GOLDEN, Colo. – Sofia Baldessari had a big night for the Colorado School of Mines women's basketball team Thursday, but final the result of the Orediggers' conference opener was a 75-68 loss at the hands of Adams State.
 
Baldessari's game resume featured a game-high 24 points on 56-percent shooting with eight rebounds and two steals. Jade Leon provided a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double. Other double-digit scorers for the Orediggers included Jenna Shandy with 11 and Sophia Baal with 10. Shandy and Leon handed out four assists apiece and Olivia Campbell blocked two shots. Kiiyani Anitielu's 22 points paced the visitor's scoring efforts.
 
Mines (2-6, 0-1 RMAC) converted over 40 percent of its shots from the floor and outrebounded Adams State (6-3, 1-0 RMAC) by a 44-32 margin. The Grizzlies offset the Orediggers' advantages by forcing 19 turnovers while only committing seven of their own. Adams State converted those turnovers into 19 points. Those extra possessions proved enough to cancel out the Mines advantage on the glass and ASU's 19 missed three-pointers. At the free-throw line, the Orediggers went 10-of-12 and the Grizzlies were 6-of-10. One other bright spot for Mines was 22 points off the bench.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first five minutes of action on Thursday evening at Lockridge Arena saw Adams State build a 12-0 lead thanks to a pair of three-pointers and five turnovers by Mines. The Orediggers shrugged off the sluggish start and cut the deficit to six points on an Emma Sixta jumper with 14 seconds left to play in the first quarter. Leon and Baldessari finished the opening period with five points each. Baldessari stayed hot in the second quarter and poured in seven more points. That production brought the game to halftime with ASU leading, 34-27.  The Grizzlies won the third quarter, 22-18, even with Baldessari going 2-for-2 from the field with a three-pointer and two free throws on two attempts. Mines' 23 points in the final 10 minutes were courtesy of Baal, Baldessari, Leon, and Shandy. Two late free-throw misses and a Baldessari layup helped keep the final margin to single digits.
 
NOTABLES
- Baldessari's 24 points were career high for the sophomore transfer, as were her three made three-pointers.
- Three assists and two blocks for Campbell were both single-game bests for the true freshman.
- Leon matched her career high in assists after also tallying four last week against Rogers State.
- Shandy moved to #10 on Mines' all-time scoring list. She surpassed Courtney Stanton (2017-22) and now has 1,102 career points.
- Mines Head Coach Brittany Simpson is now 234-145 in her 14th season at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers hosts New Mexico Highlands Saturday at 1 p.m. Free live stats will be available, as well as live video with a subscription to the RMAC Network.
 
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.