GUNNISON, Colo.  Host Western Colorado made things difficult all game long for visiting and 10th-ranked Colorado School of Mines, but the Orediggers were finally able to fend off the challenges from the Mountaineers to steal a 61-56 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon.

Rachel Cockman led the charge for Western, recording her fifth double-double of the season with game highs in both points (22) and rebounds (11).

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Mines def. Western, 61-56
Records: Western 2-8 overall (0-5 RMAC), Mines 11-1 (6-0)
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western had the better of the Orediggers throughout much of the first half, leading 13-9 after the first quarter and not surrendering the lead until the 4:23 mark of the second quarter.
• A pair of free throws from Brooklyn Seymour pulled the Mountaineers back even at 20-20, followed by an Ivey Schmidt defensive rebound at one end and a layup by Alyssa Eckroth at the other end to lift the home team back in front.
• The halftime break saw Western with a 25-23 lead, an advantage it wouldn't relinquish until three minutes into the third quarter when a steal and fastbreak layup by Loralee Stock gave Mines its first lead of the game, 29-27.
• The lead would change four more times over the remaining minutes of the third, with the quarter ending showing the Orediggers with a tenuous 43-42 lead.
• A 6-0 Mines run to start the fourth quarter was the turning point of the contest.
• Though the Mountaineers would trim the deficit to three points several times afterward, they were unable to close the gap any further, the Orediggers sticking a dagger in the comeback with two final free throws with nine seconds remaining for the final five-point margin.

COURT NOTES

• Western hounded Mines shooters all game long, limiting the Orediggers' attack to just a 28 percent night of shooting from the floor.
• Meanwhile, the Mountaineers finished at 44%, including 47% from the floor in the second half.
• Cockman was assisted by Jayda Maves in the offensive end of the floor, Maves adding in 18 points with four of her buckets coming from behind the arc. The duo combined for 40 of the team's 56 points, or 71% of the team's scoring output.
• Turnovers were a difference maker in the game. Western surrendered 24 turnovers, to just 12 by Mines, and the Orediggers forged a 27-6 advantage on those points off of turnovers.
• While the Mountaineers held the edge in scoring from within the paint, 26-16, Mines finished with three more rebounds and scored 18 second-chance points to just 5 by Western.

UP NEXT

• The Mountaineers will play an exhibition game Dec. 18 at Utah State University before taking the holiday break.
• Upon returning in the new year, Western will jump back into RMAC competition with a Jan. 6 game at University of Colorado Colorado Springs.