LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team ended their season Saturday night with a 65-57 setback at New Mexico Highlands University.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 57, NMHU 65
- Records: UCCS (10-18, 9-13 RMAC) | NMHU (14-14, 8-14 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: John Wilson Complex | Las Vegas, N.M.
- All-Time Series: After tonight's loss, the Mountain Lions and Cowgirls are tied up in the all-time series, 26-26.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sophomore forward Maison White picked up where she left off last night, scoring the first seven points of the game for the Mountain Lions. After her third basket of the opening quarter gave UCCS a 7-5 lead, the Cowgirls went on an 8-0 run to snag a 13-7 lead with 2:59 left in the first quarter. Gaia Zimbardo closed out the first quarter with a layup with just seven seconds left in the period to bring UCCS within four points, 17-13.
- White went 3-for-4 from the floor and made all three free throw attempts for nine points in less than nine minutes on the floor in the first period.
- The Cowgirls scored six of the first eight points in the second quarter after draining two baskets from behind the arc. Trailing by eight points, 23-15, UCCS responded with a 9-2 run to get within one point of the Cowgirls, 25-24. Rylie Ottmann started the scoring spree with two free throws followed by a second chance basket from Agar Farres, a trey from Talia DePetrillo and a jumper in the paint from White. NMHU held the Mountain Lions to just two points in the final 4:44 of the second quarter as they netted six of their own to take a 31-26 halftime lead.
- White went back to work in the second half, netting the first six points for UCCS. Sydney Nilles snagged a steal from NMHU that turned into a fastbreak layup from Ottmann, bringing the Mountain Lions back within two points of the home team, 35-33. After White scored her 20th point of the game, the Cowgirls answered with an 11-2 run to end the third quarter and take a 13-point lead after three quarters of action, 52-39.
- Down by 14 points in the final stanza, the Mountain Lions were able to cut into NMHU's lead and bring it down to six points with 6:20 remaining in regulation. Sophie Abela grabbed a defensive rebound and went down the court for a driving layup while drawing a foul and converting the old-fashioned three-point play. White added another three-point play on the Mountain Lions ensuing possession and then hit her second straight layup, cutting the deficit to six points. The Cowgirls were able to hold off the Mountain Lions as UCCS wasn't able to get within more than five points of NMHU's lead, falling in the season finale, 65-57.
GAME STATISTICS
- White hit on 12-of-20 field goals and 7-of-12 free throws for 31 points. She added 11 rebounds and four steals while drawing 10 fouls.
- Starting in her last game of her college career, Abela finished the game with seven points, four assists and four rebounds.
- Ottmann came off the bench to net six points. She added three rebounds and two assists while making both free throw attempts.
- Four Cowgirls scored in double figures with Aja Scott and Delani Harris leading the team with 18 points each. Neysa Munguia added a double-double with her 10-point, 11-rebound performance.
- UCCS shot 39 percent from the floor (23-of-59), 1-of-11 from three-point range (9.1 percent) and 10-of-15 free throws for 66.7 percent.
- The Mountain Lions edged NMHU in rebounds, 31-30, and outscored the Cowgirls off turnovers (16-10), in the paint (40-26), on second chances (9-2), fast break points (18-2), and UCCS' bench outscored NMHU's, 15-9.
- The Cowgirls were solid from long range, making 4-of-8 three-pointers and added 17-of-21 free throws for 81 percent.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Tonight's setback snapped a 12-game winning streak against the Cowgirls.
- White's 31-point, 11-rebound performance marked her 15th double-double of the season.
- White posted several career highs tonight, including points (31), steals (four), field goals made (12), free throws made (seven) and free throws attempted (12).
- White finished the season with 404 points and 255 rebounds. Her 404 points are the third most by a sophomore in a season, while her 255 rebounds are the second most in program history by a sophomore, and third most all-time.
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.
