AUSTIN,Texas – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team dropped a 51-50 heartbreaker to UAFS on Friday in the Orediggers' 2019-20 season opener inside the Recreation and Convocation Center on the campus of St. Edward's University.
 
Despite the loss, Denali Pinto was dominant as she led all players with 24 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out one assist. Pinto also went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. On the boards, Ashley Steffeck and Megan Van de Graaf matched Pinto by tallying five rebounds apiece. Steffeck also stood out on defense behind a game-high five steals. Liz Holter was tops for Mines with four assists.
 
As a team, Mines (0-1) shot 80 percent at the charity stripe but struggled from the floor to the tune of 29 percent. On the other side, UAFS (1-0) struggled at the line as the Lady Lions converted only 55 percent of their free-throw opportunities. Both teams were even in the paint with 22 points apiece. However, UAFS held the advantage in points off turnovers by a margin of 14-9. The Orediggers did find 18 points off the bench and converted six on second-chance opportunities.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
As the final score would indicate, Friday's game was a knockdown, drag-out battle from start to finish. In the opening quarter, UAFS took the lead first on a shot from long-range. The Lady Lions held that lead for nearly seven minutes before Pinto drained a layup to give Mines a 9-7 lead. UAFS was also whistled for a foul on the play and Pinto drained the free throw as well. However, by the end of the first period, UAFS had clawed back to tie the game, 14-14.
 
The second quarter proved mostly Lady Lions as they scored 11 while holding Mines to six. That would send the game into halftime with the Orediggers trailing, 25-20. It would seem the break rejuvenated both teams as Mines came out and scored 18 points while UAFS dropped 15 for a 33-point frame. The Orediggers were not done yet, finding their biggest lead of the game in the final period. It came with four minutes remaining on a 6-0 run fueled by a Pinto three-pointer and two more free throws from the sophomore. Unfortunately for Mines, UAFS put together a 5-0 run of its own and shutout the Orediggers the final three minutes to claim the victory.
 
COACH'S COMMENT
"We guarded well enough to win," said Coach Simpson. "But we allowed their defensive pressure to bother us for 40 minutes. We were turning the ball over which was giving them extra possessions. They really disrupted us with their pressure and athleticism."
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 1-3 against UAFS in the conference crossover series.
- Friday's loss moves Head Coach Brittany Simpson to 3-5 in season openers at the helm.
- In four games against the Lady Lions, Mines has won one and lost two by a single point.
- Pinto's 24 points on Friday marks the seventh game of her career scoring at least 20. She also moved over 400 points for her career.
- Ashley Steffeck, Liz Holter and Loralee Stock all made their Oredigger debuts against UAFS in Austin.
- Head coach Brittany Simpson is 113-89 in seven years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines closes its trip to Texas on Saturday with a showdown against host St. Edward's at 7 p.m. inside the RCC. Live stats and video will be available at www.minesathletics.com.