THIS WEEK'S MATCHES

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team opens up the conference  seasonthis Friday and Saturday against Colorado Mesa University and Western Colorado State University.

• Dec. 06 at 5:30 p.m. vs. Colorado Mesa University  (4-2, 0-0 RMAC)

• Dec. 07 at 5:30 p.m. vs. Western Colorado State University  (2-2, 0-0 RMAC)

GAME COVERAGE

Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uccs/

Live Stats:  https://gomountainlions.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary

LAST TIME OUT

• UCCS lost their final two games of non-games against Simon Fraser University and Western Washington University.  Four Mountain Lions hit double digit points against SFU, with freshman Makenna Baker leading the team with 19. The team ultimately fell in an exciting game in overtime.  Even though UCCS outshot SFU in both field goal percentage, 44.8 percent to 42.9 percent, and three-point percentage, 37.5 percent to 28.1 percent. The Clan's defense forced 28 turnovers against the Mountain Lions and resulted in 16 steals.

• The following night UCCS went cold in shooting.  The Mountain Lions made only 28.8 field goal percentage and only four attempts at the line as the Vikings downed the Mountain Lions 41-62.

THE SERIES

• The Mountain Lions faced Colorado Mesa last year in Grand Junction where they lost 45-67, making their series record 11-36 in favor of the Mavericks.

• UCCS had their last match up against WCU last December resulting in a 65-59 win over the Mountaineers.  The Mountain Lions lead the series 28-16 with a two-game win streak currently.

SCOUTING REPORT

• Sydni Brandon received the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week over the weekend for the Mavericks.  She averages seven rebounds and four and a half steals a game and leads the RMAC in steals totalling 18 for the season already.

• Samatha Coleman was awarded the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week and tied her school record of hitting seven three-pointers in a game.  She shoots over 50 percent at both the field goal and three-point range and averages 13.3 points per game.

HOT TAKES

• Chelsea Pearson is ranked in three RMAC categories.  She is No. 8 in both three-point percentage (34.4 percent) and steals (13.3/game), and is No. 10 for three-pointers averaging 2 per game.

• Freshman Ellie Moore ranks No. 8 in blocks with 1.00.

• Madi Gaibler will start the conference at No. 10 for assists in the league with 3.00.

UCCS UNDER HEAD COACH LYNN PLETT

• Lynn Plett returns in 2019-20 for his fourth year on the sideline for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.  The 2018-19 season finished with a six-way fourth place finish in the RMAC regular season standings with a 12-10 conference record and a 13-15 overall mark.  Off the court, the Mountain Lions received their first RMAC Brechler Award, besting all 16 teams in the conference with a 3.660 grade point average.

• Plett spent four seasons at Northern Kentucky, where the Norse qualified for the Women's Basketball Invitational postseason tournament each season during the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I. He served on the NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee from 2007 through 2011.

• Plett was the head coach at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, from 2002 through 2007, and his teams qualified for three NCAA Division II Tournaments in his career. Plett entered Division II coaching at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, in 1994, where he also doubled as athletic director. He won the GLVC championship and was named GLVC Coach of the Year in his first season and coached an All-American, two-time conference player of the year and a two-time NCAA Division II scoring leader. 

UPCOMING GAMES

UCCS will be on the road next week to face off with Regis University and Colorado Christian University.

• Dec. 13 at Regis University at 5:00 p.m.  Denver, Colo./Regis Fieldhouse

• Dec. 14 at Colorado Christian University at 5:00 p.m.  Lakewood, Colo./CCU Event Center