#4 Mines (17-10, 14-8 RMAC) vs. #5 CSU-Pueblo (16-12, 14-8 RMAC) – Tuesday, 6 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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ON THE RMAC NETWORK
Every RMAC Tournament game game can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC".
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for Tuesday's quarterfinal will be available at Lockridge Arena with gates opening at 5 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and visiting students, and free for Mines students courtesy of Student Life. No passes are accepted for postseason play with the exception of the RMAC pass.
 
THE 2019 RMAC/UNDER ARMOUR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team opens the 2019 RMAC/Under Armour Women's Basketball Tournament on Tuesday as the #4 seed hosting fifth-seeded CSU-Pueblo. Despite having the exact same conference record, Mines earned the higher seed by virtue of sweeping the ThunderWolves in the regular-season series. The eight-team tournament format features seeds 1-4 hosting teams 5-8 with the highest remaining seed hosting the semifinals and finals on Friday and Saturday. Tuesday marks the Orediggers' second straight year as the #4 seed and hosting a first-round game. Mines will look to move onto the semifinals for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
 
FINALE FLASHBACK
Mines closed its regular-season slate on Friday as it hosted UCCS inside Lockridge Arena on Senior Night. The Orediggers recognized the senior quartet of Nicole Archambeau, Cassidy Budge, Anna Kollmorgen and Madelene McDonald at halftime of the men's game, but not before finding victory earlier in the evening. Mines defeated the Mountain Lions 57-38 and avenged its loss earlier this season in Colorado Springs. Four Orediggers scored in double figures with Denali Pinto's 13 points leading the way. Budge added 10 points with five steals and two blocks. Archambeau led all players with 11 rebounds. The victory clinched Mines' spot as the #4 seed and its right to host a first-round game inside Lockridge Arena.
 
SCOUTING CSU-PUEBLO
An up-and-down season for CSU-Pueblo finds the 2017-18 RMAC regular-season and tournament champions back in the conference postseason. The Thunderwolves come into Golden with a mark of 2-2 over their last four games including a loss to the Orediggers. Jennah Knafelc leads a trio of double-digit scorers for CSU-Pueblo with 15.1 points per game. Khiya Adams also averages double-digit scoring numbers and leads on the boards with 7.2 rebounds per game. JaNaiya is the third double-digit scorer with 11.5 points per game. She also leads the team in assists with 106 on the season at 3.9 helpers per contest. As a team, CSU-Pueblo ranks #23 in the country in blocked shots per game and #21 in total blocks. Individually, Davis became one of four individuals in all of DII to record a triple-double this season.
 
THUNDERWOLVES – THERE'S MORE THAN ONE
The mythological foundation of CSU-Pueblo's mascot has arguably been fully explored – maybe too much. However, fans may be interested to know that CSU-Pueblo is not the only collegiate team to use ThunderWolves as its nickname. Indeed, Lakehead University out of Thunder Bay, Ontario (that's Canada) is also known as the Thunderwolves (note lowercase "w"). As an institution, Lakehead is a public research university with three campuses and is known for business, law and medicine. Athletically, LU is known as a perennial power in Nordic skiing and wrestling. Unsurprisingly, the school also sponsors a relatively successful hockey team. It should be noted that Lakeland is not a member of the NCAA, so it should be possible to be a fan of both ThunderWolves… if that's your thing.
 
LOCKRIDGE ARENA
Fondly referred to as "The Lock", Mines' home court for volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball features seating for 3,000 at Oredigger home athletics events. The venue has also twice hosted the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball South Central Regional Tournament. Additionally, Lockridge Arena hosts numerous major campus events and has been graced by the presence of Barack Obama, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye and many others.
 
MINES IN THE RMAC TOURNAMENT
As previously mentioned, Tuesday marks Mines' fourth straight RMAC postseason appearance. Last season, the Orediggers fell to Regis 40-68 inside Lockridge Arena. Head coach Brittany Simpson has guided her team to five tournaments in seven seasons. Under Simpson the Orediggers also advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2016 for the second time in program history. Mines has made two runs to the RMAC Tournament finals, making its first appearance in the championship game as the #8 seed in 2006. The Orediggers also advanced to the title game in 2009 as the #3 seed. Ironically, CSU-Pueblo was Mines' opponent in both finals appearances. The Orediggers are 4-17 all-time in the conference postseason.
 
REMEMBERING CSU-PUEBLO
After sweeping the 2018-19, regular-season series against CSU-Pueblo, Mines is 20-36 all-time against the ThunderWolves. The Orediggers outscored "The Pack" by a total of 136-101. The first meeting took place Feb. 1 in Pueblo and Denali Pinto outscored the entire ThunderWolves roster through three quarters of play. Anna Kollmorgen added 13 while Megan Van de Graaf scored her career high of 10. On the return trip to Lockridge Arena, Nicole Archambeau dropped 22 with 13 rebounds while Courtney Stanton scored her career high of 21. Archambeau also dished out six assists and Stanton had four as post play ruled the game in the 70-54 victory. Mines' 2-0 sweep marks the Orediggers' first back-to-back wins over CSU-Pueblo since the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.
 
2019 RMAC/UNDER ARMOUR WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT BRACKET
Quarterfinals - Tuesday, March 5
[8] Black Hills State at [1] Colorado Mesa, 6 p.m.
[5] CSU-Pueblo at [4] Colorado School of Mines, 6 p.m.
[7] Western at [2] Westminster,  7 p.m.
[6] Regis at [3] MSU Denver, 7 p.m.

Semifinals - Friday, March 8 (at highest remaining seed)
BHSU/CMU vs. CSUP/CSM, TBA
WCU/WC vs. RU/MSUD, TBA

Final - Saturday, March 9
Semifinal Winner #1 vs. Semifinal Winner #2, TBA
 
DEPARTMENT-WIDE SUCCESS
Across all Oredigger sports in the 2018-19 season, Mines has already won six RMAC regular-season and two RMAC Tournament championships this year. That marks the most regular-season titles ever in a year for Mines Athletics and has already tied the total RMAC championships in a year at eight, set in both 2015-16 and 2016-17.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
If Mines wins Tuesday evening, it will play the winner of Black Hills State at Colorado Mesa. Game time and location will be announced Tuesday night following the conclusion of the quarterfinal round. Live stats and videos of all Oredigger contests will be available at www.minesathletics.com.