LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Playing their first game since Dec. 20, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team opened the New Year by capturing a 60-55 road win Tuesday night at Colorado Christian University.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 60, CCU 55
- Records: UCCS (7-6, 3-2 RMAC) | CCU (4-9, 1-4 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: CCU Event Center | Lakewood, Colo.
- All-Time Series: UCCS is now 36-23 all-time against the Cougars. Tonight's win is the first time UCCS has defeated CCU on their home court since Feb. 18, 2022.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Making her first career start, Jayla Jackson-Allen jump-started UCCS before the opening tip. An administrative technical foul on CCU sent Jackson-Allen to the line, where she converted the free throw, then followed with a layup on the Mountain Lions' opening possession to give UCCS an early 3-0 advantage. After three straight baskets by the home team put CCU briefly in front, Amyah Moore Allen answered with a strong drive down the right side of the lane. Moments later, Gia Bradley came up with a steal and delivered a long outlet pass to Jackson-Allen, who finished to reclaim a 7-6 lead. Jackson-Allen added two more points from the free-throw line as UCCS headed into the first media timeout up 9-6. Out of the break, CCU's Jordan Heckert connected on a three-pointer, but Jackson-Allen responded immediately with a triple of her own on the ensuing possession. Her three ignited a 9-2 run for the Mountain Lions, who carried an 18-13 lead into the end of the first quarter.
- Ja'Shelle Johnson opened the second quarter with a basket for CCU, but it proved to be the Cougars' final points for more than seven minutes. UCCS took control with a 10-0 run, highlighted by Ayianna Johnson, who scored her first four points of the game in the period. The surge pushed the Mountain Lions' lead to its largest of the half at 28-15 with 3:27 remaining. Although CCU closed the quarter by outscoring UCCS 4-1, the Mountain Lions headed into halftime holding a 29-19 advantage.
- Halftime adjustments by the home team sparked an early offensive surge for CCU to open the third quarter. Jordan Heckert converted the Cougars' first free throws of the game, and Hayley Luther capped a 7-0 run to quickly trim UCCS' 10-point halftime advantage to three. Moore Allen halted the run with a jumper, giving the Mountain Lions a 31-26 edge with 7:29 remaining. Moore Allen scored again moments later to reach eight points on the night, but CCU answered with a 10-3 run to seize its first lead since the opening quarter, 38-36. The advantage was brief, as Moore Allen drilled a three-pointer on the ensuing UCCS possession to put the Mountain Lions back in front, 39-38. Bradley joined the scoring column for the first time with a deep three from the top left of the arc to break a 40-40 deadlock. The quarter closed with both teams trading points at the free-throw line, where CCU outscored UCCS 4-2 to narrow the Mountain Lions' lead to 45-44 heading into the final period.
- Clinging to a one-point edge entering the final quarter, UCCS opened the period with back-to-back three-pointers from Bradley and Jackson-Allen. Bradley followed with an old-fashioned three-point play, and Jackson-Allen added a layup moments later to restore a double-digit Mountain Lions lead at 57-47. CCU responded with resilience, using an 8-0 run fueled by four different scorers to pull within two, 57-55, with 3:18 remaining. UCCS maintained its slim advantage down the stretch, and after CCU committed consecutive dribbling turnovers in the final minute, the Cougars were forced to foul Johnson with four seconds left. Johnson knocked down both free throws to secure the 60-55 victory for the Mountain Lions.
GAME STATISTICS
- For the second straight game, Jackson-Allen scored a game-high 22 points on 7-of-16 field goals and hit all five free throw attempts. She added a pair of rebounds, steals, and assists.
- Moore Allen chipped in 12 points to go with her five rebounds and a game-high three assists.
- Starting her first game of the season, Bradley poured in 10 points and snagged eight rebounds, seven of which came on the defensive end of the court.
- UCCS finished the night making 18-of-54 from the floor (33.3 percent) and 18-of-28 from the free throw line (64.3 percent).
- The Mountain Lions held the edge on the glass, outrebounding CCU 45-39, and nearly doubling down on points in the paint, 22-12.
- CCU was led by Jordan Heckert's 19 points.
- All 21 of the Cougars' free throws came in the second half as they finished the night making 17-of-21.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Head coach Misty Wilson is one win closer to reaching 50 wins at UCCS. After tonight's win (her first win at CCU), Wilson is 49-26 at UCCS.
- The Mountain Lions posted a new season high with 45 rebounds, and their 23 three-point field goal attempts tied a season high.
- The 55 points by CCU are the fourth fewest allowed by the Mountain Lions, and the Cougars' 27.9 field goal percentage (17-of-61) is the lowest by any UCCS opponent this season.
- Bradley secured a career high of eight caroms tonight.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will play host to Colorado State University Pueblo on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 5 p.m.
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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.
