Sauter helps UCCS overcome second half deficit

Jennine Sauter scored 28 points to help the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs overcome an 11-point second-half deficit and defeat the Western State Mountaineers 66-59 Friday night at the Lionsâ€^TM Den.

The Mountain Lions (6-8, 4-4 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) trailed 48-37 after a Beth Thom 3-pointer with 11:03 remaining in the game. A 3-pointer by Stephanie Sauter and a Julie Richards hook shot closed the gap to six.

Meghan McKinney put in a layup to extend the Western State lead to 50-42, but UCCS answered with a free throw and a field goal by Jennine Sauter before Dolly Fiedelman knocked down her lone 3-pointer of the game to close the gap to 50-48 with 5:50 left. Jennine Sauter added a 3-pointer a minut4e later to give the Mountain Lions their first lead since the 5:10 mark of the first half.

The game was tied at 56 with 2:35 remaining when Stephanie Sauter hit back-to-back 3-pointers over a 40 second span.

“Stephanie has shown that sheâ€^TMs a clutch player down the stretch,” said big sister Jennine. “Iâ€^TMm so proud of her.”

Western State managed to whittle the lead down to three but, with just 33 seconds remaining, the Mountaineers found themselves forced to foul. Maribeth Martinez and Jennine Sauter both made good on their free throws to ice the game.

Defense keyed the second half surge.

“Our defense wasnâ€^TMt working for us early in the half,” said Martinez. “We knew we had to step up our defense and put more pressure on the guards.”

Martinez did exactly that. The senior from Grand Junction had five of her game-high six steals in the second half.

“I knew we had to do something to get that game turned around,” said Martinez. (When) I see them dribbling high and I know I know that if I time it right I can stick my hand out there and get a piece of the ball.”

Board work was also a key. After getting outrebounded 29-15 in the first half, UCCS stayed nearly even in the second.

“We went to a man (defense) and I think everybody took it upon themselves to box out their girl,” said Jennine Sauter. “We knew we needed to get stops.”

Audra Lawson led Western State (4-11, 2-6 RMAC) with 16 points, but was shut out in the second half. McKinney added 12 points, while Liz Davies and Kara West had 11 each. McKinney and Lawson each grabbed 12 rebounds.

Stephanie Sauter had 15 points, all on 3-pointers, for UCCS. Martinez added six assists.