The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team is currently riding a three-game winning streak, most recently defeating MSU Denver, the fourth-ranked team in the South Central region, in overtime by a score of 82-78 on Saturday evening. With just two games remaining in the regular season and a potential postseason spot on the horizon, the Mountain Lions will continue to look to redshirt sophomore Ellie Moore to contribute solid minutes to the rotation. The native of Phoenix, Ariz., has appeared in each of the team's 26 games this season, averaging 17.3 minutes per game while recording 7.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Moore has also displayed her strength inside, where has registered the second most blocks on the team with 20. The six-foot forward has also been recognized for her efforts in the classroom as a biology major, recently being named to the RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll for the second consecutive year and being listed on the President's List for the 2021 fall semester.
 
As the women's basketball team continues their battle for the postseason, we caught up with Ellie to talk about how she got started playing basketball, her biggest inspiration on the court, and much more.
 
Q: Why did you decide to continue your education and basketball career at UCCS?
A: What originally drew me to UCCS was the team and the coaches. Though many of my former teammates have moved on and graduated, they will forever be a big part of my life! The coaches were extremely welcoming on my visit and made UCCS feel like it could be my future home! A bonus is that my aunt, uncle, and cousins live in Parker, Colorado, so they have been able to attend many of my games.
 
Q: As a native of Arizona, how have you adjusted to the colder climate of Colorado?
A: Quite honestly, I don't think I will ever get used to the cold. I would say that it has become more bearable, and I do love having four seasons as opposed to the constant sun in Arizona. However, I am always grateful to have such a warm place to go home to over breaks.
 
Q: What is your major? How did you first become interested in your field of study?
A: I am a Biology major in the final year undergraduate degree, with intent to complete a master's program in Physiology over the next two years. Eventually I plan to complete medical school and become a fertility doctor, which is the reason I chose to go into biology. My aunt had difficulty getting pregnant and I witnessed the emotional toll it took on her. Through the use of a fertility doctor, she was able to conceive both of my cousins, and I saw her feelings of frustration and heartache turn into joy because of medical sciences and expertise. This is what turned me to the field of medicine, as I want to utilize my degree to give this to other families that are enduring the same struggles.
 
Q: What are your career goals or ambitions?
A: As I mentioned in the previous question, I hope to enter medical school and become a fertility doctor. The end goal is to work either at the Mayo Clinic or run my own practice in fertility, both of which provide me the opportunity to work with people and in a lab. Though it sounds cheesy, I ultimately hope to make a genuine, positive impact on the lives of others.
 
Q: What is your favorite class that you have taken at UCCS to this point?
A: The Human Anatomy Dissection Course has to be my favorite course I have taken at UCCS thus far. It was quite literally a hands-on experience in which we had to dissect a human body, which I thought was amazing to be able to experience as an undergraduate student. Not many universities offer this opportunity to undergraduate students, so the fact that we got to do something like this was really exciting and this experience really expanded my knowledge.
 
Q: When did you begin playing basketball? What do you enjoy most about the game?
A: I began playing basketball at age five for a YMCA league in Des Moines, Iowa. As a kid you really just play the game because your parents sign you up for it, but as the years went on, I grew to love basketball. I love the team aspect of the game. When you win games, you get to share that excitement with everyone on the team and it amplifies the hype. Even when you lose, you share the frustration and the hurt, so it makes the burden a little less heavy. Plus, the feeling you get when you make a great play or have an overall great night is indescribable, it's just something you have to experience to understand.
 
Q: Do you have any game day superstitions that you can share with us?
A: I'm not extremely superstitious, but I do have a pair of game day spandex that I've worn for every game since freshman year of high school. They are so ripped up and have been stitched on multiple occasions (thanks to my grandma), but I refuse to wear any other pair on game day.
 
Q: Who has been the biggest inspiration for you throughout your basketball career?
A: My younger sister has been one of my biggest supporters and motivators throughout my basketball career. She always used to tell my mom that "she wanted to play basketball like her big sister" so knowing she looked up to me so much really pushed me to set an example of what hard work and dedication to the sport looked like. Especially my senior year when we finally were going to play together at our high school (she was a freshman), and then I tore my ACL and was out for the whole season. It was so difficult sitting on the sidelines instead of being on the court, but getting to watch her start on varsity as a freshman and be so successful motivated me to recover and not give up on the sport. She also played a big part in my recovery, playing me 1 v 1 and rebounding while I learned to shoot again, so I owe her a lot for the player I am today.
 
Q: What types of things do you enjoy doing in your free time? Do you have any unique hobbies?
A: Honestly, it's kind of nerdy but I love to read. My mom has this photo of me as a 4-year-old with a stack of books taller than me, so I guess that hobby started at a young age. I also really love the outdoors. Colorado and Arizona have great mountains for hiking which is one of my favorite outdoors hobbies. I'm hoping to hike a 14er and learn how to snowboard by the time I finish college in Colorado. A unique hobby I have is participating in races like the Mud Run, Color Run, and Spartan Race. Really any race outdoors with competition I find super fun.