SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. – A strong and fast start by the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team faded Friday night as Westminster College used a strong shooting performance to silence the Mountain Lions, 58-52.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 52, Westminster 58
- Records: UCCS (8-13, 7-8 RMAC) | WC (12-10, 10-6 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: WC Behnken Fieldhouse | Salt Lake City, Utah
- All-Time Series: The Griffins lead the all-time series over UCCS, 6-3, and won have the last six meetings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions came out ready to play from the opening tip Friday night. Agar Farres snagged a defensive rebound and took it down to the other end of the court for a hook shot and the first points of the game, 2-0. A Breelyn Robinson steal led to an assist as Sydney Nilles drained a jump shot. On the ensuing possession, Nilles stole the ball and put it in for two points to give UCCS the 6-0 lead. After White made the second of her two free throw attempts, she added a layup to bring UCCS' lead back to six, 9-3. The home team rallied back to knot the game at 11-11, but the tie was short-lived as Rylie Ottmann connected with Emily Hovasse for a three-pointer to break the tie, 14-11. White scored the final points of the opening stanza on a layup with 1:51 left in the quarter and a 16-11 UCCS lead. The Mountain Lions hit 7-of-16 from the floor (43.8 percent) and out-rebounded WC, 12-6.
- The tides changed in the second quarter when the Griffins netted the first four points of the stanza to cut into UCCS' lead, 16-15. Talia DePetrillo fought off WC after stealing the ball and hitting one from behind the arc. On UCCS' next trip down the court, Robinson used the backboard on a floating jumper to boost UCCS back to a five-point lead, 23-18. The Griffins heated up midway through the second quarter and went on a 13-1 run that featured 5-of-5 field goals (3-of-3 three-point field goals) and a 31-24 lead with 1:41 left in the half. WC closed out the half with a defensive rebound that turned into a bucket and a 33-26 lead at intermission. The Griffins hit 9-of-13 from the floor (69.2 percent) while holding the Mountain Lions to 4-of-15 field goals (26.7 percent).
- The Griffins kept their foot on the pedal in the third quarter. Both teams traded the first four buckets to start the second half before WC turned up the heat with an 11-1 run. Jaycee Litchie (seven points) and Ashley Greenwood (four points) combined to score all 11 points as Westminster took a 46-31 lead with 2:51 left in the third quarter. Robinson broke a scoring drought from a layup that saw UCCS go nearly five minutes without a field goal. Farres and White each added a bucket as UCCS netted six of the last 10 points in the quarter as WC held a 50-37 lead after three quarters of action.
- Trailing by 13 points to start the final stanza, the Mountain Lions clawed their way back into the game by netting the first seven points of the quarter. Alexa Dominguez found a driving Farres for a layup before Farres hit her second straight jumper. Farres continued to apply pressure, snagging a steal that led to a three-pointer on the right side from Emily Hovasse, bringing UCCS within six, 50-44. The Mountain Lions defense held the Griffins scoreless for the first seven minutes, but two straight buckets from WC gave the home team a double digit lead, 54-44. Still fighting for the road win, Mariah Derksen converted a three-point play with 45 ticks left in the game. Forced to foul, UCCS committed three straight fouls before Ottmann's quick hands led to a steal and an old-fashioned three-point play by White. White's three-point play brought UCCS within one possession, 54-50 and 33 seconds left, but WC answered by making all four free throw attempts to seal the win.
GAME STATISTICS
- White made 5-of-9 from the floor and 4-of-7 from the free throw line for a team high 14 points.
- Farres pulled down a game high 10 rebounds and matched Dominguez with a game high three assists.
- Ottmann came off the bench to snag a game high four steals and net four points.
- After starting the first quarter shooting 43.7 percent from the floor, the Mountain Lions cooled off in the final three stanzas, finishing the game with a 34.9 field goal shooting mark (22-of-63).
- UCCS outrebound the Griffins, 36-35, and matched WC in assists with 13. UCCS scored 10 more points in the paint, 38-28, and outscored WC off turnovers, 13-11.
- The Griffins Litchie notched a game high 17 points.
- Both teams combined to shoot 17 free throws (12-of-17).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- DePetrillo and Robinson both reigned in a career high five caroms.
- Farres netted eight points after making a career high four field goals.
- Ottmann's four steals were the most in a Mountain Lion uniform, while Derksen checked off career highs in points (three), rebounds (four) and she blocked her first ever shot.
- UCCS committed just 12 turnovers tonight, the second fewest this season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will head back to Colorado to take on Colorado Mesa University Saturday night in Grand Junction. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
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.
