GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The top seed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament was handed a 63-61 loss at home as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team, seeded No. 6 in the tournament, upset No. 21 Colorado Mesa University Saturday in the conference championship game. The win automatically qualifies UCCS for the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: W, 63-61
- Records: UCCS (19-11, 12-8 RMAC) | CMU (25-5, 12-9 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Brownson Arena | Grand Junction, Colo.
- All-Time Series: UCCS is 15-43 all-time against Colorado Mesa and 4-27 when playing the Mavericks on their home court.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UCCS was empty on their first two possessions of the game as Colorado Mesa's Riley Hayes hit a three-point for the first score. Two free throws from Amyah Moore Allen and a jumper from Ellie Reynolds after a Maison White offensive rebounds and another jumper from Moore Allen kept UCCS within one point of the home team, 7-6, but a 7-2 run by the Mavericks put them on top at the media timeout, 14-8, at 3:16. Moore Allen made another much-needed layup with 1:04 remining, but the Mavericks closed out the quarter with a layup from Olivia Reed as the horn went off.
- Opening the second quarter down by nine points, White scored the first six points of the quarter for the black and gold. Moore Allen ended an 8-2 run by Colorado Mesa with an old-fashioned three-point play, cutting into the deficit, 33-21, with 5:15 left in the half. Moore Allen's three-point play sparked a 9-4 run by the Mountain Lions to end the first half, highlighted by a deep three-pointer by Mya Wilson from the left arc. After 20 minutes of action, the No. 1 seed took a 37-29 lead into the locker room.
- Coming out of the intermission, both teams traded baskets as UCCS continued their 16-6 run from the first half. A trey from Breelyn Robinson and Moore Allen's jumper brought UCCS within three points, 39-36, forcing CMU to call a timeout less than three minutes into the quarter. CMU's Olivia Reed converted her own three-point play, but the Mountain Lions answered with five straight points from Wilson and a long three-pointer from the hand of Emily Vidal. On UCCS's next possession, Wilson hit the second of two free throws, bringing UCCS within one point, 44-43. The maroon and yellow responded with a three-pointer from Macy Larsen, who hit a bullseye from downtown, but Moore Allen had the last say of the quarter, hitting two free throws with two seconds left as CMU held a 48-46 going into the final stanza.
- Breelyn Robinson broke nearly a three-minute scoring drought by the Mountain Lions with two free throws that opened the flood gates for UCCS as the black and gold went on a 9-0 run. Amaya Snowden gave the Mountain Lions their first lead of the game, 55-54, with 5:34 left in regulation. The two squads continued to trade leads, but Moore Allen gave UCCS a 61-59 lead with 41 seconds remaining on a CMU turnover, but the lead was short-lived as CMU's Brooklyn Palmer tied the game with two free throws, 61-61. Wilson hit the game-winning shot on UCCS's next trip down the court, sending the Mountain Lions to the NCAA Tournament.
GAME STATISTICS
- Moore Allen made 10-of-16 from the floor and all seven free throws as part of her game high 28 points.
- White chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds.
- Wilson came off the bench to net nine points on 3-of-5 field goals.
- UCCS shot 43.1 percent from the floor (22-of-51) and 68.2 percent from the line (15-of-22).
- Reed led Colorado Mesa with 18 points and six rebounds, while Palmer chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The last time UCCS qualified for the NCAA Tournament was 2016-17 when they advanced to the second semifinal round.
- Tonight's tournament championship marks the third conference title in program history and their second tournament championship title (2017).
- This is the first time UCCS has defeated Colorado Mesa twice in the same season.
- Tonight's win snapped CMU's 18-game winning streak, and their 11-game winning streak at home.
- Moore Allen was named the All-Tournament Team MVP. Teammates Snowden, White, and Wilson were also named to the All-Tournament Team.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will await the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show when the 64-team bracket will be announced, eight of which will hail from the South Central Region. The selection show is set for Sunday, March 8 at 8:30 p.m. (MT).
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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.
