THIS WEEK'S GAMES
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team (13-15, 11-11 RMA) will travel to the Western Slope to take on Colorado Mesa University tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the 2021-22 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
GAME COVERAGE
LAST TIME OUT
- The Mountain Lions closed out the regular season with a home split against New Mexico Highlands University (W, 86-42) and South Dakota School of Mines (L, 77-67).
- In Tuesday's win over the Cowgirls, Shelby Megyeri came off the bench to lead all scorers with 12 points behind four field goals, two treys and two free throws. Jasmine Jeffcoat added 11 points in 11 minutes while blocking two shots. UCCS held NMHU to just 21 points through the first three quarters of action before the Cowgirls went off for 21 points in the final stanza.
- In a 10-point setback to South Dakota Mines on Thursday, the Mountain Lions were led by Maison White's 24 points. White was nearly perfect from the floor, making 11-of-13 attempts. She tied Ellie Moore for a game high seven rebounds.
RMAC TOURNAMENT
- The winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal game will play the winner between No. 3 seed Westminster College and No. 6 seed MSU Denver.
- On the other side of the bracket, the 2021-22 RMAC Regular Season Champions, Colorado School of Mines, will host No. 8 seed Western Colorado University.
- Rounding out the final quarterfinal game is No. 4 seed Colorado State University Pueblo hosting No. 5 seed Black Hills State University.
THE SERIES
- Since the series began in 1990, CMU leads the all-time series against UCCS, 39-11. The Mountain Lions last win against the Mavericks was in the semifinal round of the 2016-17 RMAC Tournament, 63-51, in Pueblo, Colo.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
- The Mavericks enter Tuesday's quarterfinal game winning 10 of their last 11 games. CMU owns a 22-5 regular season record (17-5 RMAC) and are 12-1 on their home court, suffering their only home loss of the season to MSU Denver on Jan. 14, 2022 (76-62). CMU is ranked fifth in the latest NCAA South Central Regional poll (Feb. 23) and they received votes in this week's WBCA Division II Top 25 poll (March 1).
- Graduate students Mariah Martin and Daniella Turner are second and third, respectively, in scoring this season in the RMAC. Martin, who leads the league in free throw percentage (90.2 percent) and assists (6.0 per game), is netting 19.5 points per game. Turner is scoring an average of 18.8 points per game and has the third best field goal shooting mark in the league (46.6 percent). Graduate student Kelsey Siemons is third on the team in scoring with 9.8 points per game and is second in the RMAC in blocks (2.0 per game) and third in rebounding (7.6 rebounds per game). The trio of Martin, Turner and Siemons have started all 27 games for the Mavericks.
- As a team, the Mavericks are one of the top offensive and rebounding teams in the RMAC. CMU is second in scoring (70.7 points per game) and scoring margin (14.2) while leading the league in free throw percentage at 80.7 percent (317-of-393). The Mavericks are only allowing 56.5 points by their opponents and are second in rebounds per game (40.9), rebound margin (7.7) and assists (15.3) while blocking four shots per game.
HOT TAKES
- Tuesday's win over NMHU extended the Mountain Lions longest winning streak of the season to four games.
- UCCS swept three opponents this season after Tuesday's triumph over the Cowgirls (NMHU, Colorado Christian University and Adams State University).
- Tuesday's 44-point win over NMHU is their largest margin of victory, doubling the previous season high of 22 points (vs. University of the Southwest).
- Against the Cowgirls, UCCS recorded season highs in field goals (33), field goals made (76), three-point field goals made (nine), rebounds (51) and steals (17).
- Several Mountain Lions notched individual career highs on Tuesday against NMHU. Talia DePetrillo notched career highs in points (five), assists (four) and steals (two). Also posting career highs were Alexa Dominguez (seven assists), Emily Doolittle (eight points, three rebounds), Ines Latapia (nine points, nine rebounds), McClain Walker (three three-point field goals) and White (three assists).
- Two days later against the Hardrockers, White added to her career highs with 24 points and 11 made field goals, while Sophie Abela made a season high four free throws.
- Farres is one of the top rebounders in the league, ranking fourth in rebounds (182) and seventh in defensive rebounds per game (4.9).
- UCCS has outrebounded their opponent in 23 games this season and have held a double-digit rebounding advantage nine times.
- The Mountain Lions have shot the ball 40 percent or better from the floor in 10 games, while posting a higher shooting mark than their opponent 20 times.
- UCCS has blocked at least one shot in all but one game this season and have blocked at least two shots in 24 games, and are sixth in the RMAC in blocks per game (3.3).
- The Mountain Lions are one of the top rebounding teams in the conference, ranking first in rebounds (1,171), rebound margin (7.8) and rebounds per game (41.8). UCCS is second in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (14.6), and free throw attempts (53), and fourth in defensive rebounds per game (27.2).
AWARD WINNERS
- The RMAC announced the 2021-22 RMAC All-Academic Teams on Jan. 31. Five Mountains were named to the Honor Roll:
UCCS UNDER HEAD COACH LYNN PLETT
- Lynn Plett is in his sixth season as head coach of the Mountain Lions in 2021-22, and his 24th season overall. He owns a career record of 307-352 and a 76-85 record at UCCS.
- UCCS has been named to the WBCA Top 25 Team Academic Honor Roll for four straight years. Plett guided the Mountain Lions to their first RMAC championship title in program history in his first season in 2016-17, and their third NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Plett has coached at St. Joseph's (1994-95 to 2001-02), Lewis (2002-03 to 2006-07), and Missouri Western State (2007-08 to 2011-12) prior to joining the Mountain Lions.
UPCOMING GAMES
- The highest remaining seed following the quarterfinal round will host the RMAC final four games.
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.
