SALT LAKE CITY - Westminster held off Colorado School of Mines in an overtime thriller, closing 2017 with a 68-66 decision on the road.

The Orediggers (8-5, 5-2 RMAC) erased a five-point deficit in the final minute of regulation as Cassidy Budge hit a huge three-pointer and Nicole Archambeau tied it with a layup with 1.8 seconds remaining to force overtime.

Emily Bailey drained 20 points, while Archambeau notched her fifth double-double of the season at 15 points and 12 rebounds. Budge ended with 10 points - all in the second half - while Anna Kollmorgen dished eight assists with nine rebounds. Mines shot 34.2 percent for the game to Westminster's 33.8 percent; the difference came at the line where WC was 16-of-26 and Mines 8-of-15.

The Griffins (5-6, 4-3 RMAC) had only four points off the bench as their starting five each hit double-digit scoring led by Max Shelley's 15. 

Mines had trailed the entire second half after Westminster took control of the game with an 8-0 second quarter run. The Orediggers were down as much as 10 in the fourth quarter when Denise Gonzelez hit a three-pointer at the 5:22 mark, but Mines stayed resilient and chipped away to make it a 56-54 game on Anna Kollmorgen's three-pointer with 47 seconds left.

Hunter Krebs made a bucket to lead 58-54 with 16 seconds left, and she stole the inbounds pass to seemingly seal the win for the Griffins. WC called timeout and then turned it over themselves on a five-second call, allowing Budge to find a quick three-pointer. Gonzalez then made one of two free throws off the intentional foul, and Archambeau sank the last-second layup to force the extra period.

Unfortunately for Mines, it was all Griffins in the extra frame as they started off on a 5-0 run and held the Orediggers without a field goal until Emily Bailey's three-point play with 1:38 left cut it to 67-64. Sydnee Taylor made one of two free throws before Bailey hit another bucket with 55 ticks left, but neither team would score against as Taylor missed a chance for WC and Bailey's well-defended inside look just before the buzzer rang off the back iron. 

The Orediggers will open 2018 as they ended 2017 as Westminster makes the return trip to Lockridge Arena on Jan. 6 at 1 p.m.