#9/10 Mines (17-2, 12-1 RMAC) at Fort Lewis (11-8, 8-5 RMAC) – Friday, 5 p.m. – Durango, Colo. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
#9/10 Mines (17-2, 12-1 RMAC) at Adams State (14-6, 9-3 RMAC) – Saturday, 5:30 p.m. – Alamosa, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST
It's not the international music festival in Austin, Texas, but it is a scenic road trip to Durango, Colo., and back across Wilkerson Pass to Alamosa, Colo. The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team will make that trip this weekend to play Fort Lewis on Friday at 5 p.m. and Adams State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. It marks the Orediggers' first road trip since Jan. 12-13. They have won three straight and 15 of their last 16, and will need to keep it rolling to stay atop the conference standings.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Free live statistics of both games will be offered through the links above and at www.minesathletics.com. It's important to note that Friday's contest will not be on the RMAC Network, but can be found streaming on Fort Lewis' YouTube channel. Saturday's showdown will be back on the RMAC Network which can be loaded on your phone or downloaded on any smart TV/live streaming device by searching RMAC.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Mines took the court last Tuesday and Friday, and posted a 2-0 record for its efforts. On Tuesday, the Orediggers earned a 65-62 win over MSU Denver at Lockridge Arena. Ashley Steffeck recorded a 23-points, 12-rebound double-double, but it was Jenna Siebert hitting the game-winning shot in the final seconds on a 10-point night for her. Friday saw Siebert strike again. She poured in 22 points on the way to a 76-68 home win against Western Colorado. Jessica Rios scored 12 points and Josephine Howery added 11 points as well.
 
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Colorado School of Mines moved up the latest national rankings released earlier this week. The Orediggers improved to #9 in the WBCA NCAA Division II Top-25 Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll. They also rose to #10 in the D2CSC Women's Basketball Division II Media Poll. The rankings mark an improvement after Mines dipped to #12/13 the previous week. No other teams from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference are currently ranked. Regis is receiving votes in the media poll.
 
RMAC RACE
Nine games remain in the 2023-24 regular season and the same number of games remain in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play for Colorado School of Mines. While that's still a lot of basketball, the conference standings are starting to take shape – kind of. Only three games separate the top six teams in the league. The Orediggers (12-1) are alone at #1 and Regis is alone at #2 (11-2) for the time being. Right behind are #3 Colorado Mesa (10-3), #4 Adams State (9-3), #5 UCCS (10-4), and #6 Black Hills State (9-4). Fort Lewis is nipping at everyone's heals with an 8-5 mark. Colorado Christian, CSU Pueblo, and South Dakota Mines are all fighting for the coveted #8 spot which would signify a ticket to the RMAC tournament. All but out of the race for the postseason are Chadron State, New Mexico Highlands, MSU Denver, Western Colorado, and Westminster.
 
SCOUTING FORT LEWIS
After three straight seasons without a winning record, Fort Lewis has returned as a contender in the RMAC. Third-year head coach Taylor Harris has the Skyhawks at 11-8 (8-5 RMAC) and in the race for a postseason berth. Three straight losses to start the season did not bode well, but a 5-1 start to conference play positioned FLC well. That being said, Fort Lewis is 3-4 over its past seven games. Last weekend, the Skyhawks dropped an 87-71 decision at Colorado Mesa before bouncing back, 71-50, at Westminster. As a team, FLC generates turnovers and makes its free throws. The Skyhawks are #1 in the nation in free throws per game, and #11 in the nation in steals per game. Lanae Billy fuels the production with 16.3 points, 3.1 steals, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Teammate Kelsey Sorenson does her part with 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 assists per night. Kate Gallery and Lilly Pepper are both teasing a double-digit scoring average. Also notable are Sydney Bevington's 8.7 rebounds per contest. Fort Lewis averages nearly 67 points per game and holds its opponents to 62 per night.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE SKYHAWKS
Mines trails the all-time series against Fort Lewis, 25-37, but the Orediggers have taken six straight from the Skyhawks. Last season, Mines swept FLC thanks to a 74-45 win at home before a 78-75 nailbiter on Senior Night in Durango. The later meeting featured 25 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists from Ashley Steffeck. In Golden, Steffeck tallied five steals, four assists, seven rebounds, and 12 points. The last time Fort Lewis defeated Mines was a 64-55 margin on Jan. 11, 2020, in Golden. The Orediggers haven't lost in Durango since Feb. 17, 2017. Mines is 8-2 against the Skyhawks over the last 10 meetings.
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
Under defending RMAC Coach of the Year Mario Caetano, Adams State women's basketball has put itself in position to contend for a RMAC crown. At 14-6 (9-3 RMAC), the Grizzlies are just two games back of the Orediggers in the conference standings. They boast one of the most opportunistic defenses in the country which ranks #7 in steals per game and #5 in turnover margin. Adams State will put three straight wins on the line on Friday night against MSU Denver before hosting the Orediggers on Saturday. Those three wins came against Colorado Christian, by Chadron State forfeit, and at Westminster. Prio to the modest streak, ASU had lost three straight road games to South Dakota Mines, Regis, and UCCS. Individually, the Grizzlies get contributions from all over the roster. Harmanie Dominguez leads the team in scoring thanks to 18.0 points per game. Angelline Nageak pulls in 3.2 steals and dishes out 4.0 assists each night while adding 9.6 points per game. Riahana Davis, and Kayla Harris can't be overlooked either. Overall, Adams State ranks #3 in the RMAC in offense and #5 in scoring margin.
 
OREDIGGERS AGAINST THE GRIZZLIES
The rivalry between Mines and Adams State has ASU leading, 35-29. Last season, the Grizzlies snapped a 14-game skid against the Orediggers with a 64-60 win in Alamosa, Colo. Prior to that, Mines hadn't lost to ASU since 2012. The Orediggers did split the 2022-23 season series with Adams State thanks to an 80-69 win in Golden. While Ashley Steffeck exploded for 29 points, five assists, and four steals at home, the Grizzlies limited her and every other Oredigger at Plachy Hall. Adams State pulled off the win by forcing 26 turnovers by Mines despite the visitors winning on the glass, 33-22. Ball security and offense will likely be at a premium on Saturday night.
 
ACTIVE CAREER LEADER
Ashley Steffeck's 390 career steals remain most of any active player in NCAA basketball. That includes men and women across all three divisions. She leads the top active men's player, Jalen House out of New Mexico, by 117. The next closest women's player, Haley Meinel of Jefferson, trails Steffeck by 16 steals. The Fort Collins native is also #3 among all active NCAA Division II women's players in steals per game at 3.07. She needs nine more swipes to move into NCAA Division II's top-25, all-time steals leaders. It should be noted that steals were not considered an official NCAA Division II category until the 1992-93 season.
 
200 WINS
Mines' win against St. Edward's on opening weekend gave Mines Head Coach Brittany Simpson the 200th win of her career. It makes Simpson the only head coach in program history to reach the milestone. By default, it also makes her the fastest to 200 career wins in the history of Mines women's basketball. The milestone added to Simpson's impressive resume which saw her become the winningest coach in the history of Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball on Dec. 4, 2020, in a 68-53 win over South Dakota Mines inside Lockridge Arena. Simpson is now in her 12th season as skipper of the Orediggers.
 
BOSS LADY
Head Coach Brittany Simpson is in her 12th season leading the Mines women's basketball program. During her decade tenure, she has become the winningest coach in program history both in terms of total wins and win percentage at 215-116 (64.9). Simpson is responsible for all three of the program's RMAC titles including regular-season championships in 2015-16, 2020-21, and 2021-22. She has also led the Orediggers in four of their five trips to the NCAA tournament. Simpson is a three-time RMAC Coach of the Year who has guided 34 All-RMAC selections including 14 first-teamers, 11 second-teamers, one third-team selection and eight honorable mention performers. She has also coached one RMAC Player of the Year, two RMAC Defensive Players of the Year, and two RMAC Freshman of the Year award winners. Eight of Mines' 13 1,000-point scorers have surpassed the milestone under Simpson's watch. Last season, Ashley Steffeck became the first all-American in program history after earning Honorable Mention All-America status from the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA).
 
UP NEXT
Mines returns home next weekend to host Black Hills State on Friday and South Dakota Mines on Saturday. Friday's contest will also be the annual "Rock the Lock" event featuring tons of giveaways, food trucks, promotions, and much more. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Live coverage will also be offered 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.