GUNNISON, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team continued its RMAC road trip Friday with a 64-36 loss to Western Colorado inside Paul Wright Gym.
 
Denali Pinto led Mines with seven points including a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. The true freshman also recorded one block. Defensively, Anna Kollmorgen led all players with four steals as she also grabbed five rebounds and scored five points. Nicole Archambeau was tops for the Orediggers with six rebounds and Madelene McDonald dished out three assists.
 
With the loss, Mines (3-4, 0-2 RMAC) falls under .500 for the first time since Nov. 16 of this season. However, the Orediggers recorded more steals (11-8) and committed less turnovers than (17-22) the hosting Mountaineers (3-1, 1-1 RMAC). Western Colorado made up the difference shooting 45 percent from the floor while holding Mines to 21-percent shooting.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Early Mountaineer scoring runs in each quarter proved tough for the Orediggers to overcome. Western Colorado entered the evening with the #28 scoring defense in all of NCAA Division II and the Mountaineers lived up to the hype as they held Mines to just eight points through the first 15 minutes of the game. However, a Kollmorgen layup with 4:24 remaining in the opening half sparked a 12-2 run for the Orediggers. Mines closed the second quarter on a 12-4 tear.
 
Unfortunately for the visitors, Western Colorado continued putting together early runs in the third and fourth quarters. Pinto scored five of Mines' nine points in the third period, but the Mountaineers outscored Mines 25-9 immediately following half to all but clinch the win. Megan Van de Graaf and McKale Grant accounted for the Orediggers' fourth-quarter scoring with four from Van de Graaf and a layup from Grant.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 25-37 in the all-time series against Western Colorado.
- The Orediggers last loss to the Mountaineers came Jan. 2, 2015.
- Mines has forced double-digit steals in three of its last four games.
- McDonald's three assists Friday match her career high.
- Kollmorgen also surpassed 100-career steals with three Saturday night.
- Cassidy Budge recorded the 100th assist of her career.
- Head coach Brittany Simpson is 98-81 in seven years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers travel to Grand Junction, Colo., Saturday to face Colorado Mesa at 5:30 p.m. inside Brownson 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.