CHADRON, Neb. – Colorado School of Mines women's basketball twice cut a 21-point deficit to five midway through the second half, but could not complete the comeback attempt as Chadron State took the home win, 68-59, Saturday at Armstrong Gymnasium.

Following back-to-back jumpers by Kattie Ranta that extended the Chadron State (1-6, 1-2 RMAC) halftime lead to 42-21 1:17 in the second, Mines answered with a 20-4 run to close within five, 44-39, with 12:23 to play.

Seniors Courtney Gallo and Tory Langas combined for 14 points during the rally with Gallo scoring eight straight, including two of her career-best tying five three-pointers in a 2:04 span.

The Eagles gradually built the lead back to double digits and then closed out the final 3:20 with 10-of-12 shooting at the line.

Gallo had 16 of her game- and career-high 23 points in the second 20:00, finishing 7-of-20 overall and 4-of-4 on free throws. Sixth in the RMAC in three-point field goals (17), Gallo tied Marissa Eichhorn (1998-02) for fourth on the Mines career list at 103 with her second game of five threes this season.

The Orediggers (2-5, 1-2 RMAC) connected on two more field goals and were plus-six in perimeter scoring, shooting 22-of-69 (.319) and 7-of-22 (.318) from three.

Senior Allie Grazulis reached double figure rebounds for the third time in four games with 11 and junior Sam Rusk added a collegiate-best 10 to go with six points and three assists.

Ranta paced the Eagles with 22 points and game-high 14 rebounds, while Kayli Rageth had 18.

CSC shot 32.8 percent (20-of-61) overall and 23.8 percent (5-of-21) outside the arc, but held a 15-point advantage at the stripe, converting 23-of-31 (.742).

The women wrap up the weekend road trip at 2 p.m. Sunday against Black Hills State at the Donald E. Young Center in Spearfish, S.D.