COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Facing the No. 12 team in Division II to open their season, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team lost a 75-50 decision Friday night in Gallogly Events Center.  The Buffs win came in their fourth game of the season (2-2) while the Mountain Lions start the 2019-20 season 0-1.
 
The Mountain Lions came out strong in the opening stanza, hitting 7-of-12 field goals but couldn't touch the Buffs hot shooting.  WTAMU took a 30-15 lead after one quarter while sinking 12-of-17 field goals (70.6 percent).
 
UCCS cooled off in the second quarter, finding the bottom of the net on only 3-of-16 attempts to account for seven points.
 
Trailing 49-22 at the half, No. 12 WT pulled away by 36 points in the third quarter for their largest lead of the game.  UCCS chipped away at the lead and notched an eight-point scoring run behind three made field goals, a jumper from Ellie Moore and a trey from Desiree Pierson.
 
The Mountain Lions committed 20 turnovers resulting in 28 points for the Buffs.  WT held a 47-19 edge on rebounds, leading to 16 second half points from 18 offensive boards.
 
Madi Gaibler led UCCS with 11 points after making 5-of-8 field goals.  Moore and Eliza de Vera each notched nine points.  All nine of de Vera's points came from long distance.
 
Three Buffs scored in double digits behind Abby Spurgin's game high 20 points.
 
UCCS will play host to Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.