Mines (10-6, 7-4 RMAC) vs. MSU Denver (7-10, 6-5 RMAC) – Friday, 6 p.m. – Lockridge Arena [Live Stats] [Live Video]
Mines (10-6, 7-4 RMAC) vs. Chadron State (4-16, 2-9 RMAC) – Saturday, 5 p.m. – Lockridge Arena [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 
GAME DAY INFO
New in 2019-20, fans can purchase digital tickets online in advance via Mines' new ticketing portal, or buy them at the gate on game day. Ticket pricing remains the same as 2018-19 at $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, military, and children. Mines students, faculty, and staff are free with their Blaster Card. No pets (except service animals) are permitted inside Lockridge Arena.
 
ON THE RMAC NETWORK
Every Mines home game and all RMAC contests can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC".
 
BRING ON THE BIRDS
This weekend, the Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team begins a four-game home stand as the Orediggers host the Roadrunners of MSU Denver on Friday and the Eagles of Chadron State on Saturday. Mines rides into the weekend touting back-to-back wins and sits just four games out of first place in the RMAC standings. Both bird-themed opponents carry an overall record under .500. However, MSU Denver and Chadron State both boast strong histories against the Orediggers and two losses could drop Mines right out of the RMAC Tournament field. Every team in the conference still has a mathematical shot at the league's postseason which sets the stage for a weekend of exciting showdowns.
 
LAST WEEKEND
Last Friday and Saturday, Mines completed a 2-0, undefeated road trip to South Dakota. The Orediggers were one of five teams in the RMAC to post a perfect mark for the weekend after taking down South Dakota Mines on Friday and Black Hills State on Saturday. Mines' 77-75 victory in Rapid City required overtime along with 28 points from Denali Pinto and 12 rebounds from Sammy Van Sickle. Megan Van de Graaf and Liz Holter also notched career-high scoring numbers with 14 points and 12 points, respectively. Saturday night proved all Orediggers as the visitors rolled to a 64-53 victory over Black Hills State. Holter and Pinto matched each other with 19 points apiece. Holter also added six assists. Courtney Stanton and Ashley Steffeck combined for 23 points and Van Sickle pulled down 14 more rebounds.
 
SCOUTING MSU DENVER
Despite an overall mark of 7-10, MSU Denver is 6-5 in the RMAC after going 2-0 as well last weekend. The Roadrunners' pair of victories came at New Mexico Highlands and at CSU-Pueblo. Additionally, MSU Denver's schedule appears front loaded with the likes of Colorado Mesa, Western Colorado, Fort Lewis, Dixie State and Wesminster all dealing the Roadrunners losses. Bree Wellington is the team's leading scorer at exactly 10.0 points per game. She shoots 48 percent from the floor and has just five attempts from long range this season. Jaela Richardson leads on the glass with 101 rebounds at 5.9 boards per game. She also boasts 18 blocks in 17 games. Jaiden Galloway dishes out 4.3 assists per game and racks up 2.4 steals per game. As a team, MSU Denver averages 60.0 points per game and gives up 63.4 to the opposition.
 
ROADRUNNER FACTS
Roadrunners, along with being MSU Denver's nickname, are members of the cuckoo family. They are found chiefly in arid country which fits the Denver climate. Despite being considered a bird, Roadrunners are unable to stay airborne for more than a few minutes due to their short wings. The bird can run up to about 17 miles per hour thanks to the unique x-shaped footprint they bear. Roadrunners also have the ability to lower their own body temperatures by going into torpor at nighttime.
 
SCOUTING CHADRON STATE
Chadron State only has four wins on the season and just two victories in conference play. One of those league wins came last weekend on the road at New Mexico Highlands. The Eagles took down the Cowgirls by a score of 72-65 to snap a seven-game losing streak. Chadron State's other win in the RMAC came at home over Regis on opening weekend. Overall, CSC's scoring margin is -12.5 through 20 games in the 2019-20 season. Taryn Foxen and Jori Peters and the main ladies to watch. Foxen leads the Eagles with 14.2 points per game while Peters dishes out over 4.0 assists per game along with 9.3 points per game. On the boards, it's Jordan Morris and Melisa Kadic with 5.3 and 5.1 rebounds per game, respectively.
 
THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT EAGLES
The nickname for Chadron State's athletics teams is the Eagles. Most commonly known as America's national bird, the Eagle is a large bird of prey with a massive hooked bill and long broad wings, boasting excellent eyesight and powerful soaring flight. At the top of the food chain, some eagle species feed on prey as big as monkeys as sloths and are able to detect their target up to two miles away. There are nearly 60 species of eagles worldwide but just 14 found in North, Central and South America. Eagles wingspans are about 1.8 meters or nearly six feet. With such a large body, eagle's nests can be quite large with the biggest being 13 feet deep, eight feet wide and over 1 ton in weight. And now you know.
 
LOCKRIDGE ARENA
Fondly referred to as "The Lock", Mines' home court for volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball features seating for 3,000 at Oredigger home athletics events. The venue has also twice hosted the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball South Central Regional Tournament. Additionally, Lockridge Arena hosts numerous major campus events and has been graced by the presence of Barack Obama, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye and many others.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The ongoing series between Mines and MSU Denver enters its sixth decade this weekend as the two teams meet for the 80th time. While the Orediggers trail the all-time series 25-54, they are 5-3 over the last eight. That mark includes a 69-63 win for Mines last season inside Lockridge Arena. While Cassidy Budge (19') played the hero with 22 points, Denali Pinto also added 18 points and three assists. The series with Chadron State is only five decades old and features 62 meetings. Mines also trails this series, 28-34, but boasts a record of 8-2 over the last 10. Most recently, the Orediggers earned a dominant, 81-52 win over CSC inside Lockridge Arena. Pinto led all players with 16 points, four steals and three assists. Additionally, Megan Van de Graaf pulled down 12 rebounds.
 
RMAC RUNDOWN
As previously mentioned, the RMAC standings are compact to say the least. Colorado Mesa leads the way at 11-0 with Westminster and Western Colorado right behind at 10-1 and 9-2. Interestingly, CMU plays the Griffins two more times this season with another game at Western Colorado. Right below the top three teams is a four-way tie for fourth place featuring Mines, Dixie State, Fort Lewis and Black Hills State. MSU Denver sits eighth at 6-5 in the league, holding onto the last berth in the RMAC tournament. That being said, Regis and Colorado Christian are right there at 5-6. Eleven games remain in the regular season. The top eight advance to the conference tournament. Only five games make the difference between hosting a quarterfinal contest and finishing #15 in the league.
 
BACK TO BASICS
Among the many things basketball coaches rant and rave about, ball security and free throws near the top of the list. Fortunately, Mines does both of those things well. According to the NCAA's national statistics database, the Orediggers rank #10 in the nation in free-throw percentage, #17 in total turnovers and #22 in turnovers per game. Individually, Denali Pinto leads the surge at the free-throw line. She's #7 in NCAA Division II in free throws made, #15 in free-throw attempts and #17 in free-throw percentage. It just so happens that Pinto also ranks top-30 in the nation in scoring average as she leads the RMAC with 19.4 points per game.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines continues its home stand next weekend with CSU-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands coming to Lockridge Arena. Live stats and video of the games 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.