PUEBLO, Colo. –
Shanah Leaf scored a team-high 13 points while
Brittany Hernandez and
Shannon Kelly both lead the rebounding effort with eight each, but it wouldn't be enough as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (15-7, 11-5 RMAC) fell to Colorado State-Pueblo (18-4, 13-3 RMAC) tonight in Massari Arena. The Mountain Lions pulled within two points in the final minutes but couldn't retake the lead as the ThunderWolves claimed the 64-61 decision.
UCCS and CSU-Pueblo exchanged the lead nine times and tied three more times during the first half as the ThunderWolves held a 33-32 halftime lead against the Mountain Lions. Leaf and Hernandez accounted for a seven-point rally for UCCS midway through the second quarter to provide a 25-19 advantage, but CSU-Pueblo chipped away and then scored the final five points going into halftime. Leaf scored 11 of her 13 points by the break while Hernandez had nine points with six rebounds.
The ThunderWolves held a 52-44 lead after the third quarter with an 8-2 run to close out the period. UCCS scored on its first three possessions of the fourth quarter to cut the CSU-Pueblo lead down to three points at 54-51, and
Jen Vigil made it a two-point game with 6:32 to play with the Mountain Lions down 56-54. UCCS held CSU-Pueblo to no field goals in the final two-and-a-half minutes and only one free throw in that span, but couldn't close the gap in the final minutes in the 64-61 loss.
Leaf went six-of-10 from the field for the second straight game and made six rebounds, her most since the Colorado Mines game on Jan. 15. Hernandez added 10 points and is 47 points away from 1,000 points in her career. She also led the team with four assists. Kelly scored 11 points and went a perfect five-of-five at the free throw line.
The Mountain Lions held the RMAC's top rebounding team to 10 rebounds below its season average and finished with a 43-34 advantage against the ThunderWolves.
UCCS will travel tonight to Gunnison, Colo., for a 5 p.m., game on Saturday at Western State. The Mountaineers (4-14, 2-14 RMAC) lost 77-72 to MSU Denver tonight in overtime.