GOLDEN, Colo. – Double-digit scoring from Jenna Siebert and Ashley Steffeck guided the #16-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team to a 69-60 win against Westminster on Saturday night at Lockridge Arena.
 
Siebert's game resume included 11 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Steffeck finished touting 12 points, five steals, five assists, and one rebound. Also notable were nine points from Loralee Stock along with Shelby Nichols' eight-point, nine-rebound night.
 
Mines (7-1, 2-0 RMAC) extended its win streak to five games after forcing Westminster (2-4, 0-2 RMAC) to turn the ball over 22 times. The Orediggers also earned a 35-34 edge in rebounding, but shot just 37 percent from the floor including a 26-percent mark from three-point range. The Griffins converted at a 46-percent clip and had 38 points in the paint. However, the visitors only made one shot from the behind the arc, shot just 64 percent at the free-throw line, and produced nine steals compared to 15 by Mines. The Orediggers also benefited from 18 points off turnovers and 22 points off their bench.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The score was never tied past 0-0 and the lead never changed hands on Saturday evening during the early show at Lockridge Arena. Mines went 4-for-6 from three-point range in a 26-point first quarter to take a 26-15 lead after 10 minutes of action. Stock and Suni Davis combined for 13 of those opening-period points. Nichols poured in eight second-quarter points while Steffeck stacked up three steals in the frame. That helped the Orediggers keep the Griffins at bay as Mines carried a 43-29 lead into halftime.
 
Westminster outscored its hosts in the final two quarters, 18-17 and 13-9. Even so, Siebert and Steffeck totaled 11 points in the third frame, and Steffeck added four more in the final period to get the job done. Nichols also pulled down seven rebounds through the second half to help clinch the win. Mines' biggest run of the game was a six-point surge in the opening quarter. The Griffins scored nine unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Westminster's Maunayia Harrigfeld notched a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double and Za'kkria Robinson led all players with 14 points.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 9-5 in the all-time series against Westminster.
- The Orediggers tout a four-game win streak over the Griffins including victories in six of the last seven meetings.
- Mines hasn't lost to WU since Feb. 19, 2021.
- Suni Davis scored seven points in just nine minutes of action on Saturday night.
- Siebert moved over 100 rebounds for her career.
- Nichols' nine rebounds matched her career high for a third time. She also had nine boards in Puerto Rico in 2021, and against CSU Pueblo last season.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 205-115 in her 12th season leading Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hits the road next weekend, traveling to South Dakota Mines on Friday and Black Hills State on Saturday. 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.­­­