 percent from behind the arc, and 89 percent at the charity stripe. Overall, a total of 48 fouls were whistled in the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game started with each team scoring an easy layup on one attempt each, but the story of the period was defense. MSU Billings shot just 35 percent and Mines converted at a 25-percent clip. Four points apiece from Baum and Beaty helped the Orediggers offset a Yellowjackets' 8-0 run. A 6-for-6 mark at the free-throw line helped the home team limit its first-quarter deficit to 15-12.
 
The damage control proved key as Mines exploded on all fronts in the second frame. A 9-0 run and 63-percent shooting highlighted the Orediggers' detonation. Their defense also limited MSU Billings to three field goals and an 0-for-5 mark from behind the arc. Steffeck's seven points in the second quarter led the way for Mines and Josephine Howery was right behind with five. In the end, Mines outscored the Yellowjackets by a 20-12 margin and headed to the locker room with a 32-27 lead.
 
While the 9-0 run, elite defense, and high shooting percentage were key in the game, it was the late third quarter and early fourth quarter that truly told the story. With 48 fouls whistled in the game, the Orediggers inevitably found themselves facing foul trouble. That conflict came to a head at the 3:42 mark of the third quarter. Beaty was whistled for her fourth foul, and Lee was called off the bench as Mines clung to a 48-47 lead.
 
Lee immediately made the first shot of her collegiate career to give the home team a 50-47 advantage. Less than 40 seconds later, Baum came up huge with a defensive rebound followed by an offensive rebound and a second-chance layup. It was the start of a 7-0 run for the Orediggers which included another Baum free-throw, a Lee block, and a Baum putback. Mines eventually closed the third quarter riding a 9-3 run to a 57-50 lead.
 
Baum started the fourth quarter with a layup right after another defensive rebound. Then, Steffeck nailed a shot from behind the arc to give the Orediggers their first, and only, double-digit lead of the game. The Yellowjackets would not go quietly into the night. They pumped out their own 8-0 run to pull within two points at 62-60 with 5:18 left to play. What followed were five points from Steffeck and another putback from Baum, giving Mines a 69-60 cushion. MSU Billings' Bad Bear converted an and-one play with 2:17 to play in the game. That made the score 69-65 in favor of the Orediggers and sent the contest into a free-throw fest. The Yellow Jackets converted four straight from the charity stripe and pulled within one point of the home team. But Steffeck finished the victory by sinking five out of six free throws in the final 30 seconds of play.
 
NOTABLES
- Saturday marked Mines' first-ever win against MSU Billings in women's basketball. The Orediggers are now 1-6 in the all-time series.
- Mines earned its first win against a ranked opponent since defeating #21 Central Washington, 72-53, on Nov. 25, 2022 – exactly one year ago.
- MSU Billings was the Orediggers' second ranked opponent of the season after Mines faced then-#24 Texas Woman's last week in a 72-66 loss in Texas.
- Texas Woman's also defeated the Yellowjackets this season, 73-72, in the season opener for both teams.
- Mines has not played an opponent ranked in the top-10 since falling to #7 Texas A&M-Commerce in the 2022 NCAA tournament.
- The Orediggers' last win over a top-10 opponent came against #7 Western Colorado on Feb. 13, 2021.
- Baum had single-game, career-highs in rebounds (7), made field goals (5), and free throws (3-of-5).
- Lee made her collegiate debut on Saturday, going 1-for-1 with a block and a rebound.
- Nichols went over 300 points for her career thanks to nine against MSU Billings.
- Steffeck moved up to #4 on Mines' all-time assists list. She surpassed Anna Kollmorgen who dished out 324 assists from 2015-19. Kollmorgen was in attendance on Saturday night.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 203-115 in her 12th season leading Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers start RMAC play next Friday and Saturday at home. They host Colorado Mesa on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Westminster on Saturday at 5 p.m. Live stats and free video on the RMAC Network will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines women's basketball on "X" (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @MinesWBB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.