COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In a game that was highlighted by nine lead changes and seven scoring ties, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team earned a 65-59 win Friday night in Gallogly Events Center against the visiting Colorado State University Pueblo ThunderWolves. With tonight's win, the Mountain Lions secure a top-four seed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament and will host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday, March 5 at 6 p.m.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 65, CSU Pueblo 59
- Records: UCCS (20-7, 17-4 RMAC) | CSUP (16-13, 11-10 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: UCCS snaps a six-game losing streak to CSU Pueblo with tonight's win and are now 23-41 all-time against the Pack.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams came out firing in an up-tempo pace in the opening quarter that featured three lead changes and two scoring ties. UCCS came out of an 8-5 deficit and went on a 6-0 run with a Krystina Hagood layup followed by four straight points from Amaya Moore Allen. The Mountain Lions 6-0 run was answered by seven straight points from the Pack that put them back on top, 15-11, with 4:20 left in the first quarter, but the black and gold netted the final three points of the quarter to snag a 21-18 lead. Moore Allen and Emily Vidal combined for 13 of UCCS' 21 points while White pulled down six rebounds in less than nine minutes action.
- Breelyn Robinson opened the second quarter with a floating jumper in the paint to push the lead to five. Both teams traded the lead twice and tied the score twice, but an 8-1 run to end the first half gave UCCS a comfortable seven-point lead going into the locker room at halftime. Moore Allen sank a three-ball and scooped up an offensive rebound and put it back for two before Robinson's two free throws to end the half put UCCS up, 36-29.
- Coming out of the locker room at halftime, the Pack put the pressure on the Mountain Lions, holding UCCS to just 2-of-17 field goals and two free throws for six points, marking the fewest points UCCS has scored in a quarter this season. On the offensive end of the court, CSUP chimed in with 18 points on 7-of-12 free throws.
- Heading into the final quarter and trailing by five points, 47-42, the Mountain Lions went to work to fight out of the third quarter slump. Two three-pointers from Rylie Ottmann and Moore Allen combined with a Maison White free throw and another driving layup from Moore Allen knotted the game at 51-51. Moore Allen would continue the scoring spree with two free throws before Mya Wilson's fast break layup capped a 13-4 run for UCCS and put them on top, 55-51. The ThunderWolves stayed close to UCCS and regained the lead, 59-57, but Robinson secured an offensive rebound and put it back for two to the game again, 59-59. On the Mountain Lions next possession, Vidal grabbed an offensive rebound and hit her fourth trey of the game to put UCCS up, 62-59, with 53 ticks left in regulation. The Mountain Lions sealed the win with three free throws and forcing CSUP to miss their final two shots, earning a hard-fought win, 65-59.
GAME STATISTICS
- Moore Allen scored a team high 22 points off the bench after netting 7-of-14 field goals and 6-of-10 from the free throw line.
- All four of Vidal's field goals came from behind the three-point line as she chipped in 16 points on 4-of-6 three-point field goals and 4-of-6 free throws.
- White reigned in a game high 17 rebounds, 12 of which came on the offensive glass, and chipped in seven points.
- The Mountain Lions hit 21-of-65 field goals for 32.3 percent, 8-of-16 from three-point land and made 15-of-24 free throws (62.5 percent).
- UCCS led the ThunderWolves in scoring off of turnovers (21-16), on second chance points (16-12), on the fast break (11-5) and from the bench (50-8).
- The Pack's Alisha Little nearly recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UCCS' nine straight wins marks the longest winning streak in program history.
- The Mountain Lions are 12-2 at home this season. Since the New Year, UCCS has won 13-of-15 games in 2024.
- White's 17 rebounds propelled her to 240 caroms this season, marking the most rebounds in a season by a junior, and the fifth most rebounds overall in a season.
- Vidal tied her career best with four three-pointers and 16 points.
- UCCS' 20 wins this season are their most wins since 2016-17 (24-9).
- After tonight's win, UCCS remains in a tie for first place in the RMAC standings with Adams State University, Colorado Mesa University and Regis University with a 17-4 league record.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will play the final game of the regular season at home Saturday night at 5 p.m. against New Mexico Highlands University. UCCS will honor their three seniors prior to the game – Emily Doolittle, Jessica Nation and Sydney Nilles.
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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.