Box Score

 

Colorado School of Mines controls its own destiny towards the RMAC Championship, beating Western State 66-52 and benefiting from results around the league Friday night.

The Orediggers (19-5, 17-3 RMAC) took care of their business while being helped by UCCS' win over Black Hills State, meaning Mines is now tied for first with Saturday's opponent, CSU-Pueblo, as BHSU falls a game behind them. The winner of Saturday's game will clinch at least a share of the RMAC Championship.

Cassidy Budge's first career double-double paced Mines as the freshman scored 11 with a career-high 11 rebounds. Courtney Martin hit a game-high 13 points.

Mines used a decisive 15-0 run wrapped around halftime to earn the win, expanding what had been a one-point lead to a 16-point, 45-29 lead early in the third quarter. Western went 0-for-8 with four turnovers during that span as six different Orediggers hit baskets.

The Mountaineers tried to climb back in with outside shooting, but never got closer than 12 points when Taylor Long hit a three midway through the fourth quarter. Laura Tyree answered in kind, and Mines rebuilt its lead to as much as 18 in the closing minutes.

NOTABLES

• Mines will vie for a share of its first RMAC regular-season championship since 1979-80 (and first in the NCAA era) Saturday night at CSU-Pueblo. The Orediggers were picked ninth in the RMAC preseason poll.

• Now 19-5 overall, Mines has reached 19 wins for only the fourth time in program history and first since 2009-10. The program wins record, set that season, is 20.

• Martin, with 13 points, is now 39 away from 1,000 for her career.

• Mines committed a season-low seven turnovers.

• The Orediggers held a 47-37 rebounding advantage overall. After trailing Western 25-24 at halftime, they outrebounded the hosts 23-12 in the second half as their lead built.

• Mines shot 39.4 percent to Western's 32.8 percent.

• Laura Tyree dished a game-high five assists.

NEXT UP
Mines visits CSU-Pueblo Saturday night at 5 p.m.