LUBBOCK, Texas – University of Colorado Colorado Springs junior forward Brittany Hernandez scored 15 points in the second half to lead both teams in scoring, but the Mountain Lions struggled shooting in a 70-43 loss to West Texas A&M in the First Round of the 2016 NCAA Division II National Tournament. UCCS (21-10) ended the season in its second NCAA tournament appearance in program history.

UCCS missed its first seven shots of the game as West Texas A&M built an 8-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game. The Mountain Lions made five of their next six shots to tie the game at 12-12 at the end of the first quarter. UCCS took its first lead of the game with a jump shot by Tori Fisher to open the second quarter, but West Texas scored the next 11 points to take a 23-14 lead in the next five minutes.

RMAC Player of the Year Brittany Hernandez sat out the entire second quarter after she picked up two fouls in the first quarter, and Tori Fisher stayed on the bench for most of the quarter as well after her second foul early in the quarter. The Lady Buffs held a 31-18 lead at halftime with 43 percent from the field, compared to 23 percent for the Mountain Lions.

UCCS cut the West Texas A&M lead down to 10 points with 44 seconds left in the third quarter at the end of a 7-2 run. Hernandez scored 10 points in the third quarter after a pair of free throws with three seconds left in the period as the Lady Buffs held a 46-35 lead at the end of the quarter.

West Texas outscored the Mountain Lions 24-8 in the fourth quarter, with five points from Hernandez. For the game, UCCS shot 22 percent from the field (13-60) and 13 percent at the three-point line (3-24). The Mountain Lions made 17 steals, the most against a Division II opponent since Jan. 13, 2012, against Regis.

Hernandez finished the season with 583 points, good for second in UCCS history and 15 points away from No. 10 in RMAC single-season history. She was nine-of-11 at the free throw line and added seven rebounds and six steals on defense. Hernandez finished eighth in program history with 225 rebounds this season.

Gabby Ramirez led the Mountain Lions with eight rebounds and four assists. She finished with 354 assists in her career and tied for second in program history. Shannon Kelly added five rebounds and three steals. The duo played their final collegiate game today and won 79 games in their four-year careers.

UCCS recorded its second straight 20-win season and third in program history, and reached the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. The Mountain Lions placed five student-athletes on the RMAC Academic Honor Roll and three on the all-conference postseason award list, including Hernandez as the third student-athlete in conference history to sweep the overall and Defensive Player of the Year awards.