SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team suffered its first loss in over three weeks on Friday night as it dropped a 64-51 decision to Black Hills State inside the Young Center.
 
Nicole Archambeau tied for the game high with 17 points and led all players with nine rebounds. Archambeau also notched two assists in the loss as she played all 40 minutes. Anna Kollmorgen joined her teammate in double digits with 10 points of her own. Defensively, Sammy Van Sickle and Raven Herrera combined for four blocks and three steals.
 
Mines (16-9, 13-7 RMAC) only allowed five Yellow Jackets to score more than one point in the game. However, Black Hills State (15-9, 11-9 RMAC) held the Orediggers to 12-percent shooting from three-point range. Mines once again out-rebounded its opponent, pulling down 46 boards to BHSU's 39. Thanks to some help around the league, the Orediggers remain in third place in the RMAC standings – tied with MSU Denver and CSU-Pueblo.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
It quickly became clear that Friday's matchup was going to be an outright battle. The contest featured seven ties and five lead changes along with multiple runs. Black Hills State struck with the first run in the opening quarter with an 11-0 surge that put the Yellow Jackets ahead 18-9 after 10 minutes of play. But Mines would strike back with a run of its own in the second period. The Orediggers ran off a 13-2 run and held the home team scoreless for more than eight minutes. Archambeau nailed a jumper at the buzzer to tie the game at halftime, 22-22.
 
The third quarter was the first 20 minutes of play all mashed into one period. It ended with Mines clinging to a one-point lead after the Orediggers outscored BHSU 14-13. However, the fourth quarter proved to be the turning point as Black Hills State busted off a 12-0 run and more to find its biggest lead of the game. Mines finished the period with 15 points but only managed six through the first five minutes. The Yellow Jackets found their biggest lead of the game in the final seconds on their way to victory.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 5-6 in the all-time series against Black Hills State.
- Archambeau finished Friday's game 7-of-12 from the floor.
- Cassidy Budge grabbed four offensive rebounds in the loss.
- Archambeau has scored nearly 40 points in her last two games.
- Mines did not hit its first three-point shot until the fourth quarter at BHSU.
- The Orediggers are one win away from clinching a berth in the 2019 RMAC Tournament.
- Head coach Brittany Simpson is 111-86 in seven years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines faces South Dakota Mines Saturday afternoon in Rapid City at 3:30 p.m. Live stats and video of the game will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.