DENTON, Texas – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team earned its first win over Texas Woman's University in program history, defeating the No. 6 Pioneers, 52-45, on the road Saturday afternoon. The Mountain Lions overcame a 10-minute scoring drought before taking control late, converting eight of nine free throws in the fourth quarter to secure the upset.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 52, No. 6 TWU 45
- Records: UCCS (2-0, 0-0 RMAC) | TWU (4-1, 0-0 LSC)
- Facility | Location: Kitty Magee Arena | Denton, Texas
- All-Time Series: Texas Woman's leads the all-time series, 4-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Texas Woman's won the opening tip and scored the first basket, but UCCS responded with five straight points to take an early 5-2 lead. Aspen Salazar scored the Mountain Lions' first field goal before finding Mya Wilson for a layup. After extending their advantage to 9-4, UCCS went cold from the floor, allowing the Pioneers to score seven unanswered points and regain the lead. Daija Mitchell ended the scoring drought with a driving layup, giving UCCS an 11-10 advantage after the first quarter.
- The Pioneers opened the second quarter with a layup to regain the lead, but Aaliyah Holmes answered with a three-pointer and a pull-up jumper to put UCCS ahead, 16-12. Ca'Nia Mitchell followed with a steal and fastbreak layup, giving the Mountain Lions their largest lead of the half at 18-12. However, Texas Woman's responded with an 11-0 run and held UCCS scoreless over the final 7:30 of the half to take a 23-18 lead into the break.
- Texas Woman's scored the first four points of the second half to extend its lead to nine, 27-18. Brynae Stewart helped spark the Mountain Lions' comeback, leading a 6-0 run. Wilson ended UCCS' scoring drought with a field goal before Stewart added two free throws and a jumper to cut the deficit to three, 27-24. Summya Addigan added two free throws before Braeden Johnson converted an old-fashioned three-point play to tie the game at 29-29. The teams traded points down the stretch, with UCCS making its final four points of the quarter at the free throw line to send the game into the fourth tied at 33-33.
- Holmes opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to give UCCS the lead, but the Pioneers answered with a three of their own. Salazar then came up with a steal and found Daija Mitchell for a basket, putting the Mountain Lions ahead, 38-36. After Texas Woman's briefly regained the lead, Salazar scored on a layup before a Pioneer turnover led to a Johnson basket. C. Mitchell converted two free throws to give UCCS a 44-40 advantage with 3:19 remaining. With 80 seconds left, C. Mitchell came up with another clutch steal, setting up Johnson for two more points at the free throw line. UCCS continued to capitalize at the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the 52-45 road victory.
GAME STATISTICS
- Johnson led UCCS with nine points off the bench, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
- C. Mitchell finished with eight points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists while converting all six of her free throw attempts.
- Holmes added eight points, four rebounds and two steals off the bench.
- UCCS shot 31.8 percent from the floor (14-of-44), 15.4 percent from three-point range (2-of-13) and 73.3 percent from the free throw line (22-of-30).
- Texas Woman's was led by Summer Sodek, who recorded a game-high 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds.
- The Pioneers shot 35.4 percent from the floor (17-of-48), 31.3 percent from three-point range (5-of-16) and 66.7 percent from the free throw line (6-of-9).
- The Mountain Lions held advantages in points off turnovers (19-17) and points in the paint (20-18).
BEYOND THE BOX
- Saturday's victory marked the first time UCCS has defeated Texas Woman's in five meetings.
- The win marks UCCS' first victory over a nationally ranked opponent since Dec. 16, 2025, when the Mountain Lions defeated No. 3 Lubbock Christian University, 71-67, at home.
- UCCS recorded season highs in free throws made (22), free throws attempted (30) and steals (11) during the opening weekend of the season.
- Today's game featured seven scoring ties and nine lead changes.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions return home next weekend to open their home schedule. UCCS will host West Texas A&M University on Friday at 3 p.m. before facing the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday at 1 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.
