Mountain Lions Look for their Best Start in Program History this Weekend at Home

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team (8-3 / 5-2 RMAC) hosts two home conference games this weekend as they take on Western State (1-11 / 1-7 RMAC) and No. 8 Colorado Mesa (12-0 / 8-0 RMAC).

UCCS has matches its best start in program history with an overall record of 8-3. The only other time the Mountain Lions began a season 8-3 was in 2001-2002. That year, the team posted the best record in program histroy as they finished 19-9.

With a win against Western State on Friday night, the Mountain Lions will improve their home record to 7-2 for the first time since 2005-2006 and will have an overall record of 9-3 for the first time in UCCS history.

UCCS leads the all-time series against Western State 20-16. The Mountain Lions have won the previous four games against the Mountaieers dating back to the 2008-2009 season. UCCS beat Western State 75-70 in their last matchup on Jan. 6 of last season in Gunnison, Colorado.

Colorado Mesa leads the all-time series against UCCS 31-9. The Mountain Lions and the Mavericks have alternated wins dating back to Jan. 2005, when UCCS snapped Colorado Mesa's nine game winning streak against them. Colorado Mesa beat UCCS 64-49 in their previous meeting on Jan. 7, of last season in Grand Junction, Colo.

UCCS currently ranks atop many RMAC statistics. They are currently first for assists per game with 17.7, second in field goal percent, shooting 44.9 percent as a team, and second in steals per game with 9.9. The team is averaging 70.4 points per game, which is third best in the RMAC.

The Mountain Lions love the long ball as they are currently first in 3-point percent, shooting 39.9 percent as a team. The long rang attack is led by Jeri Pikul, and Abby Kirchoff who are averaging 52.9 and 50 percent, ranking them 2nd and 3rd respectively in the RMAC.

Senior Lauren Wolfinger has cracked the top 10 for all-time 3-pointers in school history. She has 110 for her career and counting, which ranks eighth all-time at UCCS. She needs just six more to move into a tie for seventh.
Wolfinger looks to add to her all-time mark, while helping the Mountain Lion offense this weekend as they take on Western State on Friday night, and No. 8 Colorado Mesa on Saturday night. Both games will have a tip-off time of 5:30 p.m.

Attendence for all UCCS games this weekend will be free. The games will also be broadcasted on the local Comcast channel 20 as well as on the UCCS online radio station: radio.uccs.edu