CHADRON, Neb. – Ashley Steffeck and Loralee Stock were the stars of the show on Saturday night as the Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team earned an 83-72 at Chadron State.
 
Steffeck led all players with 33 points while adding eight rebounds, three steals, and one block. Stock poured in 17 points along with two steals and one assist. Josephine Howery came up big as well, notching seven points, seven assists, six steals, and five rebounds. Shelby Nichols rounded out the highlights by adding nine points, five rebounds, and one steal.
 
As a team, Mines (20-6, 15-5 RMAC) overcame 32-percent shooting from the floor by forcing 24 Chadron State (6-19, 4-16 RMAC) turnovers. The Eagles converted 46 percent of their shots from the floor, but only turned the Orediggers over seven times. Mines drained 34 of its 42 opportunities at the free-throw line. Chadron State was 28-of-32 at the charity stripe The home team owned a 10-point advantage on scoring in the paint, but the visitors scored 32 points off turnovers. Chadron State did benefit from 36 points off its bench
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first half was all Chadron State as the Eagles scored 17 in the first quarter and 30 more in the second quarter. After 20 minutes of game action, Mines was shooting under 30 percent from the floor while CSC had posted a 56-percent clip. However, Steffeck did notch 17 first-half points for the Orediggers and the visitors only trailed 47-36 going into the second half.
 
After the break, Mines outscored the Eagles 22-12 thanks to 10 more points from Steffeck in the third quarter alone. The Orediggers completed the comeback with a 25-13 fourth-quarter margin. In the last 10 minutes, Steffeck scored six and dished out four assists, Nichols tallied nine points, and Stock added four points. Mines went from trailing by 14 in the second quarter to leading by 11 in the fourth quarter. Steffeck, Howery, and Jessica Rios guided a 7-1, Oredigger run down the stretch to clinch the win.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines knotted the all-time series with Chadron State at 34.
- The Orediggers have won seven straight meetings with the Eagles.
- Mines hasn't lost to Chadron State since Jan. 26, 2019.
- Steffeck now holds the program records for made free throws in career and in a season. She touts 174 in 2023-24 alone and 427 for her career. Both records drop Denali Pinto (2018-22) to #2.
- Steffeck is also the second player – ever- in program history to score over 1,600 career points and over 500 points in a single season.
- Stock's 17 points on Saturday marked a career high.
- Howery established a single-game high with her six steals at Chadron State.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers host Adams State next Friday and Fort Lewis next Saturday. Senior Night will be celebrated on Friday night. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Live stats and free video is available at www.minesathletics.com and on social media.
 
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.­­­