GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 7 seed University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team fell in the quarterfinal round of the 2021-22 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tuesday night in Grand Junction, Colo. The Mountain Lions lost a 79-48 decision to No. 2 seed Colorado Mesa University.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 48, Colorado Mesa 79
- Records: UCCS (13-16) | Colorado Mesa (23-5)
- Facility | Location: Brownson Arena | Grand Junction, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mavericks have won the last six matchups against the Mountain Lions, extending their all-time series lead to 40-11.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions turned the ball over on their first possession of the game leading to a layup from the Mavericks Kelsey Siemons. Gracie Haneborg quickly tied the game up at 2-2 on UCCS' next trip down the court as both teams were off and running in the post-season tournament.
- The two squads traded baskets before Sophie Abela hit two free throws followed by Haneborg's second basket of the game to knot the game at 8-8. The Mavericks regained the lead for the second time of the night, but Maison White drew a foul, making the first of her two attempts followed by a bucket from Bo Shaffer to give the Mountain Lions their first lead of the game, 11-10, with 3:25 left in the first quarter.
- UCCS' lead was short lived as the Mavericks went on a 15-3 run to end the opening stanza and take a 25-14 lead.
- The Mountain Lions started the second quarter with a free throw from Abela and three-point play from Agar Farres to cut into the Mavericks lead, 25-18. UCCS was unable to get within seven points of CMU as the No. 2 seed closed the first half on a 6-0 run to take a 20-point lead into the locker room, 48-28.
- UCCS hit 5-of-16 field goals in the first half and 5-of-8 from the line while forcing CMU to commit nine first half turnovers, leading to 11 of the Mountain Lions 28 points.
- The Mavericks continued their momentum into the second half, scoring the first eight points of the third quarter. CMU's defense held UCCS to one field goal (1-of-11) and four free throws (4-of-10) for just six points in the third quarter. White accounted for three of the six points in the third quarter with a bucket and free throw.
- The final stanza of tonight's game featured 14 points from the Mountain Lions as White paved the way with five points and four rebounds. Bo Shaffer added four points and another three from Ines Latapia as the trio came off the bench to tally 12 of the 14 points.
- The Mavericks kept their foot on the pedal and took their largest lead of the game, 72-41, with 4:19 left in regulation before ending the Mountain Lions season with a final score, 79-48.
GAME STATISTICS
- Abela and White led the Mountain Lions in scoring with nine points each.
- White pulled in a team high eight rebounds; Farres and Alexa Dominguez added six and five, respectively.
- Farres and Haneborg tallied seven of the Mountain Lions eight steals, Farres' four steals were a game high.
- UCCS finished the game shooting 27.9 percent from the floor on 17-of-61 field goals, including 2-of-12 from behind the arc for 16.7 percent, and 12-of-22 from the charity stripe (54.5 percent).
- The home team hit 50.9 percent of their field goals (29-of-57) and 77.3 percent from the free throw line (17-of-22).
- Daniella Turner and Mariah Martin combined for 51 of the Mavericks 79 points as Turner netted a game high 28 points and Martin dished out a game high eight dimes.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 13 wins this season (13-16) are the most wins since the 2018-19 season when UCCS finished 13-15 overall (12-10 RMAC).
- UCCS returned to the RMAC Tournament after a five-year hiatus when they claimed the 2016-17 RMAC Tournament Championship title.
SOCIAL
Twitter - @GoMountainLions
Instagram - @gomountainlions
Facebook – Go Mountain Lions
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.
