DENVER – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team recorded its eighth straight win on Saturday night with a 69-58 victory over MSU Denver inside the Auraria Event Center.
 
Denali Pinto and Liz Holter fueled the effort offensively thanks to 24 points and 19 points, respectively. They were the top two scorers in the game. Pinto also grabbed eight rebounds while Holter grabbed six boards and dished out two assists. Sammy Van Sickle came up big with 10-point, 11-rebound double-double. Ashley Steffeck played the utility role and turned in seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and one block. She led all players in steals and tied for the game high in assists.
 
Mines (16-6, 13-4 RMAC) earned the win behind three-point shooting and its performance at the free-throw line. The Orediggers came in over 50 percent from long range and converted over 80 percent of their opportunities at the charity stripe. Defensively, Mines held MSU Denver (10-13, 9-8 RMAC) to 31 percent from behind the arc as the Roadrunners only produced at a rate of 63 percent at the free-throw line. Both teams committed 16 turnovers and racked up seven steals. However, the Orediggers' 42-31 edge on the glass proved beneficial for the visitors. Mines remains tied for #2 in the RMAC standings with Western Colorado who toppled Westminster on Saturday evening.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The sun emerged on Saturday and began to melt 24 hours' worth of snowfall in the Denver metro area. As trees dripped and roads turned from snow packed to clear byways, Mines marched into the Auraria Event Center determined to win its eighth consecutive game. While MSU Denver scored first, the Orediggers flexed their fortitude and worked out to a 10-4 lead in the opening quarter. After 10 minutes of play, Holter had scored nine points and the visitors boasted a 17-9 advantage.
 
Mines cruised for most of the second quarter thanks to five points and three rebounds from Pinto. However, the home team snapped out of its funk and pulled within two by halftime, 28-26. That run led to the third and fourth ties of the ballgame early in the third quarter. Mines and Metro exchanged the lead three more times before a three-point basket from Steffeck gave the Orediggers the lead for good.
 
The visitors outscored their hosts 22-14 in the third period and 19-18 in the second period. In the final 40 seconds, Pinto and Van Sickle combined for four free throws, which gave Mines the double-digit victory. While the contest featured four ties and three lead changes, the Orediggers led for nearly 35 minutes. Mines' largest lead was 12 points early in the fourth quarter. The visitors earned 14 free-throw opportunities over the last 10 minutes.
 
COACH'S COMMENT
"I'm really proud of our girls and how they were able to battle it out tonight," said Mines Head Coach Brittany Simpson.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 27-54 in the all-time series against MSU Denver, but 7-3 over the last 10 meetings.
- Saturday marked the Orediggers' 12th double-digit win of the season.
- Van Sickle surpassed 200 rebounds for the season and 300 for her career with 11 against MSU Denver.
- Van Sickle also moved over 300 points for her career thanks to 10 on Saturday night.
- Holter boasts over 200 points as an Oredigger in less than one season at Mines.
- Steffeck's six assists matched her career high set against New Mexico Highlands last weekend.
- The last time Mines won eight straight games was the 2015-16 season. It came as part of a 13-game run that led to a RMAC title.
- Mines' record for consecutive wins is 13.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 128-94 in eight years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines continues its season next Friday and Saturday at New Mexico Highlands and CSU-Pueblo. Live stats and video of the game will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can follow Mines Women's Basketball on social media at @MinesWBB. Fans can also follow all of Mines Athletics at www.minesathletics.com or on social media at @MinesAthletics.