RAPID CITY, S.D. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team led South Dakota School of Mines for a majority of the first half, but the Hardrockers took advantage of home court and handed the Mountain Lions a 74-58 setback Saturday night at King Center in Rapid City, S.D.
Both teams traded leads in the first half with UCCS controlling the lead for nearly 13 minutes. SDSMT finished the final five minutes of the first half outscoring UCCS 15-3 to take a 38-30 halftime lead.
The Mountain Lions (4-13, 3-8 RMAC) came out on fire in the opening stanza, making 9-of-14 from the floor for 64.3 percent. UCCS cooled off in the second quarter, hitting just 4-of-15 (26.7 percent).
Desiree Pierson,
Ellie Moore and
Tatum Tellin each scored four points in the first quarter and combined to make 6-of-7 field goals.
SDSMT (6-9, 4-7 RMAC) edged the Mountain Lions in the second half, outscoring UCCS 36-28. Seventeen of the Hardrockers 25 free throws in the game came in the second half. SDMST made 17-of-25 from the charity stripe in four quarters of action, attempting 16 more free throws than UCCS (6-of-9).
Half of
Chelsea Pearson's team high 12 points came from behind the arc. She added three rebounds and a steal. Pierson chipped in 10 points, two assists and a rebound.
Madison Lord came off the bench and made all three field goal attempts and both free throw attempts for eight points in less than eight minutes of action. Moore finished the night with eight points, a team high six rebounds, one block and a steal.
After shooting nearly 65 percent in the first quarter, the Mountain Lions closed the game hitting 24-of-59 for 40.7 percent, and 4-of-15 from three-point range (26.7 percent).
SDSMT was led by Ryan Weiss' 21 points and five rebounds. The Hardrockers shot 43.6 percent from the floor (24-of-55) and 42.9 percent from long range (9-of-21).
UCCS will return home to Gallogly Events Center next weekend to begin a four-game homestand. The Mountain Lions will play host to Chadron State College on Jan. 24, and MSU Denver on Jan. 25.
