CHADRON, Neb. – Sunday afternoon's game between the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team at Chadron State College was plagued with 64 fouls and a combined 81 free throw attempts, but the Mountain Lions came away with the 16-point win, besting the Eagles 70-54 in the last game of 2023.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 70, Chadron State 54
- Records: UCCS (7-5, 4-2 RMAC) | CSC (3-7, 1-5 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: CSC Chicoine Center | Chadron, Neb.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions are 29-16 all-time against the Eagles and have won the last four meetings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Emily Vidal picked up where she left off yesterday and started the Mountain Lions offense with a three-point shot from the left side on a Krystina Hagood pass to give UCCS their first lead of the game, 3-2. Maison White's hook shot knotted the game at 5-5 before Amyah Moore Allen made a bounce pass to White in the lane who put it in for a 7-5 lead. After White made her third trip to the free throw line, she made both free throws to give UCCS a 9-5 cushion at the first media timeout. The Mountain Lions defense held Chadron State for more than five minutes without making a field goal. UCCS also spent more than four minutes without a field goal before Hagood drained a three-pointer with 1:36 left in the first quarter. An Eagles turnover on an in-bounds play led to a second straight trey by Hagood as UCCS took a 21-12 lead after the first period.
- In the first 10 minutes of action, both teams combined for 20 team fouls with the home team committing 12 of them. UCCS shot more free throws in the first quarter (8-of-19) than they attempted in four complete games this season.
- The Mountain Lions started the second quarter with the ball at half court and worked the ball around the key when Rylie Ottmann made a cross court pass to Breelyn Robinson who drained the three-pointer. The Mountain Lions' next three points came from Ottmann at the charity stripe. Both teams struggled from the floor, but the Mountain Lions started to warm up toward the end of the first half. Robinson connected with Hagood for a three with 2:20 left in the half before Mya Wilson added two points and White chipped in a pair to end a 7-0 run. The Eagles were able to find the bottom of the net on a three-pointer with 15 ticks left, but Wilson drew a personal foul taking the ball down the court and sank both free throws for a 39-26 UCCS lead at intermission.
- Vidal opened the second half by issuing open season on three-point field goals. UCCS controlled the first possession of the third quarter as Ottmann connected with Vidal for a three-pointer nine seconds into the half. After White grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in the hoop, Vidal proceeded to drain back-to-back three-pointers as part of UCCS' 15-2 third quarter run that helped give UCCS their largest lead of the game, 54-28. Moore Allen ended a two-minute field goal drought for UCCS with a driving layup while Jessica Nation put the final touches of the quarter for UCCS with a turnaround jumper in the paint as UCCS outscored the home team, 22-14, and took a 61-40 lead after 30 minutes of play.
- The Mountain Lions held the Eagles without a field goal in the third quarter, as CSC went 0-for-5, but the Eagles made 14-of-16 free throws (87.5 percent) to keep them in reach of the Mountain Lions.
- UCCS' 21-point lead heading into the final quarter was needed as the Mountain Lions did not make a field goal until Hagood found White under the basket with 33 seconds left in the game. The Mountain Lions went 1-for-10 in the fourth period but made 7-of-10 free throws to counter the Eagles 14-point fourth-quarter output.
GAME STATISTICS
- The trio of White, Vidal and Hagood paced the Mountain Lions with double-digit points. White scored a game high 17 points on 5-of-9 field goals and 7-of-12 free throws to go with eight rebounds, two blocks and two assists.
- Four players fouled out of today's contest and five more tallied four fouls.
- All 12 of Vidal's points came from behind the arc where she nailed 4-of-6 three-pointers.
- Hagood added three treys as part of her 12 points and pulled in three rebounds while dishing out a game high five assists.
- UCCS connected on 18-of-48 field goals (37.5 percent), 10-of-22 three-point field goals (45.5 percent) and 24-of-40 free throws (60 percent).
- The Mountain Lions bested the Eagles in assists (14-5), steals (17-10), blocks (2-1), and outscored CSC on turnovers (19-14), on the fastbreak (11-3) and from the bench (20-18).
- UCCS led Chadron State for more than 36 minutes and held the home team to just 1-of-11 three-pointers.
- The Eagles were led by Allison Olsen's 14 points and Ashayla Powers' 13-point, nine-rebound performance.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 64 combined fouls are a season high, while CSC's 34 fouls are the most committed by an opponent. UCCS' 31 fouls are the second most for the Mountain Lions this season.
- The Mountain Lions 24 made free throws and 40 attempts are also season highs.
- White's 7-of-12 free throws ties her career output and are both season highs for any Mountain Lion this season.
- UCCS posted a season high 17 steals and forced an opponent to commit a season high 30 turnovers.
- Hagood marked new career highs in assists (five) and free throw attempts (eight).
- One night after setting a new career high in made three-pointers, Vidal matched her mark tonight with another four treys.
- Wilson registered career highs with 5-of-6 free throws made and attempted, and in steals (three).
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will end their five-game road trip on January 2 when they travel to Regis University for a 5 p.m. game.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
