GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Women's Basketball team punched its ticket to the RMAC Tournament semifinals on Tuesday night thanks to a 66-44 victory over Black Hills State inside Lockridge Arena.
 
The Orediggers were comprehensive in their win as three individuals scored in double digits led by Denali Pinto's game-high 24 points. The recently crowned RMAC Player of the Year also added eight rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal. Liz Holter was second among all players in scoring thanks to 15 points while dishing out three assists, grabbing two rebounds and notching two steals. Courtney Stanton completed the trio by scoring 14 points including a 4-for-4 mark at the free throw line. Stanton proved tops in the game with nine rebounds as well. Additionally, Ashley Steffeck filled a utility roll behind eight rebounds, eight assists, six points, on block and one steal. Heidi Hammond stood out defensively with four steals.
 
Mines (19-9) surged to the double-digit victory on the merits of its defense, forcing Black Hills State (17-11) to commit 19 turnovers which resulted in 11 steals for the Orediggers. Mines parlayed BHSU's lack of ball security into 17 points off of turnovers. The Orediggers' six blocks as a team contributed greatly to the Yellow Jackets meager shooting percentage of 27 percent. Mines also scored 22 points in the paint and added 17 more on second-chance opportunities. The victory snaps the Orediggers' three-game skid and puts them into the RMAC semifinals against top-seeded Colorado Mesa on Friday. It also marks Mines' second consecutive quarterfinal win in the RMAC Tournament.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tuesday brought a feel of spring to the air, but windy conditions confused the overall vibe in the Golden area. Almost nearly confusing was Mines basketball on a weeknight, which typically happens about once a season. Both the weather and the events of the evening brought feelings of anticipation and angst across Oreidgger nation as the 2020 postseason had finally arrived with single elimination stakes. As Tuesday night's game tipped off, both Mines and Black Hills State knew that it was win – or go home. The Orediggers would not disappoint.
 
It proved to be a defensive battle early as the Orediggers and Yellow Jackets combined to score just 15 points through seven minutes of action. Holter then hit a jumper at the 2:38 mark in the first quarter followed by a three-pointer at 2:03 to give Mines a 10-8 lead. Megan Van de Graaf finished the period off with a jumper of her own to make it a 7-0 run, affording the home team a 12-8 lead after holding BHSU scoreless for over four minutes. That run extended to 9-0 at the start of the second quarter courtesy of a jumper from Pinto before the Yellow Jackets stopped the bleeding on a three-point basket less than two minutes into the period.
 
Over the course of the second quarter, the visitors clawed back within three points at 20-17. However, the Orediggers popped off an 8-0 run behind scoring from Steffeck, Holter and Stanton to make it 36-25 at halftime. Mines used the 15-minute break to talk it over as a team and came out clearly in agreement not to look back. After scoring 10 points in the first half, Pinto exploded for 14 in the third panel alone while grabbing four rebounds and completely taking over the game. Her scoring and three points from Holter pushed the Orediggers to a 53-32 advantage after three full quarters of action. Mines found its largest lead of the game in the final period at 62-34 thanks to Holter's jumper in the paint. Pinto would not score in the last 10 minutes because the home team didn't need it. Black Hills State closed the game on an 8-2 run, but it was too little too late for the visitors with the final buzzer sounding on a double-digit advantage for the Orediggers who never tied or trailed after the opening period.
 
COACH'S COMMENT
"I'm proud of our girls and how they responded tonight," said Mines Head Coach Brittany Simpson. "We are excited to have the opportunity to play on Friday.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines' win tied the all-time series with Black Hills State at 7-7 after going 2-1 against the Yellow Jackets over the course of the season.
- The Orediggers are 1-0 in the postseason against BHSU.
- Pinto surged to 570 points on the season and 954 in her career on Friday night.
- Mines' trio of double-digit scorers were all All-RMAC honorees as announced earlier Tuesday.
- Over the last two seasons, the Orediggers are 2-0 in the first round of the RMAC Tournament.
- Mines and Black Hills State combined for 17 three-pointers in Friday's quarterfinal contest.
- Head Coach Brittany Simpson is 131-97 in eight years at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines faces #24-ranked Colorado Mesa on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the RMAC semifinals in Grand Junction, Colo. 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.