By: Sam Boender
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COLORADO SPRINGS – The Colorado School of Mines Women’s Basketball team was voted fifth in the 2025-26 RMAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Thursday with Jenna Shandy (née Siebert) representing the Orediggers on the Preseason All-RMAC team.
Mines’ women tallied 141 points in the voting including four third-place votes. The results project the Orediggers to make the 2025-26 RMAC Women’s Basketball Tournament. Shandy earned her preseason nod after claiming First-Team All-RMAC distinction last season. Defending champion Colorado Mesa was first with 191 points including nine first-place votes and five second-place votes. In second was UCCS thanks to the six remaining first-place votes. Adams State (159) and Western Colorado (150) rounded out the top four.
The Orediggers enter their new campaign after a disappointing 12-16 (10-10 RMAC) mark in 2024-25. Head Coach Brittany Simpson returns six players for the 2025-26 season including the aforementioned Shandy. Mines faces the University of Colorado in an exhibition on Oct. 29 in Boulder, Colo. The 2025-26 season officially starts on Nov. 7 against UT Tyler at the D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead in Billings, Mont.
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, “X” and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.
2025-26 RMAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Colorado Mesa (9) – 191
2. UCCS (6) – 181
3. Adams State – 159
4. Western Colorado – 150
5. Mines – 141
6. Black Hills State – 127
7. CSU Pueblo – 121
8. New Mexico Highlands – 117
9. MSU Denver – 89
10. Colorado Christian – 75
11. South Dakota Mines – 56
12. Fort Lewis – 54
13. Westminster – 47
14. Chadron State – 46
15. Regis – 21