UCCS 'posts' win over N. New Mexico

ALAMOSA, Colo. - Post players Mallory Lowe and Alyse Bessert combined for 33 points as the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs completed its participation in the Adams State Bankers Classic with a 61-53 victory over the Northern New Mexico Eagles Saturday afternoon at Plachy Hall.

Lowe scored a team-high 19 points for the Mountain Lions, who improved to 2-1. Bessert added 14 and Lauren Holm eight.

UCCS had a 50-32 rebounding advantage led by sophomore Ashley Miller's career-high 12. Lowe and Bessert contributed nine and six respectively. Holm also had three steals and Payden Ackerman a team-best four assists.

"I'm really proud of the kids on the boards," said UCCS coach Stephen Kirkham.

The Mountain Lions shot just 33.8 percent for the game, marking the lowest UCCS shooting percentage in a win since hitting 32.8 percent in a 58-52 win over Metro State on Jan. 1, 2004.

"Fortunately, we're learning how to play defense and rebound," said Kirkham, "so when we don't play well offensively, we still have a chance to be successful."

Erica Williams led Northern New Mexico (0-6) with 16 points. Stephanie Plante had 11 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots.

The Mountain Lions shot a miserable 25 percent in the first half, allowing the Eagles to avoid anything resembling the 29-0 run that caused their blowout loss to Adams State on Friday. In fact, UCCS went the final 12:50 of the first half without making a field goal as Northern New Mexico went into the intermission with a 24-21 lead.

"Today's game was a good lesson in learning how to bring it every time you walk into the gymnasium," said Kirkham. "There's nobody you can afford to underestimate in college basketball."

The Mountain Lions left the shooting drought in the locker room, making four of their first five second-half attempt to forge a 9-0 run over the first 2:02 of the period. Northern New Mexico came back to reduce the gap to as low as two and were trailing by three when Bessert scored four points during a 6-0 run that gave the Mountain Lions a 42-33 lead with 10:07 left.

The Eagles made a final run late in the game, closing to within five with 2:42 remaining but could get no closer.