COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Strong fourth quarter defense from Westminster College was enough to hold off the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team as they drop Saturday's game 55-46.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 46, Westminster 55
- Records: UCCS (2-8, 1-3 RMAC) | WC (5-5, 3-1 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: This was the eighth matchup between the Mountain Lions and the Griffins, with WC now having a 5-3 record against UCCS all time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was a tightly contested first quarter as WC led 16-12. UCCS struggled to score on the Griffins zone defense causing the Mountain Lions to just shoot 5-of-16 (31 percent) in the first frame but got a nice contribution from sophomore guard Gracie Haneborg who was 2-of-4 from the field including a three-pointer totaling for five points.
- Down six with 2:54 to go in the first half, the Mountain Lions went on a 10-0 run that saw both Amyah Moore Allen and Sydney Nilles collecting steals and finishing for fastbreak layups on the other side. These plays along with a buzzer beating jump shot from Nilles provided momentum for UCCS who led 27-to-25 entering the break.
- Both teams defended well in the third quarter causing each team to struggle from the field shooting wise. That was case except for Maison White who went 4-of-4 from the field collecting eight points total in the third quarter.
- With the score being 44-42 with 8:16 left in the game, the Mountain Lions had an opportunity to convert on a game changing swing of points due to a shooting and technical foul called on the Griffins. UCCS only converted one free throw on four chances and didn't score on the retained possession after the technical free throws.
- This stretch of events deflated the chance of momentum to be gained for the Mountain Lions as they only scored three points in the remaining eight minutes of the game while allowing 11 points to Westminster, resulting in the final score of 55-to-46.
GAME STATISTICS
- The Griffin's dominated points from turnovers tonight going for 23 points compared to the Mountain Lions 12.
- White collects her fourth double-double of the season going for 14 points and 12 rebounds to go along with four assists.
- Both teams didn't shoot well from the three-point line tonight as WC shot 28 percent (5-of-18) from three and UCCS shooting 20 percent (2-of-10) from downtown.
- Moore Allen led UCCS in points scored tonight with 16 total.
- Nilles played very strong defense as she collected a team high three steals.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Breelyn Robinson collected her first three pointer made of her collegiate career tonight.
- Moore Allen, who is averaging a team high 14.5 points per game, posts her seventh double digit point performance of the season and has now scored 15 or more points in five straight contests.
- 46 points is the second fewest points the Mountain Lions have scored in a game this season but the 55 allowed tonight is the second lowest number of points they've given up all year.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions next matchup comes against Colorado Christian University next Friday, December 16th at 5 p.m. at Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
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.
