COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team forced the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks to turn the ball over 26 times Friday night leading them to a comfortable 77-62 victory.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 77, FLC 62
- Records: UCCS (9-6, 6-3 RMAC) | FLC (8-6, 5-3 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: Despite grabbing their fifth straight victory over Fort Lewis, the Mountain Lions still trail in the all-time series 30-27.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions opened Friday night's contest with Emily Vidal hitting a three-pointer set up by Sydney Nilles. After a pair of Skyhawks baskets put Fort Lewis up 5-3, Maison White would hit back-to-back layups to give the Mountain Lions a lead that they would hold for the rest of the game.
- UCCS was then firing on all cylinders the rest of the first quarter as they finished the last five minutes on a 16-6 run where they shot 7-of-8 from the field in that stretch. Amyah Moore Allen scored seven of her team high 13 points in this section helping the Mountain Lions hold a 23-11 lead going into the second quarter.
- The Skyhawks put up a more complete effort in the second frame as they went on a 14-11 run in the first seven minutes of the quarter. The effort wasn't enough to cut into the UCCS lead as Rylie Ottmann would hit a three with 20 seconds before the break to keep the Mountain Lions up 40-29 going into the half.
- Out of the break, Fort Lewis would cut the lead down to eight, but UCCS would immediately respond by scoring seven straight unanswered points. The two teams would then play the rest of third trading baskets, but this early stretch helped UCCS push their lead up to 15 as they found themselves up 63-48 going into the final quarter.
- The first three minutes of the fourth would see Fort Lewis doing their best to keep this game within striking distance, but UCCS would remain calm and collected. The Mountain Lions went on a 11-3 run from the 5:56 mark to 51 seconds left in the game that was capped off by Briana Knabe finding Carrah Davis for a mid-range baseline jumper to put UCCS up 76-57. The impressive effort led UCCS to close out the game with ease, securing the 77-62 victory.
GAME STATISTICS
- As a result of forcing 26 turnovers in the game, eight different Mountain Lions recorded a steal with those being Nilles, White, Krystina Hagood, Ottmann, Breeyln Robinson, Knabe, Mya Wilson, and Moore Allen.
- UCCS had more rebounds (29-25), more assists (20-5), more blocks (5-2), and more points in the paint (36-22) than the Skyhawks tonight.
- The Mountain Lions also outshot Fort Lewis from the field as they went 28-of-56 (50 percent) compared to the Skyhawks shooting 17-of-46 (37 percent).
- UCCS got heavy contributions from the bench tonight as the Mountain Lions outscored the Skyhawks 45-6 from points off the bench.
- Leading the way was Moore Allen, Nation, and Robinson posting 13 points, 12 points, and 10 points respectively.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Jessica Nation's 12 points in tonight's contest was a season high and was her first double digit scoring effort this year.
- Breelyn Robinson went 2-of-4 beyond the arc tonight as she increases her team best three-point percentage to 43.8 percent.
- UCCS had one of their better three-point shooting nights of the season as they went 8-of-23 (34.8 percent) beyond the arc.
- The Mountain Lions are now shooting 33.3 percent from deep on the year.
- Tonight's 26 turnovers forced was tied for the third most turnovers UCCS has forced this year.
- The Mountain Lions also forced 26 turnovers on December 2nd, 2023, against Black Hills State. UCCS' season high for turnovers forced in a game came against Chadron State on December 17th, 2023, as they forced 30 that night.,
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions take on Adams State University tomorrow night as they look to capture their third straight victory. The game begins at 5 p.m. at the Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
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.
