GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines rode stifling defense and Denali Pinto's 20 points as they took down Regis 69-55 on Saturday.

The Orediggers (3-2) hit a 13-0 run as part of a 20-11 third-quarter to take control of the game against their crosstown rival Rangers (2-4). The game was a non-RMAC contest.

Pinto went 4-for-5 from three-point range and 7-for-13 overall, while Sammy Van Sickle was 3-for-3 from range on her way to 13 points and eight rebounds. Megan Van de Graaf pitched in 11 points off the bench.

Mines led most of the game, but really pulled away in the third quarter after Regis drew as close as a basket, 40-38, after two Whitney Jacob free throws with 4:11 left in the period. Mines caught fire in the last three minutes, however, as Van Sickle scored seven of Mines' next 13 points and Pinto sank two buckets. That made it a 53-38 game in the span of less than three minutes, and Pinto's last-second layup gave Mines a 55-39 lead at the quarter break.

It was more of the same start the fourth quarter as Mines opened on an 11-2 run powered by Van de Graaf, who had four points in that span. That let coach Brittany Simpson get her bench on the court for quality minutes down the stretch as the Orediggers kept producing defensively to win. 

NOTABLES
- Mines extended its win streak to three games and won its fourth straight home opener.
- The Orediggers ended a season-best 10-for-16 from beyond the arc. Mines shot 42.3% overall and 15-for-18 (83.3%) at the line.
- Pinto dropped 20 points for the fourth time in five games. The sophomore leads the team averaging 20.4 per game this season. 
- Ashley Steffeck scored a career-high 10 points and five assists and added two blocks and two steals in a terrific all-around night.
- Van de Graaf equaled her career-high in points at 11.

NEXT UP
Mines opens RMAC play at home against Western Colorado on Dec. 6 at 5 p.m.