GOLDEN, Colo. – Emma Sixta only missed one shot from the floor Thursday evening as the Colorado School of Mines women's basketball cruised past Chadron State, 81-55, at Lockridge Arena.
 
Sixta led all players with 22 points thanks to four three-pointers and added four rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. Sofia Baldessari stayed hot as well, scoring 20 points in 27 minutes with six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Quincey Baum touched most columns in the box score again after working eight points, five assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Other notable performances included three steals apiece by Emily Thomas and Jade Leon, while Lindsey Jones blocked two shots. Sophia Baal came off the bench to provide seven points and six rebounds. Audrey Quintana was tops for the visitors with a 14-point, seven-rebound night.
 
The Orediggers (8-8, 3-2 RMAC) extended their win streak to four and improved to 3-0 in 2026. Chadron State (0-10, 0-5 RMAC) was playing its first game since Dec. 19.  Mines shot over 47 percent from the floor including 10 three-pointers on 25 attempts. The Eagles had more rebounds than the home team, were better at the free-throw line, and blocked 10 shots. The Orediggers offset those deficits by collecting 14 steals on 27 turnovers which turned into 36 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines burst out of the gates on a 7-0 run. Jenna Shandy provided five of those points. Chadron State clapped back with an 8-0 run. With 5:52 to play in the first quarter, the score was tied at 10. A Shandy layup at the 5:32 mark halted the scoring for both teams for almost three minutes of game action. The Orediggers pieced together a 6-0 run during the final two minutes of the quarter and carried an 18-15 lead into the first break.
 
The second frame was vastly different. It started with a flurry of three-points in less than two minutes. Then, Mines went on a 20 run across the final 7:13 of the quarter. Overall, the second period was a 20-6 surge for the Orediggers. Five different Mines players contributed to the outburst including 10 points off the hand of Baldessari and eight from Sixta. Shandy also dished out three assists and Thomas recorded all three of her steals. After the intermission, Chadron State exploded for 20 points, but the home team held serve by pouring in 28 points including 11 from Sixta. A 14-9 fourth quarter for the Eagles was too little too late. Madison Gage and Thomas accounted for Mines' final four points.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines improved to 37-34 all-time against Chadron State.
- The Orediggers have won 10 straight against the Eagles.
- Mines hasn't lost to CSC in Golden since 2012.
- Baldessari is averaging 30.0 points per game across her last three outings. She surpassed 300 points for her college career and is over 200 points in an Oredigger uniform.
- Baum's last three games include 15 assists, 13 rebounds, 10 steals, and five blocks.
- Jones had her first-ever multi-block game. She has three blocks in her last two games and touts exactly 100 points for her career.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is now 240-147 in her 14th season leading the Orediggers.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines plays South Dakota Mines on Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. Live video will be available with a subscription to the RMAC Network and there will be free live stats 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.