Box Score GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines scored 33 fourth-quarter points to break open a close game and held off MSU Denver for a 69-63 victory Saturday night in women's basketball.
 
MSU Denver led 45-38 with 8:39 to go after a basket by Losalini Katia (Wyoming, Australia/Pennant Hills), but the Orediggers outscored the Roadrunners 31-18 the rest of the way. Mines hit 8 of 12 from the field in the final period for 66.7 percent and also made 15 of 17 free throws in the final frame.
 
It was a second straight road loss for the Roadrunners, who had come into the weekend on a six-game winning streak.
 
Colorado School of Mines trailed 49-48 when Cassidy Budge converted a four-point play with 4:15 left that put the Orediggers ahead to stay. Mines made nine free throws in the final 1:18 to keep MSU Denver at bay.
 
Emily Hartegan (Wylie, Texas/Wylie East) led the Roadrunners with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Jaelynn Smith (Denver, Colo./East) had nine points, four rebounds and three assists. Mariah Schroeder (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) had nine points, four rebounds and two steals, and Katia matched her career high with eight points in 10 minutes while making all four of her shots from the field.
 
Mines extended its winning streak to four games.
 
The night started with a five-way tie for third place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference at 10-6, but now Mines, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Colorado State University-Pueblo have made it a three-way tie at 11-6. Both MSU Denver and Western State Colorado are tied for sixth at 10-7.
 
MSU Denver (11-12 overall) returns for Homecoming Weekend this Friday and Saturday, with games against Black Hills State and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively. The Roadrunners have won six straight home games.