GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team used a dominant second quarter to key a 79-36 win over Adams State on Friday night inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Denali Pinto led all players with 19 points. Sammy Van Sickle put together a 12-point, 15-rebound double-double along with five assists. Courtney Stanton and Heidi Hammond added 12 points apiece as well. Liz Holter played a utility role with 10 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds. Holter's performance put five Orediggers in double-digit scoring. Another highlight was true freshman Shelby Nichols going 2-2 from the field for four points in three minutes while grabbing one rebound and one steal.
 
As a team, Mines (8-5, 5-3 RMAC) owned the boards by a margin of 50-29 in rebounding. The Orediggers were efficient on offense as well, shooting over 42 percent from the floor thanks to 23 assists. Adams State (2-12, 2-6 RMAC) had no player score in double digits. Mines' defense held the Grizzlies to 24 percent from the floor and just 18 percent from three-point range. The Orediggers committed only nine turnovers in the victory and forced 18 from ASU. With the win, Mines moves into a tie for #5 in the RMAC standings. The loss drops Adams State into a tie for #11.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Friday evening arrived with a slight cold snap as temps dropped below freezing in the morning and by sunset. However, the warm confines of Lockridge Arena welcomed Mines to its home court for the first time in 2020. The inaugural home game of the decade started with a defensive battle in the opening quarter. Both teams held each other around 30-percent shooting from the floor. Pinto scored six points in eight minutes and the result was a 12-12 score after 10 minutes of play.
 
However, the turning point of the entire game proved to be the second period. Adams State opened the quarter with a three-point basket for a 15-12 advantage. Then, Mines exploded for a 14-0 run and did not look back. The Oredigger defense held the Grizzlies to just four points in the second quarter while scoring 20 on offense. Hammond led the offensive charge with seven of her own. Mines rolled into the halftime buzzer on a 20-1 run.
 
Adams State showed flashes of a rally in the second half, but the 32-16 deficit at halftime proved too much. Van Sickle made sure the Orediggers left no doubt. She dropped 10 points in the third quarter and grabbed five rebounds to secure her double-double before the final period ever started. Over the final 10 minutes, 12 different Orediggers recorded multiple minutes of action. Nichols' performance in the final three minutes pushed Mines to a 46-point advantage, its largest lead of the night. At the final buzzer, every active Oredigger had seen the floor.
 
COACH'S COMMENT
"I was glad to see how we played as a team tonight," said Mines Head Coach Brittany Simpson. "Everyone was able to contribute."
 
NOTABLES
- Mines boasts a 10-game win streak in the all-time series against Adams State. The Grizzlies hold the overall advantage, 34-25.
- Van Sickle's double-double on Friday night marks her third of the season and third of her career. The sophomore's 15 rebounds tie her career high.
- Van Sickle's five assists also mark a career high for the Arvada native.
- Furthermore, Van Sickle moved over 200 rebounds for her career thanks to Friday night's performance.
- Pinto's 19-points keeps the sophomore ranked #1 in the RMAC in points per game. So far this season, she's averaging 18.9 per contest.
- Holter's assists and steals numbers against Adams State both match her career best in an Orediggers' uniform.
- Nichols' performance marks the first points and steal of the true freshman's career. She now has four points, two rebounds and one steal in seven minutes of action this season.
- Mines boasts back-to-back games committing only nine turnovers – their lowest turnover totals of the season.
- The Orediggers have scored over 70 points in four of its last five games.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 121-93 in eight years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts Fort Lewis on Saturday night at 5 p.m. inside Lockridge 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. Fans can also follow Mines Volleyball on Twitter using the handle @MinesVolleyball.