Mountain Lions defeat Metro State
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (3-6, 2-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) won its first road game of the season 58-52 over Metro State (3-8, 1-2 RMAC) Thursday afternoon in Denver.
B.J. McNeally led the Mountain Lions with a game-high 22 points and five assists.
CU-Colorado Springs outrebounded the taller Roadrunners 58-52, led by Christina Merrittâ€TMs 12 boards , five of which came on the offensive end and Jennine Sauterâ€TMs 11.
“That was our main goal, to box out and hit the offensive boards,†said Merritt. “I think our effort on the glass was the difference in the game tonight.â€
If there was a difference aside from the rebounding, it was the Mountain Lionsâ€TM defense. CU-Colorado Springs held Metro State to 25 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers.
“We played good, aggressive defense," said McNeally, who also had a game-high five steals. “We did a good job trapping, and basically did a lot of scrambling.â€
Both teams got good looks at the basket early but neither squad could knock down the open shot. The teams shot a combined 5-for-25 from the floor over the gameâ€TMs first 7:30. A McNeally 3-pointer gave the Mountain Lions an 11-7 lead before Metro State caught fire and went on a 17-4 run to take a 24-15 lead. Metro pushed its lead to 30-20 with 2:32 left in the first half. CU-Colorado Springs closed the half on a 8-2 run and entered the break down just four, 32-28.
Janine Ota hit back to back 3-pointers midway through the second half to put CU-Colorado Springs up 42-41. After a pair of Natasha Molock free-throws gave the lead to Metro State, Mackenzie Knobbe hit a baseline jumper to put the Mountain Lions back up 44-43. CU-Colorado Springs led the rest of the way.
Ota finished the game with a career-high 13 points. Sauter added seven points and three blocks.
“This is a huge win for us. A lot of people around the conference had doubts about us winning this game,†said McNeally. “For us to prove them wrong gives them something else to think about.â€
UCCS Players/Staff Featured | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | BJ McNeally | 10 | G | Jr. |
| B.J. MsNeally | 10 | G | Sr |
 | Jennine Sauter | 21 | F | Fr. |
 | Jennine Sauter | 21 | F | So |
 | Jennine Sauter | 21 | F | Jr. |
 | Jennine Sauter | 21 | F | Sr. |
 | Christina Merritt | 23 | F | Fr. |
| Christina Merritt | 23 | F | So |
 | Mackenzie Knobbe | 33 | G | So |
 | Mackenzie Knobbe | 34 | G | Fr. |
 | Mackenzie Knobbe | 33 | G | Jr. |
 | Mackenzie Knobbe | 33 | G | Jr. |
| Additional News Stories | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| November 16, 2012 | Eastern New Mexico defeats UCCS in season-opener | The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (0-1) lost its season opener to the Eastern New Mexico Zias Sunday afternoon. Eastern New Mexico beat the Mountain Lions 65-55 in front of 105 fans at the Lions’ Den. | |
| July 21, 2004 | Addition of deaf campers a | Thirteen-year old Ryan Peterson stole the ball, took a quick glance at the clock and pumped his fist triumphantly. The buzzer signaled his team’s two-point victory in one of many games played Wednesday at the Marty Fletcher Basketball Camp, hosted by the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.But Peterson never heard the buzzer. He has never heard a buzzer. Peterson is deaf. | |
| July 16, 2004 | Hazelwood earns grant | Former Mountain Lions basketball player Elise Hazelwood was chosen to receive degree-completion grant for the 2004-05 academic year. | |
| March 9, 2004 | Three women's basketball players honored by RMAC | Three members of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs women’s basketball team were honored by the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. | |
| February 28, 2004 | Mountain Lions end season with yet another heartbreaker | The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (10-17, 7-12 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) saw its season come to an end with a heartbreaking 55-52 loss to the Mesa State Mavericks (16-10, 12-6) Friday night in Grand Junction. | |
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