COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team forced the Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets to turn the ball over 26 times Saturday night as they pulled off a 63-57 victory and start 2-0 in RMAC competition this year.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 63, BHSU 57
- Records: UCCS (5-3, 2-0 RMAC) | BHSU (4-2, 1-1 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions snap a six-game losing streak to the Yellow Jackets with tonight's win as they hold the advantage in the all-time record now being 12-11 over BHSU.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Tonight's match started sloppy as both teams traded turnovers on the first two possessions, but the Yellow Jackets would jump out on top as they scored eight straight points without a Mountain Lions response. UCCS would get on the board at the 6:42 mark after Amyah Moore Allen stole the ball and assisted Maison White for a transition layup.
- After a Rylie Ottmann three-pointer, a transition lay up from Moore Allen after another steal, and a layup from White assisted by Moore Allen, the Mountain Lions found themselves only down 10-9 after the slow start. BHSU would maintain the lead heading into the second quarter up 16-14.
- UCCS grabbed the lead on the first possession of the second frame after Moore Allen found Jessica Nation for a three-pointer at the top of the key. The Mountain Lions had a great showing to end the first half as their defensive pressure made the Yellow Jackets cough the ball up seven times in the quarter. UCCS won the quarter 19-11 and would take a 33-27 lead into the break.
- The Mountain Lions came out of the half looking to put the game away as momentum was on their side after leaving the Yellow Jackets scoreless in the first five minutes of the third quarter. Ottmann would soon make a three and swish a pair of free throws to make the UCCS lead 16 points up 48-32 with a little under three minutes to go before the fourth quarter. BHSU would finish the frame well though as they cut the Mountain Lions lead to 10 going into the final frame.
- After growing the lead back up to 13 after White sank a free-throw, UCCS began to lose all momentum while the Yellow Jackets went on a 15-4 run in the first seven minutes of the quarter, taking a 53-52 lead with 2:46 to go in the game. Out of a timeout with 2:30 remaining, the Mountain Lions would retake the lead after White made a tough bucket through traffic.
- UCCS kept a slim lead down the stretch as BHSU kept it close. Desperate to stay in the game, the Yellow Jackets began to foul, hoping for the Mountain Lions to miss. But to no avail, in the final 20 seconds, Breelyn Robinson and Ottmann would make all of their free throws to help secure the 63-57 victory.
GAME STATISTICS
- Neither team found their stroke from range tonight as UCCS shot 4-of-16 (25 percent) from beyond the arc while BHSU shot 1-of-15 (6.7 percent) from deep.
- Despite the victory, the Mountain Lions lost the rebounding battle by 13 as BHSU grabbed 37 boards compared to UCCS' 24.
- The Mountain Lions had more blocks (4-0), assists (11-7), fast break points (15-10), and points from the bench (23-14) the then Yellow Jackets tonight.
- White collected another double-double tonight with 20 points and 11 rebounds. She shot 9-of-11 from the field for a field goal percentage of 82 percent which is the best percentage from a Mountain Lion so far this season.
- Ottmann had a nice tonight as she recorded 14 points to go along with four rebounds, two three-pointers made, and shooting 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.
- Sydney Nilles and Moore Allen were active in the passing lanes and as defenders tonight as Nilles recorded four steals while Moore Allen notched three.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Mountain Lions defense has been locked in recently as they collected 25 plus turnovers in back-to-back games with 27 turnovers forced in last night's contest with South Dakota Mines University and with 26 tonight against Black Hills State.
- UCCS' 24 rebounds are the lowest number of boards they've grabbed in a game this season.
- The Mountain Lions perimeter defense has done a fantastic job on three-point shooters this year as they've forced opponents to shoot an RMAC best 20.6 percent from beyond the arc this year.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions take a quick break with RMAC play next time out as they face the Air Force Academy in an exhibition match on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at AFA Cadet Fieldhouse at the USAF Academy, Colo. UCCS will then head to Colorado Mesa University and Westminster University on Dec. 8-9, respectively.
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 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
