COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team wins in light fashion as hot shooting and tenacious defense in first half leads to a 71-55 victory over New Mexico Highlands.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 71, NMHU 55
- Records: UCCS (8-12, 7-7 RMAC) | NMHU (11-9, 5-9 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: This was the 51st matchup between the Mountain Lions and the Cowgirls, with UCCS now having a 26-25 record against NMHU all time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- NMHU started the game in command as they held a 9-5 lead at the six-minute mark until Jessica Nation sunk two free throws and assisted an Emily Hovasse three pointer to give the Mountain Lions a 10-9 lead. The Cowgirls would reclaim the lead but then UCCS went on a 11-0 run that included a three pointer from Rylie Ottmann which was assisted by Agar Farres.
- From then on, there was no looking back as the Mountain Lions held the lead for the entirety of the game after that run. The second quarter was defensively sound for UCCS as they held NMHU to 10 points and forced them to shoot a cold 3-of-13 from the field and 0-of-6 from deep. The Mountain Lions were on fire from deep in the first half shooting 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) from the three-point line and went into half with a 43-25 lead.
- The Mountain Lions struggled to generate points to start the second half thanks to the Cowgirls blocking 5 total shots in the third quarter which helped NMHU to cut UCCS' lead to 10 with a little under three minutes to go before the final frame. The Mountain Lions finished the quarter strong as Nation made a transition layup as time was expiring to give UCCS a 12-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
- UCCS started the fourth quarter with a strong response as Maison White found Breelyn Robinson for an open three pointer to put the Mountain Lions lead up to 15. Much like the first half, UCCS' strong defense held the cowgirls to shoot poorly from the field as NMHU shot just 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) in the fourth quarter. The win was capped off as Farres nailed a three pointer on an assist from Alexa Dominguez with 2:42 left leading to the Mountain Lions victory, 71-55.
GAME STATISTICS
- The Mountain Lions' nine three pointers made this game was a season high for the team as they shot 9-of-21 (42.9 percent) from deep. Helping them collect this feat, Sydney Nilles, Agar Farres, and Rylie Ottmann each hit two three pointers and shot 6-of-7 as a trio.
- White posted a monster game as she had 16 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists also collecting a steal.
- While UCCS was on fire from three tonight, their defense held the Cowgirls to shoot 2-of-16 (12.5 percent) from three and 18-of-62 (29 percent) from the field.
- The Mountain Lions won the battle on points in the paint (34-24), second chance points (14-4), and fast break points (12-10).
- UCCS got major production from their bench tonight as they had 25 bench points with Ottmann scoring 12 points and Hovasse scoring nine points.
- UCCS dominated the boards collecting 53 compared to the Cowgirls 41 rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Mountain Lion's season high in three pointers last season also came against New Mexico Highlands as they shot 9-of-20 from deep on February 22nd, 2022.
- UCCS' 21 attempted three pointers tonight were also a season high as their previous high was 17 three pointers attempted which happened on January 20th and on December 31st.
- Dominguez' 10 rebounds was a career high, and her four assists tonight was a season high.
- White collected her 12th double-double this season and her five assists tonight was a career high.
- 53 rebounds by UCCS are also a season high and their 15 assists ties a season high which they've hit four different games.
- UCCS dominated time with the lead as they led for 35 minutes in tonight's contest compared to NHMU's three minutes with the lead.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will head to Salt Lake City, Utah, next for a matchup against Westminster College on Friday, February 3rd at 5:00 p.m. at Behnken Field House.
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.
