ALAMOSA, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team held a 24-21 lead after one half of play at Adams State University Saturday night, but the Grizzlies forced UCCS to commit 31 turnovers as ASU overpowered the Mountain Lions in the second half to win a 72-59 decision.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 59, Adams State 72
- Records: UCCS (5-10, 4-5 RMAC) | ASU (10-5, 6-3 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Plachy Hall | Alamosa, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions are 26-19 all-time against the Grizzlies.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first field goal of the game came two and half minutes from the jump ball when the Mountain Lions broke the Grizzlies full-court press as Sydney Nilles drove the lane and converted the three-point play to give UCCS a 5-2 lead. UCCS took a 7-2 lead when Gracie Haneborg threw a hard pass to a driving Maison White under the basket who put the ball in the hoop. The home team responded with a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game, 8-7. Rylie Ottmann broke the Grizzlies scoring spree when she scored her first bucket of the game. The Mountain Lions 9-8 lead didn't last as ASU went 4-for-4 from the free throw line to end the first quarter. Both teams shot identical 21.4 percent from the floor (3-of-14). The difference in score came from the line as UCCS went 3-for-7 and ASU converted 6-of-8.
- Breelyn Robinson forced an Adams State steal to start the second stanza leading to a fast break bucket from Haneborg. Both teams proceeded to net back-to-back layups on their next possession. Haneborg found White again for a deuce as UCCS trailed by one point, 14-13, before Agar Farres hit a pull up jumper from the right side of the lane followed by a hook shot to give UCCS a 17-14 lead. The Grizzlies hit a shot from downtown to knot the game at 17-all, but the Mountain Lions jumped back on the offensive attack for a 7-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Robinson for her first score of the game. The 7-0 run propelled UCCS to take a 24-21 lead at the break.
- The Grizzlies came out in the second half with an offensive explosion, using a pair of large runs to take a commanding 14-point lead, 48-34, with 1:19 left in the third quarter. UCCS' halftime lead was lost shortly into the third stanza as ASU used an 11-2 run for a 32-26 lead three minutes into the action. Another 10-0 run by the Grizzlies put UCCS in a 10-point deficit 42-32. Adams State went 7-for-7 from the floor and 2-for-2 from three-point range during both scoring bursts.
- Trailing by 11 to start the final stanza, 48-37, the Mountain Lions deficit grew to 19 points (58-39), but UCCS sparked an 8-0 run to bring Adams State's lead down to 11. White started the run with an old-fashioned three-point play, followed by Robinson's second trey of the game and a bucket from Farres. The Mountain Lions shortfall was too much to overcome as the Grizzlies kept their foot on the pedal to take a 72-59 win.
GAME STATISTICS
- White posted her second straight double-double with 14 points and a game high 12 rebounds. She went 6-for-15 from the floor and 2-of-5 from the line.
- Nine of Robinson's 13 points came from behind the arc and four of her five rebounds were on the offensive end of the court.
- Farres came off the bench and tallied 10 points, six rebounds, two steals, a blocked shot and an assist in 25 minutes of action.
- Haneborg reigned in eight rebounds to go with six points and three steals.
- ASU's Kiiyani Anitielu notched a game high 16 points and five steals.
- UCCS hit 34.8 percent of their shots from the floor (23-of-66), 20 percent from long range (3-of-15) and 58.8 percent from the charity stripe (10-of-17).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Tonight's setback snapped a nine-game winning streak against Adams State.
- White registered her eighth double-double of the season and her sixth in the last seven games. Her 15 field goal attempts are a career high.
- Robinson set several career highs including points (13), field goals made (five), field goals attempted (13), and three-point field goals made (three) and attempted (seven). Her 3-of-7 three-pointers are an individual season high for UCCS.
- Farres netted a career-high 10 points after making a career-high four field goals.
- Tonight's 31 turnovers are the most committed by UCCS this season.
- ASU's 17 assists and 19 steals are the most by an opponent against UCCS this season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions return home Jan. 13-14 to take on MSU Denver and Colorado School of Mines. Both games will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. inside Gallogly Events Center.
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.
