PUEBLO, Colo. – Freshman Gracie Haneborg came off the bench to score 19 points and lead the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team to their second straight win of the season.  The Mountain Lions posted an 89-67 win over the University of the Southwest to go 2-0 at the Colorado State University Pueblo Thanksgiving Classic.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP

• Final Score: UCCS 89, University of the Southwest 67
• Records: UCCS (2-4, 0-0 RMAC) | USW (1-8, 0-0 RRAC)
• Facility | Location:  Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colo. 
• All-Time Series: After their first meeting today, UCCS leads the all-time series, 1-0.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams battled back and forth throughout the first half that featured nine lead changes and the score tied seven times.
• The Mustangs took their largest lead of the game just seven minutes into the opening stanza, 14-7, but the Mountain Lions came back to outscore Southwest, 11-3 in the final three minutes and 11 seconds.  Alexa Dominguez started the scoring spree with a jumper before Haneborg scored six straight points behind four free throws and a layup to give UCCS a 15-14 lead.  USW stopped the 8-0 scoring run by UCCS with a three of their own, but the Mountain Lions drained three straight free throws in the final 17 seconds of the first quarter to take an 18-17 lead.
• In just six minutes off the bench, Haneborg netted eight points (6-for-6 free throws) and nabbed three steals.
• The second quarter repeated the first stanza with five lead changes and the score tied four times.  Emily Doolittle drained a three-pointer with 5:30 left in the half to boost UCCS' lead to 31-25, but a 5-0 run with 1:21 remaining in the half gave USW a 36-35 lead.  Shelby Megyeri went 4-for-4 from the line to bring the Mountain Lions within one point of the Mustangs at halftime, 40-39.
• The second half belonged to the Mountain Lions as they outscored the Mustangs, 50-27, in the final 20 minutes.
• UCCS came out of halftime on a 15-1 run in the first five minutes, including the first 10 points of the half.  Sophie Abela converted an and-one followed by a jumper from Jasmine Jeffcoat.  Jessica Nation continued the scoring spree with a fast break layup and two free throws before Megyeri capped off the 10-0 run with a layup, all within the first four and a half minutes of the third quarter.
• UCCS held the Mustangs to just three field goals and 10 points in the third quarter as the Mountain Lions shot a blistering 60 percent from the floor (9-of-15) and they went a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe.
• The Mountain Lions ended the game on a 10-3 run.  Ines Latapia scored her first bucket of the game with 32 ticks left in the game to give UCCS their largest lead of the game, 86-64 (22 points).  She followed that bucket with a three-pointer as time expired.

 
GAME STATISTICS

• Haneborg finished the game with 19 points, two rebounds, three steals and an assist.  She hit 6-of-10 field goals and all six free throws.
• Haneborg was one of five Mountain Lions to score in double figures.  Jeffcoat made 4-of-7 field goals and all four free throws for 12 points as she also reigned in seven boards. 
• Nation posted her first double-double of the season and the second of her career behind 10 points and 10 rebounds.  Six of her points came in the second half while six of her rebounds were on the offensive glass.
• Megyeri and Ellie Moore also chipped in 10 points apiece.  They combined for seven field goals and 6-of-7 field goals.
• Sophie Abela, who was one point shy of reaching double digits, dished out a game high five assists.
• UCCS finished the game making 29-of-67 field goals for 43.3 percent, 3-of-12 three-point field goals for 25 percent, and 28-of-35 free throws for 80 percent.
• The Mountain Lions held a 47-39 rebounding advantage, while forcing Southwest to commit 22 turnovers.  UCCS scored 30 points off of the Mustangs turnovers, and added 15 points from offensive rebounds.
• UCCS outscored USW in the paint, 44-32, on the fast break, 22-7, and from the bench, 44-12.
• The Mustangs Harlei Haceesa led all scorers with 24 points.
• USW was held to 37.5 percent from the field and converted only 12-of-23 free throws for 52.2 percent.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• UCCS has now won two straight games after defeating Friends University on Friday followed by today's 22-point win.  The last time UCCS won back-to-back games was in 2019-20 when they ended the season on a four-game winning streak from Feb. 15-28, 2020.
• Ten of the 12 Mountain Lions that saw court time today scored at least four points, while all five starters scored at least four points.
• Today's game was highlighted by several team highs this season, including most points (80), field goals made (29), free throws made (28) and free throws attempted (35).
• Multiple Mountain Lions notched numerous career highs today, including Abela's nine points, Alexa Dominguez' six points and three assists, Haneborg's 19 points, three steals and six free throws made and attempted.  Megyeri's four made free throws were also a career high while Nation's 10 caroms matched a career high from her freshman season.

 
UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions will return to Massari Arena next Friday, Dec. 3 for the RMAC season opener.  UCCS will then travel to Adams State University to take on the Grizzlies on Dec. 4.  Both games will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.

 
SOCIAL
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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.