GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Entering the fourth quarter of the 2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship Tournament game, the No. 2 seed University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's basketball team was outscored by No. 4 and top seed Colorado Mesa University, 34-10, in the final stanza, as the Mountain Lions fell to CMU, 92-67.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 67, CMU 92
- Records: UCCS (21-10, 15-5 RMAC) | #4 CMU (33-1, 20-0 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Brownson Arena | Grand Junction, Colo.
- All-Time Series: Colorado Mesa leads the all-time series over UCCS, 46-15. The Mountain Lions, who are 4-29 when facing the Mavericks on their home court, claimed two wins at CMU last season, including a 63-60 win in the RMAC Championship game on March 8, 2025.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams came up empty on their opening possessions before Olivia Reed Thyne, the RMAC Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, scored CMU's first four points of the game. UCCS answered when Brynae Stewart drove the lane and kicked the ball out to Rylie Ottmann, who was waiting on the right wing to knock down a long three and put the Mountain Lions on the board. Moments later, redshirt senior guard Amyah Moore Allen scooped up a loose ball and raced coast-to-coast for a layup, cutting the deficit to one, 6-5. CMU responded with an eight-point run, but Moore Allen halted the surge with an old-fashioned three-point play, bringing UCCS within six, 14-8, with 3:21 remaining in the opening quarter. By the end of the period, the Mountain Lions trailed 25-12, with Moore Allen accounting for nine of UCCS' 12 points while Reed-Thyne poured in 15 first-quarter points for CMU.
- UCCS opened the second quarter with possession, and Moore Allen immediately added to her total with a fadeaway jumper in the paint. After Reed-Thyne converted a traditional three-point play, the Mountain Lions responded with three straight baskets from Moore Allen and Ottmann, trimming the deficit to eight, 28-20, at the 7:37 media timeout. Gia Bradley then got into the scoring column, knocking down a three-pointer from the left side off a pass from Jayla Jackson-Allen. Ottmann followed with her second three of the game, cutting the deficit to four, 30-26. With less than two minutes remaining in the half and UCCS trailing by eight, Bradley drained another key three-pointer to bring the Mountain Lions within five. On the final possession of the half, Stewart grabbed a defensive rebound and went coast-to-coast for the layup as time expired, sending UCCS into the locker room trailing by just three, 38-35.
- A CMU turnover on the opening possession of the second half led to Mya Wilson's first points of the game on the other end. The Mavericks quickly responded as Mason Rowland scored the next seven points for the home team, knocking down her second three-pointer of the night before converting two free throws after UCCS was assessed a technical foul. Trailing 45-39, Stewart powered her way to the basket for a layup, and moments later the Mountain Lions forced a turnover that led to a fastbreak layup by Jackson-Allen, trimming the deficit to two, 45-43. CMU answered with five straight points to stretch its lead to 50-44, but UCCS responded with back-to-back driving layups from Moore Allen and Jackson-Allen to pull within one possession, 50-48, with 3:21 remaining in the quarter. On the defensive end, Bradley drew a charge against Reed Thyne, which sparked a transition opportunity for the Mountain Lions. Jackson-Allen capitalized with an and-one play to give UCCS its first lead of the game, 55-53, with 2:12 left in the third. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, but CMU had the final word as Rowland grabbed a defensive rebound and found Reed Thyne under the basket for a late score, sending the Mavericks into the fourth quarter with a narrow 58-57 lead.
- CMU seized control in the final stanza, opening the quarter on an 11-0 run. Rowland continued her strong performance, starting the surge with a three-pointer before adding an and-one play. After UCCS was assessed a second technical foul, Rowland converted both free throws, and another CMU three-pointer extended the Mavericks' lead to 69-57. Moore Allen halted the run with a pair of free throws for UCCS' first points of the quarter, but the Mavericks dominated the final period. CMU outscored the Mountain Lions 34-10 in the fourth quarter to secure the championship with a 92-67 victory.
GAME STATISTICS
- Moore Allen netted a team high 30 points on 13-of-24 field goals and 4-of-6 free throws. She tied Jackson-Allen for a team-high six rebounds.
- Stewart and Ottmann both netted eight points, with Stewart adding four caroms, three dimes and a blocked shot.
- Reed Thyne, who had a double-double in the first half, finished the game with 33 points, 20 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.
- UCCS shot 37.1 percent from the floor (26-70), 26.7 percent from downtown (4-14) and 73.3 percent from the line (11-15).
BEYOND THE BOX
- Playing in their third straight RMAC championship game, UCCS moves to 7-2 in the RMAC Tournament under head coach Misty Wilson.
- Moore Allen recorded her fifth 30-point game this season.
- Moore Allen and Ottmann were both named to the RMAC All-Tournament Team.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions, who have been ranked No. 6 in the last two NCAA South Central Regional rankings, will await their selection to the NCAA Women's
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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.
