GOLDEN, Colo. – Oredigger guard Ashley Steffeck scored 35 points on Saturday night as the #6/7-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team ground out a 77-68 win against UCCS at Lockridge Arena.
 
Steffeck finished 3-for-5 from three-point range, 9-of-18 from the field, and 14-of-14 at the free-throw line on the way to the second-most points by an Oredigger in program history. She also added four rebounds, three steals, and three assists. Jessica Rios scored in double digits as well, tallying 10 points thanks to a pair of three-pointers. Also notable were Shelby Nichols' four steals in the post and Quincey Baum's five assists off the bench. Emma Sixta produced seven points, six rebounds, and one steal. One block apiece by Audrey Beaty and Josephine Howery rounded out the highlights.
 
The Orediggers (15-2, 10-1 RMAC) converted over 45 percent of their shots from the field and poured in seven three-pointers. That production helped offset 18 turnovers forced the UCCS (11-7, 8-4 RMAC) defense. The Mountain Lions were stung by a 19-of-30 mark at the free-throw line, but Mines' 35-27 victory on the glass proved to be the key. Those rebounds led to 12 second-chance points. The Oredigger defense also limited UCCS to 3-of-10 shooting from behind the arc. With the win, Mines remains #1 in the RMAC standings while the Mountain Lions drop from their spot at #3.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In 40 minutes of game action on Saturday night, there were only three ties and four lead changes, but it was an outright battle between Mines and UCCS from start to finish. The Orediggers led the entire first quarter thanks to 11 points off the hand of Steffeck, but their biggest lead was only six points as the Mountain Lions forced six turnovers. As the scoreboard changed from the first quarter to the second quarter, Mines maintained a 22-17 advantage. An advantage that was short lived.
 
The visitors' defense did not allow a single Mines point for the first 3:30 of the second period. Meanwhile, the UCCS offense tallied six unanswered points as part of an 11-2 surge to take a 28-24 lead. The Orediggers clawed back to tie the score at 28 and 30 thanks to Steffeck and Beaty. Then, Rios hit a three and a second-chance layup for her own personal 5-0 run, giving the home team a 35-30 lead at halftime. Mines never trailed after that, but it took three assists from Baum in the third quarter and two steals by Nichols in the fourth quarter to keep UCCS at arm's reach. Those contributions underscored 18 second-half points from Steffeck on the way to victory.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines evened the all-time series with UCCS at 23.
- The Orediggers are 7-3 over their last 10 games against the Mountain Lions.
- Mines hasn't lost to UCCS in Golden, Colo., since 2017.
- Steffeck's 35 points are the second-most by an Oredigger in program history. Taylor Helbig and Denali Pinto each had 38-point games in their respective careers. Laura Marshall also scored 35 points against Western Colorado during the 1989-90 season.
- Steffeck now boasts three 30-point games in her career. She also surged to #3 on Mines' all-time scoring list, moving past Emily Dalton (1,403, 2006-10) and Angie Charchalis (1,414, 2008-13).
- Last point on Steffeck. She has surged to #5 in the Oredigger record book for free throws made in a season with 112 through 17 games.
- Baum set a single-game, career high with her five assists and Nichols' four steals matched her career best.
- Sixta also matched her single-game best with six rebounds. She also had six against St. Edward's on opening weekend.
- Saturday marked the final night of Alumni Weekend and Head Coach Brittany Simpson was recognized at halftime of the men's game for the 200th win of her career.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 213-116 in her 12th season leading Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts MSU Denver on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Live stats and free video on the RMAC Network will also be linked 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.­­­