COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team opened their season with a 67-57 victory over Midwestern State University after outscoring the Mustangs 22-9 in the fourth quarter.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 67, MSU 57
- Records: UCCS (1-0, 0-0 RMAC) | MSU (0-1, 0-0 LSC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: This was the fifth matchup between UCCS and MSU, with the Mountain Lions taking a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions got their season started down 6-1 but would get their first basket from Maison White as she laid it in through traffic off an assist from Amyah Moore Allen. The Mustang's interior scoring helped them gain an 18-12 lead with 2:15 to go in the first. Ellen Silva then hit a turnaround post-hook shot, followed by two sunk free throws from Gia Bradley and a three-pointer from Jayla Jackson-Allen with 56 seconds to go in the quarter, giving the Mountain Lions a 19-18 lead after one. MSU used its size advantage over UCCS, scoring 14 points in the paint compared to the Mountain Lions' six in the first quarter. UCCS did a great job of getting to the free throw line in quarter one but only made 55.6 percent of their looks, going 10-of-18 from the charity stripe.
- UCCS increased their lead to 22-18 to open the second quarter. However, the Mustangs burst to a 14-4 run by forcing UCCS turnovers and attacking the offensive glass. Looking toward going into the half with a 32-26 deficit, the Mountain Lions went on a 6-0 run with the help of a three-pointer from Ellie Reynolds and a bucket from Moore Allen in the paint. The two teams would head into the second half notched up at 32 apiece. MSU outrebounded UCCS 15-8 in the second quarter, including eight offensive rebounds compared to the Mountain Lion one.
- MSU opened the second half on a 5-0 run to take a 37-32 lead. The Mountian Lions responded immediately with a 10-2 run capped off by a Rylie Ottmann three-pointer to take a 42-39 lead at the 4:57 mark. The game's theme continued as each team went on their own individual runs. The Mustangs stormed to an 8-2 run over the next two minutes, taking a three-point lead (47-44) with 2:39 to go in the third. The Mustangs would hold on to a 48-45 lead going into the final frame. UCCS shot just 5-of-16 (31.3 percent) from the field in the third quarter, shooting only 1-for-7 from three-point range.
- The Mountain Lions started the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, and after a Mya Wilson three-pointer, UCCS would enjoy their largest lead to that point, to take a 53-48-point lead. White would score her 10th point of the day with an and-one layup, sinking the free-throw and giving the Mountain Lions a six-point advantage (56-50) with 6:19 to go in the contest. MSU was held scoreless from the 6:32 mark to just about the two-minute mark, while UCCS increased their lead to 62-50. UCCS would finish their stellar fourth quarter and win the game 67-57.
GAME STATISTICS
- Maison White served as the closer for UCCS in today's win, scoring seven points in the fourth quarter, leading them a 22-9 overall run in the final frame. White finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal while shooting 5-of-7 from the field.
- Moore Allen, who scored 13 points and added three blocks and two steals, and Ottmann, who added 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists, also helped UCCS to the 10-point win today.
- Amaya Snowden made her defensive impact felt today, swatting four blocks and grabbing four rebounds in just 12 minutes.
- The Mountain Lions outshot the Mustangs from the field 42.6 percent compared to 35.6 percent from MSU. UCCS also led their counterparts in points from the bench (24-23), blocks (10-2), points from turnovers (25-12), and points in the paint (30-28).
- The Mountain Lions did a great job of getting to the free-throw line today, going 23-39 (59 percent) from the charity stripe, compared to MSU, which went 10-of-26 from the line for a percentage of just 38.5 percent.
- The Mountain Lions held the Mustangs to just 17.6 percent shooting in the fourth quarter while shooting 6-of-12 themselves. UCCS was the better squad in the fourth quarter, primarily due to its defensive prowess.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- With her first bucket right out of the gate, Maison White recorded her 1,000th career point, becoming the ninth member of the 1,000-point club in UCCS women's basketball history. White ranks as the ninth all-time leading scorer and is four points away from Suzanne Hall for the eighth spot. Hall (1991-94) recorded 1,015 points in her career.
- White's 10 rebounds today have given her 679 in her career, and she now ranks second all-time in UCCS women's basketball history, passing Tara Newton (1992-94), who grabbed 678 rebounds. White is 73 rebounds away from passing Brittany Hernandez (2015-17) for the most in program history.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions' game with Cameron University tomorrow has been postponed due to weather. The team will play next in Canyon, Texas, against West Texas A&M University on Nov. 14. Tip-off is set for 10 a.m. MT at the WTAMU First United Bank Center.
SOCIAL
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For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to gomountainlions.com. 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.
