GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines kept its postseason hopes alive, battling CSU Pueblo in a 56-46 win at Lockridge Arena.

The Orediggers (14-15, 9-9 RMAC) came into the day battling for one of the final two RMAC Tournament spots with the Thunderwolves (13-13, 9-9 RMAC), and picked up an important tiebreak by sweeping the season series from CSUP.

Sofia Baldessari turned in a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double - her fifth in a row - and Jenna Shandy poured in 16 points. Mines took advantage of a dismal shooting game by CSU Pueblo, outrebounding the visitors 49-25 as the Thunderwolves shot 24 percent overall and 5-of-31 (16.1%) for three. 

Mines, meanwhile, was 10-of-20 for three, pulling away in the second half thanks to the long ball led by four from Shandy.

The Orediggers went wire to wire, scoring the first seven points of the game on the way to an early 10-2 lead. CSU Pueblo managed only 16 first-half points, and Mines did enough offensively to take a 28-16 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, the Thunderwolves' full-court press began to pay dividends as mistakes piled up for Mines. CSUP cut the deficit to single-digits early in the period and held it around nine until the start of the fourth, when a pair of Seneya Martinez free throws combined with her three-pointer to get them as close as they'd be, 44-37, with 8:37 remaining in the game.

Mines responded with a period of shutdown defense, holding the Pack scoreless over the next three minutes while getting four points from Baldessari and another three from Shandy, and Shandy buried a dagger three-pointer to put Mines ahead 15 with 4:57 left. CSUP was held to only two field goals in the final four minutes, with a late Sophia Baal layup sealing the win.

NOTABLES
- Baldessari produced her eighth double-double of the season and fifth in a row dating back to the Westminster game on Feb. 7. Over her last five games, Baldessari is averaging 26 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. 
- The Thunderwolves' press helped produce 29 Mines turnovers, and 18 of their 46 points came off giveaways. 
- Baal added 10 points and eight rebounds, while Emma Sixta had eight points and five boards and Olivia Campbell grabbed eight rebounds with six points.
- All eight Mines players to hit the floor had at least one assist as the Orediggers helped on 15 of 21 made baskets.
- Laci Roffle led CSUP off the bench with 10 points.
- Mines also defeated CSU Pueblo 73-70 on the road earlier this season.
- The win moves Mines into seventh place in the RMAC, tied with CSU Pueblo and Fort Lewis but holding the head-to-head tiebreaker against CSUP but having lost to FLC. Those two teams still have to play each other next week, however.

WHAT'S AHEAD
Mines finishes their home slate hosting Regis on Tuesday night before visiting MSU Denver Thursday to complete the regular season.