GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – For the third consecutive season, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team has earned a spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. The No. 2 seed Mountain Lions defeated No. 3 seed Adams State University, 74–71, Friday night in the semifinal round in Grand Junction. With the win, UCCS advances to the RMAC Championship game, where the Mountain Lions will face No. 1 seed Colorado Mesa University for the second straight year.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 74, ASU 71
- Records: UCCS (21-9, 15-5 RMAC) | ASU (22-10, 15-5 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Brownson Arena | Grand Junction, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions are 30-20 all-time against the Grizzlies, including wins in the last three games, and in four of the last five.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Grizzlies struck first on their opening possession, but Amyah Moore Allen responded quickly, putting her head down and driving the lane to tie the game. Two more baskets from Moore Allen fueled a 6–4 UCCS run before the Grizzlies answered with an 8–0 stretch, highlighted by five straight points from Ashiian Hunter to give ASU a 12–6 lead at the media timeout. Out of the break, Moore Allen ended the run with another driving layup, and Brynae Stewart followed with a scoop shot under the basket to cut the deficit to three, 13–10. In the final seconds of the quarter, Rylie Ottmann delivered a clever pass to a cutting Jayla Jackson-Allen for a layup as time expired, sending UCCS into the second quarter trailing 14–12.
- The second stanza opened with Breelyn Robinson knocking down a deep three from the left wing to give UCCS its second lead of the night, 15–14. The advantage was brief as ASU's Jaden Price answered with a basket at the other end. Down the stretch, the teams traded scores before Moore Allen drew a foul and knocked down both free throws to tie the game at 26–26. UCCS then went nearly three minutes without a point while the Grizzlies put together a six-point run. Moore Allen once again halted the momentum, drilling a three from the right side with 1:56 remaining in the half as part of her 19 first-half points. Despite the late bucket, the Mountain Lions headed into the locker room trailing 34–31.
- A Grizzlies turnover on the opening possession of the second half sent Stewart to the free throw line on UCCS' first trip down the floor, where she calmly knocked down both shots. The Mountain Lions continued to attack as Ottmann and Mya Wilson scored on back-to-back layups. After ASU's Hunter connected from beyond the arc, Wilson quickly answered with a three-pointer of her own to keep UCCS within striking distance heading into the media timeout. Defense then turned into offense when Ottmann came up with a steal that led to a fastbreak layup by Moore Allen, who completed the old-fashioned three-point play to cut the deficit to one, 45–44. Later in the quarter, Moore Allen found Gia Bradley for a clutch three-pointer that tied the game at 49–49 with 3:04 remaining in the third. ASU responded with a quick 4–0 run, but Jackson-Allen answered with a traditional three-point play to pull UCCS within one, 53–52. The Grizzlies closed the quarter on a 6–0 run, however, capitalizing on a costly UCCS turnover that turned into a fastbreak layup by Hunter to give ASU a 58–52 lead heading into the final frame.
- Facing a deficit to start the fourth quarter, the Mountain Lions opened the period with a jumper from the free throw line to get the offense going. UCCS began to build momentum as Ottmann and Stewart converted on consecutive layups before Moore Allen buried a three-pointer to trim the deficit to 62–61. After trailing by as many as six in the quarter, the Mountain Lions used a 6–0 run to reclaim the lead for the first time since the second quarter when Moore Allen sank two free throws to make it 67–66 with 3:19 remaining. Ottmann followed with a layup to push the advantage to 69–67, but ASU's Hill answered on the other end to tie the game at 69–69. The Grizzlies briefly regained the lead on a set play underneath the basket, but Moore Allen delivered the biggest shot of the night, draining a three-pointer from the top of the key to give UCCS a 72–71 edge with 39 seconds remaining. On the Mountain Lions' final possession, Robinson found a wide-open Stewart for an insurance basket, sealing a 74–71 victory for UCCS.
GAME STATISTICS
- Moore Allen led all scorers with 35 points, behind 13-of-28 field goals, including 6-of-7 from the free throw line. She added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
- Wilson chipped in nine points on 4-of-9 field goals as Ottmann added eight points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
- Stewart pulled down a game-high nine points to go with her eight points and two dimes.
- Four Grizzlies scored in double figures, led by Kiiyani Anitielu's team-high 16 points.
- UCCS finished the game shooting 39.7 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from long range, and 64.3 percent from the free throw line.
BEYOND THE BOX
- UCCS improves to 7-1 in the RMAC Tournament under head coach Misty Wilson.
- Tonight's matchup was the first time both teams faced each other on a neutral site court.
- UCCS is now 2-0 all-time against the Grizzlies in the RMAC Tournament (W, 63-60 at Adams State on March 4, 2025).
- Moore Allen's 35 points were the most by any Mountain Lion this season, while her 28 field goal attempts marked a career high.
- Ottmann's seven rebounds mark a new career high.
- Tonight's game featured nine ties and nine lead changes.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will meet No. 1 seed Colorado Mesa tomorrow night in the second straight RMAC Championship game.
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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.
