GOLDEN, Colo. – Senior Night for the #18 Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team was a great success as the Orediggers defeated Chadron State by a score of 100-62.
 
The senior trio of Megan Van de Graaf, Ashley Van Sickle and Sammy Van Sickle led the charge. Van de Graaf finished with 19 points on 72-percent shooting while adding three rebounds and one assist. Ashley Van Sickle chipped in eight points, dished out five assists, grabbed two rebounds, notched two steals and blocked one shot. Sammy Van Sickle turned in a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double. She also blocked five shots, tallied four assists and racked up three steals. Josephine Howery and Jenna Siebert scored in double digits as well, touting 11 points and 14 points, respectively. Howery bolstered her resume with four assists and four steals. Ashley Steffeck capped the highlights with nine points, seven assists, three steals and three rebounds.
 
With the win, Mines (21-4, 17-3 RMAC) stayed tied with Regis for #1 in the RMAC standings. The loss was the sixth straight for Chadron State (4-22, 4-16 RMAC). The Orediggers worked their large margin of victory behind efficient shooting and suffocating defense. Mines shot 50 percent from the floor and over 45 percent from three-point range while forcing 18 turnovers by the Eagles resulting in 32 points. The Orediggers finished the game boasting 14 steals while only committing 10 turnovers. The home team also found 42 points off the bench.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sammy Van Sickle scored the first points of the game on her Senior Night, and she did it just nine seconds into the game. Chadron State answered back 17 seconds later. That would be the only tie of the game. Steffeck drained a three-pointer at the 9:01 mark of the first quarter which provided Mines the lead for good. Sammy Van Sickle served as the mitochondria throughout the opening period, racking up seven points, six rebounds, two blocks and one assist in eight minutes on the court. Van de Graaf poured in nine of her 19 points in the first quarter as well. By the first break, the Orediggers owned a 25-13 lead. They would not look back.
 
Balanced scoring in the second quarter was led by six points apiece from Jessica Rios and Shelby Nichols. Rios scored hers on perfect 2-for-2 shooting from behind the three-point arc with one long ball fueling an 18-0 run. By halftime, every Oredigger on the roster had recorded minutes in the game and the home team touted a 54-26 lead. Not much changed coming out of the locker rooms. Despite scoring just 16 points in the third quarter, Mines extended its lead to 70-40 thanks to Siebert's three-pointer at the buzzer. She parlayed that shot into eight fourth-quarter points as she took over as mitochondria of the team. The Orediggers' biggest lead of the game was 44 and it came on a Saya Sabus three-pointer with 2:45 remaining in the contest.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines closed the gap in the all-time series with Chadron State to 33-34.
- The Orediggers have won six straight games against the Eagles and haven't lost to CSC since Jan. 26, 2019.
- Mines hasn't lost to Chadron State in Golden since Jan. 27, 2012.
- Saturday's 100-point outburst marked the Orediggers' first triple-digit game since defeating New Mexico Highlands, 108-29 on Jan. 26, 2022.
- Mines boasts at least one 100-point game in three of the last four seasons.
- Twelve different Orediggers recorded at least one field goal on Saturday night. Seven Orediggers had at least one three-pointer.
- Van de Graaf's 19 points on Saturday helped her surpass the 900-point milestone for her career.
- Loralee Stock moved over 400 points for her career thanks to four against Chadron State.
- Sammy Van Sickle has blocked multiple shots in 10 of her last 11 games.
- Sammy Van Sickle also notched her second 13-rebound outing of the season.
- Siebert tied her single-game career highs in assists (3) and in three-point baskets made (4).
- Sabus notched the first three-point basket of her young collegiate career.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 195-111 in her 11th season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines closes the 2022-23 regular season on the road next weekend with a trip to Adams State on Friday and to Fort Lewis on Saturday. Live stats and free video will 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.­­­