COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Despite a strong second-half comeback effort, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team lost a 62-58 nail-biter to Colorado Mesa University on Saturday afternoon. After the game, UCCS athletics retired Abby Kirchoff's jersey.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final: UCCS 58, CMU 62
- Records: UCCS (11-8, 7-5 RMAC) | CMU (15-4, 10-2 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: CMU leads the all-time series 43-14 since 1990.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- On Abby Kirchoff's jersey retirement day, the Mavericks jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in the opening minutes of Saturday afternoon's game. UCCS caught fire from three and replied with three consecutive makes from behind the arc from Ellie Reynolds, Amyah Moore Allen, and Breelyn Robinson to take an 11-6 lead. CMU's defense would shut the Mountain Lions down, though, holding UCCS scoreless for the final five minutes of the quarter, resulting in a 15-11 lead for the Mavericks after one. Aside from the three-straight three-pointers by UCCS early in the first quarter, the Mountain Lions struggled from the field, shooting just 23.5 percent (4-of-17).
- After being held scoreless for nearly eight and a half minutes, Moore Allen put UCCS back into the scoring column with a three-pointer to lessen the Mountain Lion's deficit to five (19-14). UCCS' kept CMU honest on the offensive end in the second quarter but could not penetrate the Mavericks' defense, as CMU led 26-14 with 2:17 to go in the first half. Mya Wilson broke the drought with a layup on the next possession, and with eight seconds to go in the quarter, Reynolds hit a much-needed three-pointer to give UCCS some momentum. Still, the Mavericks carried a 28-19 lead into the break. The Mountain Lions only scored seven field goals in the first half, with five coming on three-pointers.
- UCCS found their offensive groove to open the second half while holding the Mavericks offense down. The Mountain Lions started the frame on a 12-0 run in nearly a four-minute stretch to take a 31-28 lead. CMU immediately replied, though, cruising to an 11-2 run to retake a six-point-lead (39-33) with 2:44 to go in the third quarter. The Mavericks held a 41-35 lead going into the fourth quarter. UCCS had a positive showing in the third quarter, outscoring CMU 16-13, and did a better job of getting to the rim, scoring 14 points in the paint in the quarter.
- The Mountain Lions began the fourth by bringing their deficit to one (41-40) after a Maison White jumper, but CMU wouldn't let their lead slip. The Mavericks increased their advantage back up to seven (51-44) minutes later. Moore Allen scored five points herself to bring UCCS within three points (51-48), but the Mavericks followed that with a three-pointer.
- With 1:19 left in the game, Moore Allen flew past her defender and scored a bucket through traffic to bring the Mountain Lions within two (54-52). UCCS erased that bucket by committing an unnecessary foul near half-court, awarding two free throws to CMU on the next possession. White and Moore Allen scored a few buckets late in the fourth, but the Mavericks would sink their free throws to ice the game, winning 62-58.
GAME STATISTICS
- Amyah Moore Allen carried the offense load for the Mountain Lions today, recording 28 points in 34 minutes played. Moore Allen shot 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from the field and 50 percent on three-pointers (2-of-4). Along with her game-high 28 points, Moore Allen pulled down three rebounds, recorded one assist, and blocked one shot.
- Maison White put in work on the glass today, collecting 12 rebounds to go along with her two blocks. White recorded seven of her boards on the defensive end and grabbed a game-high five offensive rebounds.
- Despite the loss, UCCS outshot CMU 37.3 percent to 34 percent from the field. The Mountain Lions also bested the Mavericks in points from the bench (6-0), points in the paint (30-20), and blocks (3-2).
- CMU outrebounded UCCS 41-38 and shot better from beyond the arc (42.9 percent to 37.5 percent). The Mavericks also did a better job of hitting their free looks, shooting 76.9 percent (20-for-26) from the charity stripe compared to the Mountain Lions, who shot 61.5 percent (8-for-13).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Amyah Moore Allen's 28 points today are the second-highest number of points she's scored in a game this season. Her season high came on January 11, when she scored 30 points in a loss to Colorado State University-Pueblo. Moore Allen attempted 26 shots today as well, marking a career-high for the guard.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will next travel to Rapid City, S.D., to take on the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology on Thursday, February 6. The game will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the SDSMT King Center.
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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.
