COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team (6-15, 5-10 RMAC) sweeps the weekend with another commanding performance Saturday night against Colorado State University - Pueblo (5-15, 4-11 RMAC). The Mountain Lions took control of the game early on and didn't let up resulting in the 75-56 victory.
The first two quarters of the game looked like mirror images of each other. UCCS came out strong in the first quarter with Kaity Hovasse leading the team scoring eight of their 20 points. The Mountain Lions went on an 18-4 run and started to lose control in the last minute and a half of the quarter with some fouls to put the ThunderWolves at the line. The second quarter fans saw CSUP step up their defense and UCCS had a hard time adjusting to the new tempo. The Mountain Lions went from shooting 52.9 percent from the field (9-17) to 25 percent (3-12) in the second. The ThunderWolves got the last shot of the first half putting them just two points behind the Mountain Lions, 30-28.
The second half started out going back and forth with six lead changes and three ties. CSUP took their first lead just a minute and a half into the third quarter. Abby Feickert and Hovasse fed off each other's energy racking up points on the offensive end, but Feickert made two crucial three-pointers back-to-back with just over three minutes left on the clock to extend the lead to 48-38. From there the Mountain Lions went on cruise control to stay in control of the remainder of the game.
UCCS picked up their offensive and defensive game and were able to capitalize on the 14 turnovers they forced against CSUP putting up 17 points. The bench had 16 points for the game and 10 from fast breaks. Sydni Williams and Khiya Adams put in work for the Thunderwolves racking up a combined 33 points and 14 rebounds, 18 and 15 respectively, and nine and five, respectively.
Ellie Moore led the team and achieved a career high 23 points, Moore also shot 4-of-5 from the charity stripe, one assist, and four blocks for the night. Hovasse stepped up for the Mountain Lions with 15 points to go along with three assists, two steals, and four defensive rebounds. Caley Barnard continues to work the defensive end, anticipating all of the offensive passes with five steals and eight rebounds, while also showing high basketball IQ on the offensive end racking up a game high five assists. Madi Gaibler shot 50 percent from the field (4-8) and worked hard underneath the basket to get rebounds for UCCS tallying a game high eight. Feickert was able to add 13 points (4-11 FG, 2-4 3FG) for the Mountain Lions while also finding open teammates with four assists.
UCCS will be on the road next weekend and will have a rematch against MSU Denver Friday night at 4:30 p.m. and face Chadron State College again on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m.
