GOLDEN, Colo. – Thirty points in the second quarter on Saturday pushed the #8/9-ranked Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team to its 10th straight win in an 80-73 victory against Colorado Christian at Lockridge Arena.
Ashley Steffeck was the star for the Orediggers, stuffing nearly every category in the box score. She tallied 15 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and five steals with only one turnover.
Shelby Nichols scored 12 points, pulled down six rebounds, and dished out three assists.
Jenna Siebert had 11 points on 80-percent shooting.
Emma Sixta made it a quartet scoring in double digits for Mines thanks to 10 points. Siebert and
Audrey Beaty each blocked one shot. Siebert and Howery dished out three assists apiece.
The Orediggers (12-1, 7-0 RMAC) won the turnover battle by a 15-19 margin after recording 10 steals as a team. Colorado Christian (8-5, 4-3 RMAC) kept it close with 19 trips to the free throw line. The Cougars also kept it close on the boards as they pulled down 36 rebounds compared to 38 rebounds for the home team. Mines found its most benefit from 28 points off the bench and 24 points off turnovers. The Orediggers scored 13 points on fast breaks as well. Colorado Christian's Maggie Hutka led all players by scoring 31 points in 38 minutes of action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Early rust from a three-week break put Mines in an early deficit. After the Orediggers' took nearly four minutes to score their first points, they found themselves staring at a 10-2 deficit. Colorado Christian's 50-percent shooting from the floor helped the Cougars keep a 20-12 lead after the first quarter. However, CCU's efficiency did not carry into the second quarter and Mines caught fire going into the second frame. The Orediggers opened the period on an 18-0 run which fueled a 30-13 quarter including a lead as big as 14 points. Sixta's seven points and Siebert's six points led the charge and Mines headed to the locker room at halftime touting a 42-33 advantage.
Right after the break, it seemed the Orediggers would put the game away for good. They went on an 8-0 run with
Loralee Stock, Nichols, Howery, and Steffeck all contributing. That pushed Mines' lead to 15, but the Cougars ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to keep things interesting at 62-56. Colorado Christian pulled within one point in the first minute of the final period and stayed within 10 points for most of the quarter. However, 11 points from Steffeck and six off the hand of Nichols kept the visitors at arm's reach and the Orediggers closed out the 80-73 victory.
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 40-23 in the all-time series against Colorado Christian.
- The Orediggers have taken nine straight games off the Cougars.
- Mines hasn't lost to CCU since Feb. 11, 2017.
- The Orediggers are 12-1 in their last 13 meetings with Colorado Christian.
- Steffeck's eight assists on Saturday tied her for #2 on Mines' all-time list. She matched former teammate
Sammy Van Sickle (2018-23) with 351 in their respective careers.
- Steffeck needs 47 assists to break Laura Tyree's (2013-17) program record of 398.
- The graduate student also matched her single-game best with the eight dimes.
- Howery moved over 200 rebounds for her career on Saturday afternoon and Nichols surpassed 300 career boards.
- Mines' 10 straight wins give the Orediggers the longest, active winning streak in the entire Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
- Head Coach
Brittany Simpson is 210-115 in her 12th season leading Mines.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hits the road next weekend, heading to CSU Pueblo on Friday and New Mexico Highlands on Saturday. Live stats and video of both games will be offered at www.minesathletics.com.
Fans can keep up with Mines women's basketball on "X" (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @MinesWBB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
