UCCS women’s basketball increased their overall record to 12-14 after two road game wins against in-state rivals on Feb. 18-19.
Colorado Christian University vs. UCCS
The Mountain Lions began the weekend with a 72-51 win against the Colorado Christian Cougars. The win secured UCCS their second series sweep this season; Adams State was the first.
The first quarter was close. Despite shooting 26.6% from the floor, UCCS took a 15-12 lead, scoring 12 of their 15 points off six CCU turnovers.
UCCS began the second quarter with an 8-2 run within the first two-and-a-half minutes of the quarter. Redshirt sophomore forward Ellie Moore, graduate student guard Bo Shaffer, freshman guard Gracie Haneborg and graduate student guard Shelby Megyeri shot 4-for-4 during the run.
CCU stopped UCCS’ run with two free throws. A layup from graduate student forward Jasmine Jeffcoat and a steal from freshman guard Alexa Dominguez helped increase the lead to 30-20 with 4:49 remaining in the half.
With three seconds left in the half, Moore scored on a jumper, helping to extend their lead to 32-21. UCCS outscored CCU 12-3 in the quarter.
UCCS continued their lead in the second half, outscoring CCU 21-15 in the third and 19-15 in the fourth. The Mountain Lions shot 46.4% from the floor and hit 13-of-21 free throws.
Thirteen of CCU’s second-half points were from the free throw line. UCCS also forced the Cougars into 13 second-half turnovers.
Three straight turnovers by CCU allowed Megyeri and Haneborg to score on three straight free throws. A pair of layups from Megyeri and Moore helped UCCS go on a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter.
Megyeri led UCCS in scoring with 15 points despite being on the court for just 23 minutes. She made 5-of-11 field goals and 3-of-4 free throws. Moore followed Megyeri, netting 12 points on 5-of-9 from the field. Moore and Jeffcoat led the game with a high of eight rebounds each.
MSU Denver vs. UCCS
After the win, the Mountain Lions traveled to Denver to take on the MSU Denver Roadrunners and won in overtime, 82-78. Jeffcoat went 4-for-4 in the final 22 seconds of overtime from the free throw line to win the game.
The win also ended a five-game losing streak for MSU.
Haneborg opened with the first points of the night on a layup from a Jeffcoat assist. A three-pointer from freshman forward Agar Farres helped give UCCS a 5-2 lead. MSU replied with an 8-2 run that led to a 10-7 lead.
In the final two minutes of the first quarter, UCCS was down by three points. A turnover from the Roadrunners led Shaffer to score her first points of the game, closing the score within one. Both teams exchanged shots, helping to tie the game with 1:37 left. MSU ended the quarter with a 5-point run.
The second quarter began with both defenses holding out as the teams turned the ball over five times in the first three minutes. MSU scored the first points, leading 21-14.
UCCS responded with a 7-0 run, thanks to two made free throws from Haneborg and four straight points from Jeffcoat. Two free throws from the Roadrunners stopped the run, however.
The teams traded baskets, but a pair of free throws from Megyeri in the five final seconds ended in a UCCS 27-25 lead.
UCCS took advantage of a MSU turnover early in the second half by following with their first 7-0 run of the game. Later in the third quarter, they went on another run and snagged a nine-point lead, 48-39.
MSU responded with six points, but two free throws by Jeffcoat provided UCCS with a five-point difference, 50-45. Back and forth points between both teams led to a two-point game, 54-52 with 6:18 left in the game.
MSU again came back, this time on a 12-0 run — the longest run of the game. With 53 seconds left on the clock, MSU led 64-61. Moore put UCCS ahead again after five straight points.
The Mountain Lions had a 66-64 lead with four seconds left. Both teams were called for fouls, leading to two free throw attempts for each team. UCCS missed both while the Roadrunners sank them and tied the game, 66-66.
Overtime continued the close scoring game. It began with UCCS jumping out ahead, 70-66 and then 72-68. MSU turned it around and led 74-72; shortly after, UCCS was ahead again, 76-74.
Jeffcoat sealed the game for UCCS after securing a rebound, drawing a foul and then hitting both free throws to give UCCS the 82-78 win.
Jeffcoat scored a game high 25 points after sinking in all nine free throw attempts. She was also 8-of-9 on field goals and added five rebounds, four blocks and two assists.
The Mountain Lions scored 23 points of 22 MSU turnovers. The team also shot 45.8% from the floor and 71.4% from the free throw line.
UCCS women’s basketball is now on a three-game win streak.
Following their Feb. 22 game against New Mexico Highlands, UCCS women’s basketball will play their final game of the regular season at home against New Mexico Highlands on Thursday, Feb. 24.