SALT LAKE CITY – A furious, fourth-quarter rally fell just short for the Colorado School of Mines Women’s Basketball team Saturday as the Orediggers fell to Westminster, 78-76.
Jenna Siebert played a key role in the late surge and finished the game with 31 points which led all players. She also added four rebounds, two steals and one assist. Teammate Peyton Freiermuth went off for 20 points while adding five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Sixta had eight big points and Josephine Howery dished out five assists as well. The home team benefitted from Za’kkira Robinson’s 22 points and a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double by Maunayia Harrigfeld.
While Mines (8-14, 6-8 RMAC) managed to make it close, Westminster (5-17, 4-10 RMAC) maintained advantages in overall shooting percentage and blocked shots, teasing 50 percent from the floor and tallying five sways. The Griffins also dominated points in the paint, 52-34. The Orediggers did make nine three-pointers compared to three by WU. They also had 19 free-throw opportunities and won the rebounding battle. A 16-13 difference in turnovers hurt Mines as well.
HOW IT HAPPENED
There were five ties and five lead changes in the game on Saturday afternoon. Three of each came in the first quarter which Westminster eventually won, 22-16, despite 10 points off the hand of Siebert. Through the next two quarters, that margin expanded as large as 11 points and shrank down four points, but always had the Griffins in the lead. Along the way, Freiermuth and Siebert combined for 15 points in the second quarter, and Freiermuth exploded for nine more in the third quarter. During the same frame, Jade Leon poured in seven and Sixta drained a pair of three-pointers. After closing the third period on a 7-2 run, the stage was set for Mines to make its move.
The Orediggers exploded at the start of the final quarter, going on a 8-0 run which ballooned to 15-2 including the end of the previous frame. Freiermuth sparked Mines’ rush with a layup followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Siebert. Her second shot from distance pushed the visitors ahead, 67-65 with 7:25 to play. An and-one play for Westminster provided another lead change. Then, Siebert struck from downtown tied the game again, 70-70. Unfortunately for the Orediggers, the Griffins broke the tie on a fast-break layup off a turnover. Even so, yet another Siebert three-pointer kept Mines in the game. Finally, with 49 seconds on the clock, the Orediggers found themselves down just two points, 78-76. A defensive rebound by Siebert set up three opportunities for Mines to tie or take the lead, but the visitors couldn’t convert. The Griffins escaped with a home win after multiple officials’ reviews for time on the clock.
NOTABLES
– Mines retains a 10-6 in the all-time series against Westminster.
– Siebert’s 31-point game marked her fourth game of 30 points or more this season and in her career. The only Orediggers with more 30-point games are Ashley Steffeck and Denali Pinto.
– Siebert recorded her 31 points by hitting six three-pointers which matched her career best for a third time.
– Freiermuth set a new career high with her 20 points.
– Audrey Beaty recorded her 200th rebound while wearing a Mines uniform.
– Leon surpassed 100 points for her collegiate career.
– Oredigger Head Coach Brittany Simpson is now 228-137 in her 13th season at the helm.
WHAT’S NEXT
Mines hosts Black Hills State this Thursday and Chadron State on Saturday. Free live stats and video on the RMAC Network will be available for both games at www.minesathletics.com.
Fans can keep up with Mines women’s basketball on “X” (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram at @MinesWBB. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
