Golden, Colo. — A dominant second-half performance fueled Adams State to a crucial 88-78 road victory over Colorado School of Mines on Saturday afternoon in RMAC conference action at Lockridge Arena.
The Grizzlies (13-8, 8-4 RMAC) overcame a sluggish second quarter and early defensive struggles, surging back behind a monster game from forward Taejhuan Hill, who poured in a game-high 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to victory.
Colorado School of Mines (8-12, 6-6 RMAC) came out strong, outpacing Adams State 26-21 in the first quarter and maintaining a slim 40-34 advantage at halftime. Guard Jenna Siebert was a force for the Orediggers, scoring 26 points and keeping her team in contention. However, foul trouble proved costly for Mines, as they racked up 26 total fouls, allowing Adams State to control the game from the free-throw line.
The Grizzlies turned up the pressure in the third quarter, using a mix of fast-break opportunities and lockdown defense to seize control. By the end of the period, Adams State had flipped the script, outscoring Mines 27-20 to take a narrow one-point lead into the final frame. From there, the Grizzlies exploded offensively, putting up another 27 points in the fourth quarter while stifling the Orediggers' attack.
Beyond Hill's dominant showing, Adams State got key contributions from Ri'Ahana Davis, who added 15 points, and Kiiyani Anitielu, who chipped in 18 points while running the offense efficiently. The Grizzlies made the most of their aggressive play, converting 28 of 34 free-throw attempts, compared to Mines' 16 of 17 from the line.
The game's turning point came midway through the fourth quarter when Adams State capitalized on multiple turnovers to go on a decisive run, stretching their lead into double digits. The Grizzlies' defensive pressure proved too much for the Orediggers, who struggled with ball control and committed 20 turnovers, leading to 28 points off takeaways for Adams State.
Adams State will return to action looking to extend its momentum when as they close out their road stretch Tuesday as they travel to Fort Lewis, before returning home Thursday.
