DENVER, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team held off Regis University Tuesday night in overtime, 66-64, at Regis Fieldhouse.  The win marked the Mountain Lions second victory in three games as they improve to 5-10 on the season and 3-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP

• Final Score: UCCS 66, Regis University 64 (OT)
• Records: UCCS (5-10, 3-6 RMAC) | Regis (9-6, 5-4 RMAC)
• Facility | Location:  Regis Fieldhouse | Denver, Colo. 
• All-Time Series: Tonight's win snapped a six-game losing streak against the Rangers. Regis holds the all-time series lead, 34-21.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ellie Moore won the tip ball and then proceeded to find Agar Farres in the paint for the first basket of the game.  Farres added to the Mountain Lions lead with a three-pointer. Just under the six-minute mark, Maison White grabbed a defensive rebounds and hit a layup as UCCS snagged a 7-0 lead, forcing Regis to call an early timeout.
• Regis went on the scoreboard on an old-fashioned three-point play to cut into UCCS' lead, 7-3, but the Mountain Lions rattled off a 13-0 run.  Alexa Dominguez started the run with a step back jumper, followed by a turn-around jump shot from Moore. Bo Shaffer snagged a steal that led to Dominguez' second basket of the game.  Shelby Megyeri put her name in the scorebook with a jumper, followed by a quick steal from Gracie Haneborg that resulted in a trey from Jessica Nation.  Megyeri capped off the run with a pull up jumper with 29 seconds left in regulation.  The Rangers' Josey Ryan beat the buzzer with a three-pointer as UCCS took a 20-6 lead after one quarter of action.
• Regis netted the first two points of the second quarter from free throws but UCCS answered with two points from the charity stripe courtesy of Haneborg and a layup from Moore as the Mountain Lions charted their largest lead of the game, 24-8, with 8:18 left in the first half.
• The Rangers didn't fold as they played the final seven minutes of the second quarter out-scoring UCCS, 17-2.  RU drained five field goals, two of which came from downtown, and five free throws to cut the Mountain Lions lead down to one point at halftime, 26-25.
• Both teams continued to battle coming out of the second half.  UCCS lost their lead for the first time of the night after Regis started the third quarter with a bucket for a 27-26 lead.  The deficit didn't last long as four Mountain Lions combined for a 9-0 run that gave UCCS a 35-29 lead with four minutes left in the quarter, and a 37-32 lead after three complete quarters.
• Trailing by four points, 53-49, with 3:34 left in regulation, the Mountain Lions clawed their way back to knot the game.  After 90 seconds of scoreless action from both teams, Sophie Abela drew a foul and hit the second of two free throws to bring UCCS within three points, 53-50, with 1:54 left.  The next trip down the court by Regis, Tashika Burrell attempted a three-pointer from the right side but was blocked by Megyeri leading to a shot clock violation.  After a UCCS timeout, Abela made a layup cutting into Regis' lead, 53-52.
• Regis added to their lead, 55-52, with 36 seconds left in the game, but Abela answered with a long two-point jumper from the left side with just 22 ticks left on the clock.  Forced to foul and send Regis to the line, the Rangers' Burrell made one of two from the line before Abela drove the lane and knotted the game with a layup, sending both teams to overtime.
• In the extra period, neither team led by more than two points.  Moore made back-to-back baskets for UCCS for a 64-62 UCCS lead with just 42 seconds remaining, but Burrell forced the fourth tie of overtime with a bucket nine seconds later.  White then scooped up an offensive rebound on the Mountain Lions next possession and drew a foul.  She drained both free throws with 15 seconds left for a 66-64 lead.  Farres blocked a last second three-point attempt to seal the win for the Mountain Lions and their first overtime win of the season.

 
GAME STATISTICS

• Abela came off the bench to lead UCCS in scoring with 13 points.  She was nearly perfect from the floor, making 5-of-6 field goals and 3-of-4 free throws.
• Moore, Farres, White and Megyeri each added eight points as nine of the 11 Mountain Lions that played tonight netted at least four points.
• Farres led both teams with 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. 
• Alexa Dominguez tallied three steals and three assists to go with her six points.
• After a sizzling first quarter where the Mountain Lions shot 69.2 percent from the floor (9-of-13), UCCS finished the game making 27-of-62 for 43.5 percent. 
• UCCS' bench outscored Regis', 38-24, and dominated the boards with a nine-rebound advantage.
• The Rangers' Josey Ryan led all players with 20 points.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Head coach Lynn Plett is one win away from 300 career wins.
• Tonight's two-point win is the Mountain Lions closest margin of victory this season.
• UCCS' 43.5 field goal shooting mark is the ninth time this year they have shot .400 or better from the floor.
• The nine-rebound advantage is the 11^th time this season UCCS has out-rebounded their opponent.
• Abela's 13 points and Farres' eight points tonight are individual career highs.
• This is the first overtime win for the Mountain Lions since a double overtime win at home last year against Fort Lewis, 85-83, on Feb. 26, 2021.

 
UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions will return home this weekend to host MSU Denver on Friday, and Colorado Christian University on Saturday.

 
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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.