GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team fell to #12-ranked Fort Hays State on Saturday by a score of 59-46.
The Orediggers still found quality performances in the loss.
Emma Sixta was first on the team and second in the game with 17 points. She also had six rebounds and two assists.
Lindsey Jones, a true freshman, came up with 11 points, five rebounds, and one assist.
Jenna Siebert's three steals led all players and she notched six points, two rebounds, and two assists compared to zero turnovers as well. Also notable were nine rebounds and two blocks by
Josephine Howery.
Mines (2-5) limited Fort Hays State's (7-0) leading scorer Olivia Hollenbeck (19+ ppg) to just six points. The Orediggers also held FHSU under 40-percent shooting from the field and forced 14 turnovers. However, Mines had nine of its shots blocked and only converted at a 26-percent clip on offense. That mark included just four three-pointers on 24 attempts. Neither team impressed at the free-throw line either. The Orediggers were 8-13 at the charity stripe and the Tigers went 9-of-15.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The home team never led the contest and there was only one tie in 40 minutes of action on Saturday afternoon inside Lockridge Arena. The tie came at 5-5 thanks to Howery's make from behind the arc. After that, Fort Hays State pulled away in what proved to be a defensive battle. That theme came front and center in the second quarter when FHSU scored just 10 points while limiting the Orediggers to six points. The third quarter was Mines' best period of the night. Sixta accounted for seven of the home team's 15 points, but the Orediggers still trailed by 11 with 10 minutes to play. Six fourth-quarter points off the hand of Jones and five from Sixta were eventually academic. The Tigers made key baskets in the paint in the closing minutes to hold of a Mines rally.
NOTABLES
- Mines fell to 5-32 in the all-time series with Fort Hays State, a former member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
- Howery's nine rebounds on Saturday afternoon marked a career high for the graduate student. She now boasts 300 during her time at Mines.
- Nearly all of Jones' scoring numbers were collegiate bests as well.
- Sixta matched her career best on the glass after pulling down six rebounds. She also had six boards against St. Edward's and UCCS last season.
- After two games over the weekend,
Audrey Beaty surpassed 200 rebounds for her collegiate career.
- Mines Head Coach
Brittany Simpson is now 221-128 in her 13th season at the helm.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers open RMAC play on the road next week, playing at Adams State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and at New Mexico Highlands on Saturday at 1 p.m. Both contests will have free live video on the RMAC Network and live stats linked at www.minesathletics.com.
Fans can keep up with Mines women's basketball on "X" (formerly Twitter), Facebook, 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.
