GOLDEN, Colo. – The #12-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball suffered a 57-52 upset on Friday night at the hands of Colorado Mesa inside a packed Lockridge Arena.
 
The loss came despite the Orediggers boasting the top two scorers in the game. Ashley Steffeck led all players with 19 points and bolstered her game resume with six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks. Megan Van de Graaf overcame foul trouble to score 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting. She had seven rebounds and one assist as well. Sammy Van Sickle proved valuable thanks to eight rebounds, five points, four steals, four assists, and two blocks.  
 
Mines (19-4, 15-3 RMAC) was held to 28-percent shooting from the floor including a 24-percent mark from three-point range, and a 71-percent clip at the free-throw line. Colorado Mesa (9-14, 8-9 RMAC) only converted one of its 15 three-point attempts and shot just 33-percent from the floor. However, a 41-36 advantage on the glass and 28 made free throws on 34 attempts offset the inefficiencies. In comparison, the Orediggers had 10 free throws on 14 attempts and matched CMU's four blocks. The home team also racked up 10 steals that contributed to 15 Maverick turnovers.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
As with any matchup between Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa, the records were thrown out and it was a knockdown, drag-out battle. Ectothermic traits would be required to survive six ties and eight lead changes. Even though CMU scored first, Van de Graaf poured in eight first-quarter points to give Mines a 17-14 advantage after 10 minutes of play. Steffeck went 2-for-3 from behind the arc in the second quarter which sent the Orediggers to the locker room with a 31-24 lead.
 
Coming out of halftime, the Mavericks shot a scorching 80 percent from the floor in the third quarter and held Mines to 14-percent shooting in the frame. Steffeck scored eight of the Orediggers' 11 points in the period. However, the true turning point of the contest came in the final quarter. Colorado Mesa outscored the home team 21-10 and closed the game on a 13-3 run spanning the last six minutes of action.
 
NOTABLES
- Colorado School of Mines fell to 19-61 in the all-time series against Colorado Mesa, but do boast a 5-2 record over the Mavericks in the last seven meetings.
- Prior to Friday, the Orediggers had won six straight games.
- Mines' defense has only allowed one three-point basket to its opponent in two of the last three outings.
- Steffeck's 19 points put her over 300 for the season.
- Sammy Van Sickle has blocked multiple shots in eight of her last 10 games.
- Van de Graaf surpassed 500-career rebounds thanks to seven on Friday night.
- Sammy Van Sickle also took over #4 on Mines' all-time steals list. She now has 223 in her career.
- Steffeck is now alone at #14 for most three-pointers in a season in program history.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 193-111 in her 11th season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers close the home portion of their regular-season schedule next weekend, hosting Colorado Christian at 5 p.m. on Friday and Chadron State at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Live stats and free video will be offered at www.minesathletics.com. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
 
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.­­­