Box Score GOLDEN, Colo. - University of Colorado Colorado Springs sophomore forward
Brittany Hernandez scored 22 points and brought down 10 rebounds to lead the UCCS women's basketball team to a comeback 62-59 victory against Eastern New Mexico tonight in Lockridge Arena. The Mountain Lions (2-0) shot 59 percent in the second half to rally from a 14-point deficit late in the first half.
The Mountain Lions shot 59 percent from the field in the second half and held Eastern New Mexico to 33 percent in the same period. UCCS used a 13-2 run to cut the Lady Zia down to one point at 48-47, but Eastern New Mexico rebuilt a five-point lead at 55-50 with 4 minutes, 36 seconds left.
Hernandez made a three-pointer on the next UCCS possession,
Gabby Ramirez stole the ball away from Eastern New Mexico late in the shot clock on its next possession, and Hernandez drew the foul and tied the game at 55-55 with a pair of free throws at 3:26.
Tori Fisher made a jumper to push the lead to 57-55, and Hernandez made a layup on the next possession to make it a 59-55 with 55 seconds to play to end a 9-0 rally for UCCS. Eastern New Mexico drew a foul 18 seconds later, but only converted on the second free throw, and then tied the game at 59-59 with 21 seconds left.
Abby Kirchoff put UCCS ahead 61-59 on a jumper with six seconds to play, and Hernandez intercepted the Lady Zia inbounds play and was quickly fouled with three seconds left. She made her first attempt, but missed the second, and a half-court shot by Eastern New Mexico fell short for the 62-59 victory for the Mountain Lions.
Hernandez went two-of-three from the three-point line and eight-of-15 overall from the field with four free throws in her way to 22 points along with three steals and two blocked shots.
Abby Kirchoff added 19 points,
Tori Fisher made nine rebounds and
Gabby Ramirez made a team-high four assists.
UCCS is 2-0 for the fifth time in program history and the second time in the last three seasons. The Mountain Lions are one of three RMAC teams, along with Colorado State-Pueblo and Regis, who are 2-0 through the opening weekend of the season.
The Mountain Lions will travel to southern California next weekend for a Friday game at California Baptist and Saturday game at Point Loma.
