DENVER, Colo. – Fifteen second-half turnovers proved costly Saturday afternoon as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team fell at Metropolitan State University of Denver, 69-68.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: L, 69-68
- Records: UCCS (8-7, 4-4 RMAC) | MSUD (5-11, 4-4 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Auraria Event Center | Denver, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 13-44 all-time against the Roadrunners.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The duo of Maison White and Amyah Moore Allen accounted for the Mountain Lions' first six points as Moore Allen's left-handed layup tied the game at 6-6 and sparked a 9-0 run that featured a three-pointer from Gia Bradley and three steals as UCCS took a 13-6 lead at the first media timeout. Krystina Hagood came off the bench to net her first bucket of the game before Breelyn Robinson hit a runner down the center of the lane and converted the three-point play to give UCCS a 22-12 lead after one-quarter of action.
- Amaya Snowden continued the Mountain Lions' scoring spree to open the second quarter with a pull-up jumper, followed by Moore Allen's three-pointer. Ellie Reynolds then drained another three-pointer from the left wing as time expired on the shot clock to give UCCS a 30-19 lead. The Roadrunners' defense and full-court press helped them cut the lead down to 30-24 with a 12-3 run. MSU Denver's Mikayla Espinosa and Brooklyn Jones sunk back-to-back treys to bring the blue and red within three points, 32-29. White took over as she tallied three straight layups before Moore Allen's layup capped off an 8-0 run by the black and gold, giving UCCS a 40-29 lead at halftime.
- The second half started slowly for both teams, with a combined 13 points scored by the first media timeout. White hit the first bucket of the half followed by two free throws and layup from Moore Allen to account for UCCS' six points, but the Mountain Lions were forced into committing six turnovers early in the half but still maintained a 10-point lead at the media break. The Roadrunners chipped away at UCCS' lead, cutting their 11-point lead to start the stanza down to just five points, 49-44. The Mountain Lions were held to just 2-of-13 field goals and sunk 5-of-12 free throws as they were outscored in the quarter, 15-9.
- Leading 49-44 to start the final stanza, Bradley began the quarter with two made free throws, but Nevaeh Millar scored five of MSU Denver's eight points in an 8-0 run to give the Roadrunners a 52-51 lead early in the quarter. Moore Allen put UCCS back on top with her own 5-0 run which was quickly answered by MSU Denver's Espinosa's individual 5-0 run. Reynolds netted a huge three from the left corner giving the Mountain Lions a 59-57 advantage. A Mountain Lion three-pointer from Robinson and Moore Allen's layup lifted UCCS' lead back to five points, but four straight points from the home team cut the Mountain Lions lead back to 64-63 with 3:57 left in regulation. Trailing by one point with 84 ticks left on the clock, White drilled two free throws to put UCCS back on top, 66-65. An untimely turnover on an out-of-bounds play on the Mountain Lions half of the court led to a reverse layup from Espinosa on the other end of the court with 31 seconds left and MSU Denver up 67-66. Moore Allen took a handoff from White and drove down a wide-open lane for a 68-67 UCCS lead and just 24 seconds left in the game. The Roadrunners patiently worked the ball around the perimeter before Espinosa drove in for an up-and-under layup and the game-winning shot with one second left on the clock.
GAME STATISTICS
- Moore Allen led UCCS with 25 points, four assists, and four steals. She hit on 10-of-18 field goals and 4-of-5 free throws.
- White added 17 points, 13 rebounds, and added a blocked shot and a steal.
- Robinson chipped in eight points, six rebounds and dished out three assists.
- Espinosa led both teams with 33 points after making 13-of-21 field goals, including three three-pointers.
- UCCS finished the afternoon shooting 43.1 percent from the floor (25-of-58), 27.8 percent from long range (5-of-18), and 56.5 percent from the charity stripe (13-of-23).
- The Roadrunners missed only three of their 18 free throws and shot 40.3 percent in field goals.
- The Mountain Lions held a 39-35 rebounding edge and outscored MSUD in the paint, 38-36. The Roadrunners took advantage of 20 turnovers and turned them into 20 points.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- In the first half of action, seven of the Mountain Lions on the court made at least one field goal.
- White and Moore Allen combined for 25 of UCCS' 40 first-half points.
- White collected her 35th career double-double and eighth of the season behind her 19-point, 13-rebound performance.
- Robinson set a new career high with six rebounds.
- Moore Allen has scored at least 20 points in seven games this season, including four straight games.
- Espinosa's 33 points and MSU Denver's 16 steals are the most against UCCS this season.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will begin a four-game home stand this week, beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. against New Mexico Highlands University.
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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.
