GOLDEN, Colo. – The #12/13-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team flexed its depth on Friday night to earn a 76-68 win against Western Colorado at Lockridge Arena.
 
Mines used 11 of its 13 active players on the roster and all 11 made positive contributions to the box score. Jenna Siebert led the Orediggers with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting while adding three rebounds and one assist. Jessica Rios poured in 12 points, going 2-of-3 from behind the three-point arc, 3-of-4 from the field, and 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. Rios also had four rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Josephine Howery made it a trio of double-digit scorers for Mines. She tallied 11 points, three assists, two steals, and one rebound. Orediggers' leading scorer Ashley Steffeck did everything else. She collected six rebounds and two steals while dishing out five assists. Also notable were Quincey Baum and Loralee Stock. Baum's resume featured seven points, six rebounds, and two assists. Stock posted nine points, one rebound, and one assist in just 13 minutes of action.
 
The Orediggers (17-2, 12-1 RMAC) had 10 players record at least two points in the win. Western Colorado (3-13, 1-10 RMAC) rode the hot hand of Rachel Cockman who finished touting 28 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Mines shot 44 percent from the field and offset WCU's 49-percent clip by sinking 10 three-pointers. The Orediggers also edged the Mountaineers on the glass and forced the visitors to commit 17 turnovers compared to 11 by the home team. Mines parlayed the defensive prowess into 24 points off turnovers while benefitting from 36 points off the bench.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
There were two ties and three lead changes during Friday's contest, and all of them came during the first half. Howery hammered home five points in the opening quarter. However, Western Colorado soured the outburst with a pull-up jumper at the buzzer to take a 19-17 lead into the second quarter. Stock started the next frame with her own 5-0 run thanks to a pair of free-throws and a three-pointer. Howery followed up with another made shot from behind the arc to push the Oredigger lead to 25-21. It was an advantage Mines would never surrender.
 
The Orediggers carried a 36-31 lead into halftime, and after the break, their defense turned the WCU offense into something representing sauerkraut. Mines held the Mountaineers scoreless for the first four minutes of the third quarter and exploded for 20 points in the frame. Rios' six points on 2-for-2, long-range shooting highlighted the charge. In the fourth quarter, WCU's offense bounced back, but Rios tallied six more points and Siebert poured in 10 more as the Orediggers closed out their third straight win and 15th victory in their last 16 outings.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 33-38 in the all-time series against Western Colorado including eight straight wins.
- The Orediggers haven't lost to the Mountaineers 2020. They also defeated WCU earlier this season in Gunnison, Colo.
- Siebert's 22 points were one shy of her career high of 23 points – scored at Black Hills State earlier this season.
- With six points on Friday night, Shelby Nichols surpassed 400 points for her career.
- Stock now boasts exactly 100 collegiate assists.
- Siebert recorded a career high by draining nine field goals against WCU.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 215-116 in her 12th season leading Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines heads to Fort Lewis next Friday and Adams State on Saturday. 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.­­­