GUNNISON, Colo. Western Colorado had a hard time taking care of the ball on Saturday (Jan. 21) against Colorado School of Mines – turning the ball over 23 times – leading to them losing 75-94. Additionally, the Orediggers had six turnovers in the game.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Colo. School of Mines def., Western Colorado 94-75.
Records: Western Colorado 4-13, 3-9 RMAC, Colo. School of Mines 15-3, 11-2 RMAC
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Things didn't start the way Western wanted, as after things were tied up at five-points apiece – Emmery Wagstaff scoring three of those points and Rachel Cockman scoring two-points – Colo. School of Mines went on a 13-0 run. The Mountaineers tried to cut into the lead, getting within 10-points of tying the game on a and-one from Wagstaff. But, the Orediggers offense was on fire early, resulting in the lead being 15-points when the first quarter ended.
• Western continued to fight and slowly but surely started to chip away at the lead in the second quarter. After trailing by 18-points with 6:44 left in the quarter, the Mountaineers cut the lead to 11-points on a and-one basket from Hayley Valencia. Yet, Colo. School of Mines responded with a three-pointer.
• Down 47-33 with 57 seconds remaining, Wagstaff knocked down a free throw with 40 seconds left and then hit a three-pointer before the buzzer sounded. At halftime, Western trailed 37-47.
• Similar to the first quarter, the Orediggers started the third quarter on fire, going on a 14-3 run, which put them up by 21-points. That was the highest the lead got in the quarter, thanks to the never quit attitude from Western.
• While the Mountaineers offense got going after a slow start to the quarter. Unfortunately, Colo. School of Mines offense didn't cool off as both teams exchanged baskets for the next several minutes.
• With 49 seconds left in the third quarter, Alyza Aikins drained a three-pointer cutting the Orediggers lead to 11-points. That 11-point lead would be increased back to 14-points on a three-point by Colo. School of Mines with five seconds left.
• Western got in foul trouble in the fourth quarter - in large part due to them only having eight players suited up to play – resulting in the Orediggers taking control of the game, and putting the score out of reach for a comeback.

COURT NOTES

• Wagstaff had a spectacular outing, dropping a career high 30-points and a team/career high six assists. She also tied with Caileen Sienknecht who grabbed a career high six rebounds. Aikins also had a career night scoring 14-points. Cockman also finished the game in double figures, with 10-points.
• As a whole, the Mountaineers shot 50 percent (24-of-48) from the field, 50 percent (8-of-16) from three and 62.5 percent (19-of-29) from the free throw line.
• Four Orediggers finished the game in double figures, being led by Megan Van de Graaf who scored 22-points and Ashley Setffeck who scored 20-points. Sammy Van Sickle and Loralee Stock each pitched in with 10-points.
• As a whole, Colorado School of Mines shot, 44.9 percent (31-of-69) from the field, 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from three and 76.7 percent (23-of-30) from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
Western will start a four-game road trip next week, taking on Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday (Jan. 26) at 5 p.m. The Mountaineers will then head to Grand Junction to take on Colorado Mesa University at 5:30 p.m.