GOLDEN, Colo. – Oredigger redshirt junior Jenna Siebert turned in a big second half on Thursday night to help Mines take a 71-63 win off MSU Denver at Lockridge Arena.
 
Siebert led all scorers with 31 points. She finished 5-for-10 from three-point range, 11-of-22 from the floor, and went 4-for-5 at the free-throw line. The Colorado native also added six steals, five rebounds, and one assist. Emma Sixta came up big with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. Josephine Howery dished out six assists, grabbed six rebounds, scored four points, blocked two shots, and notched one steal. Also notable for Mines were Audrey Beaty's 10 rebounds, Peyton Freiermuth's four assists, and nine points off the hand of Jade Leon. Mikylah Espinosa scored 20 points for the Roadrunners.
 
Mines (6-11, 4-5 RMAC) earned the win behind 41-percent shooting from the floor, 16 assists, and 16 second-chance points. The later came off a 42-36 advantage on the glass. MSU Denver (6-12, 5-5 RMAC) was doomed by a final shooting percentage of 35 percent. The Oredigger defense also forced the Roadrunners into 17 turnovers. Both teams were dead even from long range and MSU Denver was more efficient from the charity stripe. With the win, Mines halted the Roadrunners modest, three-game win streak.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
A total of 14 turnovers in the first quarter alone set the tone for a relatively unremarkable first half. Siebert scored seven of her points during the first frame, but the game remained tied at 13 going into the second quarter. MSU Denver used a 9-0 run to build a 12-point cushion. However, Mines closed the half on an 8-0 thanks to back-to-back buckets by Olivia Lee. That narrowed the visitors' lead to 31-27 at halftime. After the break, the Orediggers' surge continued out to 12-2. For just over three minutes of action, Mines' deficit hovered around four points. Then, Siebert completely took over the game.
 
Starting at the 5:38 mark of the third quarter, Siebert put together an 8-0 run for the home team – all by herself. She built the surge on a floater in the lane sandwiched by two three-pointers. Her second three-pointer of the run gave the Orediggers a 43-40 lead. The Roadrunners stemmed the tide with their own three-pointer, but Sixta answered back with a timely bucket from downtown. At 46-43, Mines had found the lead for good, but Siebert wasn't done. She closed the third quarter by scoring seven more points, giving her 17 in the period alone. With 10 minutes left to play, the Orediggers owned a 53-45 lead.
 
If the home advantage was ever in question, Leon removed all doubt to start the fourth quarter. She exploded for seven points in a span of 64 seconds, and pushed Mines' advantage to 60-46. There was plenty of basketball left to play, and the Roadrunners attempted to battle back, pouring in 18 points. But the Orediggers matched the scoring and closed out the win with a 55-percent clip from the floor through the final frame. MSU Denver's comeback effort was hampered by 33-percent shooting in the fourth.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 34-55 in the all-time series against MSU Denver.
- The Orediggers take six straight from the Roadrunners.
- Thursday's margin of victory was notable since three of the four previous meetings were decided by a total of five points.
- Siebert notched her third game of 30 points or more.
- The only players in program history with more games of 30 points or more are Denali Pinto and Ashley Steffeck.
- Siebert's six steals against MSU Denver were a career high.
- Additionally, Siebert took over #11 on Mines' all-time list for made three-pointers. She now has 106 in her career, moving past Marissa Eichorn who tallied 103 from 1998-02.
- Olivia Lee had her best game as an Oredigger to date with four points and four rebounds on 50-percent shooting in six minutes of action.
- Lee also surpassed 400 rebounds for her career which includes stops at Western New Mexico and Cal State Santa Barbara.
- Sixta's seven made free throws were a collegiate best as well.
- Oredigger Head Coach Brittany Simpson is now 225-134 in her 13th season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines plays at Regis on Saturday at 1 p.m. Live stats and free video on the RMAC Network will be offered 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.