DENVER, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team held Metropolitan State University of Denver Roadrunners without a field goal in the final quarter of action Friday night in Denver, Colo. The Mountain Lions cruised to a 19-point win on the road over the Roadrunners, 65-49, posting their fourth straight win.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 65, MSU Denver 49
- Records: UCCS (11-6, 8-3 RMAC) | MSUD (3-11, 2-7 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: MSUD Auraria Event Center | Denver, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions improved their all-time series record against the Roadrunners and are now 13-43.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams traded leads in the opening stanza and struggled to control the ball as the two squads committed six turnovers each. The action started with Rylie Ottmann snagging a steal and taking it full court before finding Sydney Nilles for the first points of the game. The Roadrunners tied the game for the second time early on, 4-4, sparking a 7-0 run and a 9-4 MSUD advantage. Amyah Moore Allen cut into the lead with a euro-step layup heading into the first media timeout. Briana Knabe got into the action after stealing an in-bounds pass underneath UCCS' basket for a quick two points. White added to the momentum after grabbing an offensive board and putting it back in and was fouled for an old-fashioned three-point play. Mya Wilson produced two key plays in the final minute, making a bounce pass assist to White in the lane and stealing the ball as time ran out to prevent the Roadrunners from getting a shot off as UCCS took a 14-11 lead after the first stanza.
- The Mountain Lions surged in the second quarter to take a comfortable double-digit lead. After scoring the final eight points in the first quarter, the Mountain Lions went on a 9-2 run to open the second period, highlighted by five points from Krystina Hagood who also made the first trey of the game. With a 23-13 lead, the red and blue started their comeback with an 8-2 run across three minutes of action. UCCS halted MSU Denver's momentum on a defensive rebound from White who fed a long pass to Moore Allen to snap a field goal drought by the visiting team. Minutes later and playing weak side defense, White stole the ball and went coast-to-cost for a bucket before Moore Allen drilled a three-pointer to cap a 9-3 run and give UCCS their largest lead of the game, 34-22. The Roadrunners' Mikylah Espinosa was able to get a shot off before time expired for two points as the black and gold took a 34-25 lead into the locker room.
- UCCS shot a solid 53.8 percent from the floor (14-of-26) while holding MSU Denver to just 9-of-27 field goals (33.3 percent) and 0-for-7 from behind the arc.
- Starting the second half with a nine-point lead, 34-25, the Mountain Lions struggled offensively to open the third quarter as the Roadrunners defense hunkered down on UCCS. Moore Allen broke through the Roadrunners defense to spark a strong offensive output three minutes into the quarter. Moore Allen netted six straight points for UCCS to bring their lead back to 10 points, 42-32. Two free throws from Wilson and a steal from Moore Allen who fed Nation for another traditional three-point play boosted UCCS' lead to 15 points, 47-32. A three-pointer from MSUD's Ashlyn Yow with 12 seconds left in the third period cut into UCCS lead, 49-36, entering the final stanza.
- Emily Vidal came out on fire to open the fourth period, drilling back-to-back three-pointers. Her second three-pointer gave the Mountain Lions their largest lead of the game, 57-36 (21 points). UCCS coasted in the final quarter, with three of their six field goals coming from downtown. The Mountain Lions defense was suffocating as UCCS held the Roadrunners without a field goal for the final 10 minutes.
GAME STATISTICS
- Moore Allen scored a game high 15 points after making 6-of-9 from the floor, including 1-of-1 from downtown and making both free throw attempts. She added a steal, blocked one shot, and pulled in four rebounds.
- White finished the night with nine points, five rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist.
- Also pouring in nine points was Hagood who connected on 4-of-6 field goals to go with four rebounds and two steals.
- Rylie Ottmann tallied a game high six assists and hit a three-pointer as part of her five points.
- MSU Denver was led by Brianna Sealy and Mikylah Espinosa's 12 points.
- The Mountain Lions netted 46.2 percent from the floor (24-of-52), 5-of-12 three-pointers (41.7 percent) and 12-of-16 free throws (75 percent).
- UCCS outscored the Roadrunners off of turnovers (25-16), in the paint (32-18), on the fast break (16-5), and from the bench (34-7).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UCCS' four-game winning streak is their longest of the season, and the longest since the 2021-22 season.
- Ottmann's six assists marks a new career high and a new season high for UCCS.
- The Mountain Lions 75 free throw percentage is their best this season.
- The 49 points allowed are the third fewest by UCCS this year, while the 13 made field goals are the second fewest allowed.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will head over to Golden, Colo. for a 5 p.m. game tomorrow night against No. 7 Colorado School of Mines.
SOCIAL
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@GoMountainLions
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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.
