COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team (4-16, 3-11 RMAC) had another tough loss against MSU Denver (9-11, 8-6 RMAC) Saturday, 55-67.  Another game of two evenly matched teams, three of the four quarters went back and forth with seven lead changes and five ties.

Freshman Ellie Moore started the game out with the first two points of the game then answered a bucket from the Roadrunners to get the first four points for the Mountain Lions.  The first quarter was filled with stifling defense on both ends and each team had a hard time finding prime shot opportunities. Mountain Lions were able to pull away just a little bit as Madi Gaibler hit a three right at the buzzer finishing the first quarter 18-13.

Second quarter started slow with the first shot not hitting home until over two minutes in setting the score at 18-14.  Bree Wellington started putting in work for the Roadrunners scoring seven of her teams 10 points. For every shot that went in for the MSU Denver the Mountain Lions had an answer and they finished the half 25-26 with the Roadrunners taking the lead.

UCCS started the second half strong forcing 14 turnovers and able to capitalize on half.  MSU Denver started to pick up their defense and forced 19 turnovers against UCCS in the second half where 29 of their 41 points allocated from the turnovers.  The bench put up 25 points for the Mountain Lions and the post put in work racking up 20 points. Near the end of the third quarter MSU Denver took control of the game.

Wellington proved a tough force to be reckoned with as she racked up a team high of 18 points, allocated seven rebounds, and led the team with three steals.  The Mountain Lions shared the wealth offensively, but Ellie Moore led with eight points, three blocks, and three steals. Gaibler had a strong defensive game coming out with five rebounds, four of them on the defensive end and shot 50 percent from the field (2-4).  Tatum Tellin helped the Mountain Lions stay in the game forcing fouls against the Roadrunners and shooting 4-5 from the line (80 percent), 2-5 behind the arc (40 percent), and 3-9 from the field (33.3 percent).

The Mountain Lions will stay home next weekend to face New Mexico Highlands Friday night and Colorado State University - Pueblo Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. in the Gallogly Events Center.