Box Score GOLDEN, Colo. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Colorado School of Mines exchanged the lead five times and tied an additional five times, but the No. 23 Mountain Lions (14-2 / 9-1 RMAC) closed out the game on a 10-3 run to claim a 75-66 win against the Orediggers (7-9 / 2-8 RMAC) tonight in Lockridge Arena. Brittany Hernandez led UCCS with 20 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in the sixth straight win for the Mountain Lions.

UCCS expanded its lead in the RMAC standings with the win and continued the best start in program history. Abby Kirchoff added 17 points and Shannon Kelly led the Mountain Lions with three assists and shared the team lead with eight rebounds.

The Mountain Lions tied the game three times during the first six minutes, and took their first lead of the game with 13:35 left in the first half on a three-pointer from Kirchoff. An 11-2 run late in the half put UCCS ahead 34-23 with 1:49 to play, and the 11-point margin held for a 36-25 halftime lead against the Orediggers.

Colorado Mines put together a seven-point run to cut it down to a one possession game at 48-45 with 14:19 left in the game, and used another six-point run to retake the lead at 55-54 with 8:11 left. The teams traded field goals and the lead three times in the next minute before a six-point rally from the Mountain Lions put UCCS ahead 62-57 with 4:35 to play. The Orediggers pulled within two points at 2:55 before the 10-3 Mountain Lion to end the game.

UCCS will look for its seventh straight win at 5 p.m., on Saturday at Colorado Christian. The Cougars (6-10 / 6-4 RMAC) defeated Colorado State-Pueblo 53-49 earlier tonight.