COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team pulled out a gutsy 55-51 win Saturday night to continue their win streak to five games, as they defeated Colorado Mesa University who was riding a six-game win streak going into the contest.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 55, CMU 51
- Records: UCCS (16-7, 13-4 RMAC) | CMU (18-5, 12-4 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: This was the 55th matchup between the Mountain Lions and Mavericks with UCCS grabbing their first win against CMU since December 9, 2022. Colorado Mesa still leads the all-time series 42-13.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Saturday night started with UCCS jumping out to a 5-2 lead after Rylie Ottmann opened things up with a three-pointer, followed by a Maison White post jumper. The battle tested Mavericks would reply by going on a 13-3 run where they got four straight free throws from a foul and a technical foul to boost their lead to 15-8 at the 2:47 mark of the first quarter. The Mountain Lions would weather the storm after a Mya Wilson floater and a Jessica Nation lay-up would cut CMU's lead to just 17-12 after the first frame.
- UCCS' defensive intensity turned up to start the second quarter as they forced four Mavericks turnovers in the first four minutes of the frame. The Mountain Lions offense got going in this stretch too as they opened the quarter on an 11-2 run to give them a 23-19 lead at the 6:03 mark. The pace evened out the remainder of the first half and UCCS would head into the break with a four-point lead (29-25).
- Ottmann would push the lead to five to open the second half with a three-ball and a free throw, but CMU would fire back and outscore the Mountain Lions 15-9 to end the third quarter, giving them a 43-42 lead going into the final frame.
- Sensing that UCCS needed to get something going, Emily Vidal hit a huge trey to open the fourth quarter to give the Mountain Lions a two-point lead. The Mavericks were able to keep up with free throws, but the momentum was shifting UCCS' way.
- With 6:53 left in the game, Kyrstina Hagood would nail a floater to give the Mountain Lions a 49-48 lead. This would be the last field goal recorded by UCCS the rest of the game. Fortunately, the Mountain Lions would only allow CMU to record one field goal themselves in the last seven minutes of the contest as UCCS' defense completely shut down the Mavericks attack.
- Up only two (53-51) with 18 seconds to go in the game, Mya Wilson would nail two clutch free throws to give the Mountain Lions a four-point cushion. The Mountain Lions didn't allow CMU to get a clean look the rest of the way and would hold on to win 55-51.
GAME STATISTICS
- Amyah Moore Allen led the Mountain Lions in scoring tonight with 15 points to go along with five rebounds, three blocks, and one assist. Moore Allen did a great job of earning trips to the foul line as she went 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
- Ottmann is shooting out of this world from beyond the arc this season as she went 3-of-4 from deep again tonight. She is now shooting a team best 42.6 percent from deep this year (min. 50 3PTA).
- UCCS did a fantastic job of shutting down the Mavericks highest scorer, Olivia Reed, who averages 17 points a game this season. The Mountain Lions held Reed to just six points on 3-of-8 shooting.
- UCCS shut down CMU's offense in general tonight as well, as they forced them to shoot just 23.7 percent from the field and 13 percent from deep.
- The Mavericks won the rebounding battle 48-40 tonight as the biggest difference was their relentless effort on the offensive boards (16-10).
- UCCS did outpace CMU in points from turnovers (16-7), points in the paint (20-16), fast break points (12-3), and points from the bench (32-22).
- This game was tight throughout as the lead changed 16 different times between the two teams. UCCS held the lead for a total of 28 minutes, while CMU only held a lead for 11 minutes and 25 seconds.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- There were 15 blocks combined between UCCS and CMU tonight which is the most blocks that the Mountain Lions have seen in a game this season. The Mountain Lions recorded nine of the 15 which is the most they've had in a game this year.
- White contributed four of these blocks, which ties a career high in a game. She set her career best in blocks on Nov. 16, 2022, against the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Moore Allen also tied her career high in blocks tonight with her three rejections, which she also did against Fort Lewis College on Jan. 12, 2024.
- With seven boards in tonight's contest, White has passed Emily Jenkins for sixth all-time in career rebounds at UCCS with a total of 587.
- With tonight's victory, the Mountain Lions continue their win streak to five while snapping CMU's six game win streak in the process. UCCS' five game win streak is also the longest of the season.
- The Mountain Lions are absolutely rolling right now as they're now 9-1 in their last 10 games played, and they remain unbeaten at home in RMAC play as they haven't lost in the Gallogly Events Center since Nov. 25, 2023.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions look to continue the streak as they travel to Spearfish, S.D. to take on Black Hills State University on Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. at BHSU Donald E. Young Center.
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.
