PUEBLO, Colo. – Three Mountain Lions scored in double digits as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team charted their first win of the season Friday afternoon.  UCCS dominated Friends University, 68-54, inside Massari Arena on the campus of Colorado State University Pueblo.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP

• Final Score: UCCS 68, Friends 54
• Records: UCCS (1-4, 0-0 RMAC) | Friends (4-3, 0-0 KCAC)
• Facility | Location:  Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colo. 
• All-Time Series: Today's meeting was the first time in program history UCCS and Friends have played each other.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UCCS came out with a slow to start, hitting only 3-of-18 field goals in the opening stanza as part of their 11 points, but the Mountain Lions were able to convert on all four free throw attempts and drain one three-pointer.  Shelby Megyeri led UCCS in the first quarter with five points while Jasmine Jeffcoat added three rebounds and a blocked shot before getting into foul trouble (two personal fouls).
• The Mountain Lions flipped the script in the second quarter and dominated the Falcons, holding FU to three field goals and only seven points. Aaliyah Myles hit a three-pointer to give Friends their largest lead of the half, 22-13, but the Mountain Lions responded with a 9-0 run.
• Agar Farres started the comeback with a steal and fastbreak layup, followed by a jumper from Ellie Moore.  Jessica Nation hit a three and followed that trey with field goal to cap off a 9-0 run and knot the game at 22-all.
• The Falcons would get on the scoreboard one more time with a jumper to give them a 24-22 lead, but UCCS' staunch defense held Friends scoreless for the final 4:03 of the half.  Jeffcoat chipped in two field goals for four points, while Moore collected an offensive rebound and put it back in the rim, and Nation went 4-for-4 from the line as UCCS ended the half on a 10-0 run and a 32-24 lead at the half.
• The Falcons came out of halftime on a mission, outscoring UCCS 11-2 in the first four minutes to regain the lead, 35-34.  Three lead changes later, Farres scored the final four points of the quarter for UCCS to give the Mountain Lions a 47-44 lead after three complete quarters.
• The Mountain Lions, who not trail again, continued on a 9-0 run into the fourth quarter as five different Mountain Lions helped build the lead.  Sophie Abela's two free throws with 73 ticks left in regulation gave UCCS their largest lead of the afternoon, 66-52, and sealed the win for UCCS, 68-54.

 
GAME STATISTICS

• Three Mountain Lions scored in double figures behind Nation's game high 16 points.  Nation went 4-for-10 from the floor including 2-of-4 three-point field goals, and 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.  She also pulled in five rebounds and two steals.
• Jeffcoat was solid from the floor, hitting 6-of-7 for 12 points.  She contributed on both ends of the court, notching eight rebounds, three assists and blocking three shots.
• Moore came off the bench to net 12 points on six field goals and added two steals and four caroms.
• Farres was two points shy of a double-double as she reigned in 13 rebounds (five offensive).  She dished out two assists and stole the ball three times to go with her eight points.
• After starting the game making just 16.7 percent from the floor (3-of-18) in the first quarter, UCCS bounced back and finished the game netting 40 percent (26-of-65), including an impressive 57.1 percent in the fourth quarter (8-of-14).
• Both teams committed 17 turnovers, but UCCS scored 15 points off FU's turnovers.  The Mountain Lions outscored the Falcons in the paint (42-32), on second chance points (15-8), and fastbreak points (14-5).
• Carrie Lacy led Friends with 12 points.  The Falcons finished the game making 20-of-60 field goals and 12-of-22 free throws.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Today's win marked season highs for the Mountain Lions in points (68), field goals made (26) and free throws made (13).
• Jeffcoat's three blocked shots tied Maison White for the most blocks by a Mountain Lion this season.
• Multiple Mountain Lions recorded numerous career highs today, including Sophie Abela's three made free throws and Ines Latapia's three assists.
• Alexa Dominguez, Farres and Gracie Haneborg each had themselves career days as well.  Dominguez tallied career highs in points (four), rebounds (six), assists (two) and steals (three).  Farres' eight points, 13 rebounds and three steals were all career bests while Haneborg registered four points and two steals.
• The last time the Mountain Lions didn't notch a win until the fifth game of the season was 2018-19 (W, 73-69, vs. Colorado School of Mines on Dec. 1, 2018).

 
UP NEXT

• UCCS will face University of the Southwest from Massari Arena tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.

 
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.