GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Saturday's women's basketball matchup between the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Colorado Mesa University came down to the wire with both teams being tested, but the home team Mavericks prevailed, handing UCCS a 64-62 loss.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 62, Colorado Mesa 64
- Records: UCCS (8-14, 7-9 RMAC) | CMU (8-14, 7-9 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Brownson Arena | Grand Junction, Colo.
- All-Time Series: With tonight's win, the Mavericks extend the all-time series record against UCCS, 41-12.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Colorado Mesa jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the opening four minutes of tonight's contest. UCCS responded with a 6-0 run that started with Maison White hitting a jumper. She then snagged a defensive rebound that eventually found the ball in Rylie Ottmann's hands who drove the left baseline for a bucket. CMU turned the ball over on the throw-in, leading to Mariah Derksen drawing a shooting foul. Her two made free throws knotted the game at 9-9. The Mavericks Monica Brooks drained a three-pointer with 1:10 left in the quarter for the final points, giving CMU an 18-13 lead through 10 minutes. White and Ottmann combined to score nine of the Mountain Lions 13 points.
- CMU scored on their first three possessions of the second quarter, pushing their lead to 13, 26-13. With 5:50 left in the first half and down 29-15, UCCS went on a run of their own to chip into the Mavericks lead. Ottmann started with a steal that she put in for a layup before Agar Farres grabbed a defensive rebound and assisted on White's layup. Coming out of a media timeout, Farres made both free throws and followed that with another defensive rebound and an assist by connecting with a driving Sydney Nilles for two points as the lead was cut down to seven, 29-22. A Nilles three-pointer and baskets from Ottman and White in the final 2:21 of the half brought the Mountain Lions within three at halftime, 32-29.
- The Mavericks came out of halftime to start the second half with a 7-2 run. Nilles' second chance basket sparked an 8-0 UCCS run. Farres pulled down a rebound on the defensive end of the court and found a driving Ottman for a layup before back-to-back turnovers by the Mavericks produced buckets from White and Nilles. Trailing 49-40, White netted the two baskets for UCCS as the Mountain Lions ended the third stanza outscoring CMU, 10-2, and just a five-point deficit heading into the final quarter, 49-44.
- UCCS possessed the ball to open the fourth quarter. After working the ball around the perimeter, Breelyn Robinson drained a three-pointer from the left side of the arc and in front of the Mountain Lions bench. She hit another trey to tie the game at 50-50. Emily Hovasse scooped up a rebound and found White for a layup that gave the Mountain Lions their first lead of the game, 52-50. Trailing by six (62-56) with 43 ticks left in regulation, White grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back for two on a layup. On UCCS' next possession, Ottmann's shot was blocked by a technical foul was called on celebratory play. Ottmann made two clutch free throws off the technical foul, bringing UCCS within two points, 62-60. CMU made the second of two free throws for a three-point lead. Breaking out of back-to-back timeouts, Nilles threw the inbounds pass to Farres who made a reverse layup with one second left. A foul called on the Mountain Lions sent CMU to the line as the Mavericks made the first of two free throws to end the game, 64-62.
GAME STATISTICS
- White led four Mountain Lions in double figures with a game high 19 points. She made 9-of-18 field goals and added a team high 12 rebounds.
- Ottmann came off the bench to score 16 points after going 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
- Nilles made both attempts from downtown to finish with 14 points on 6-of-10 field goals.
- All three of Farres' rebounds came on the defensive glass. She also dished out a game high four dimes.
- Robinson posted up for 10 points on a solid 4-of-7 field goals, including two treys.
- The Mountain Lions made 24-of-58 from the floor (41.4 percent) and 10-of-15 free throws (66.7 percent).
- UCCS dominated the paint, outscoring the Mavericks 34-24, while UCCS' bench scored 18 points to the Mavericks four bench points.
- Kylie Kravig and Monica Brooks each scored 18 points for CMU.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- White's 9-of-18 field goals are the second most made and attempted by a Mountain Lion this season.
- UCCS' 29 rebounds are the second fewest, while the five team steals and 10 turnovers are the lowest in 2022-23.
- Ottmann netted a career high 16 points behind 5-of-11 field goals and 6-of-6 free throws, all of which are career highs.
- CMU's Olivia Reed's 16 rebounds are the most by an opponent this season.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions return to Gallogly Events Center to kick off a four-game home stand, staring Feb. 10 against Black Hills State University. Tipoff is set for 5 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.
