ALAMOSA, Colo. - Adams State Women's dropped ist second game of their four-game homestand Saturday night, falling in a close one to the Colorado Christian Cougars 76-72. This loss brings the Grizzlies record to 2-19 overall and 2-15 in the RMAC.
The game came down to the wire with a slow second quarter being crucial for the Grizzlies. The home squad worked to come back in the second half outscoring the Cougars 44-39, but it was not enough to seal the come from behind win. CCU was able to hold off the home team in the final minutes to seal the game.
It did not take long for Adams State to get on the board with Zakiya Beckles hitting a three 12 seconds into the game. Another three by Brooke Neal made it 6-5 a minute and a half into the quarter.
The Grizzlies had no problem letting it continue to rain from deep with Beckles and Stephanie Ruiz hitting back-to-back threes making the score 12-10 with four minutes left in the quarter. Colorado Christian then went an eight-point run for the next 3:30 until the run was stopped with another Neal three to make the score 18-15 at the end of the first frame.
The Grizzlies came out in the second quarter and tied the game up at 20 off a Sentreal Gregory three two minutes in. The Cougars began to go on a 10-2 scoring run over the next six minutes as the Grizzlies scoring cooled off. The Cougars extended their lead to 10 with :45 left in the second quarter with a score of 35-25. Going into the half the score was 37-28 in favor of the visitors.
Ruiz and Beckles led scoring for the Grizzlies at the half both putting up eight points on two threes. Neal added in seven points at the half. Sarah McGinley posted a team high 16 points for the Cougars.
Adams State traded baskets with CCU eventually cutting the score to single digits with seven minutes left in the third. The Cougars extended the lead back to 11 before a Ruiz triple brought the Cougar lead back to eight points.
Colorado Christian would score a quick five points to make the score 52-39 before Adams State began its comeback. With 3:11 left in the quarter Ruiz hit a three which sparked an 11-0 run to close out the third quarter and bring the Grizzleies within four with the score at the end of the third being 54-50 in favor of the Cougars.
The fourth quarter started with a Gregory three to bring the Grizzlies within one. Both teams traded baskets, going back and forth until the Grizzlies tied the game up at 58-all with 8:44 left in the final quarter.
The lead then shifted to the home squad after a Marshell Hollins block led to a Madison Merschel basket to give the Grizzlies a 62-60 lead. This was their first lead since the first quarter.
Both teams traded scores with Adams State keeping the lead. Ki'asha Harris put up six straight points for the Grizzlies making the score 68-68 with 3:00 left in the game. The Cougars made three free throws on two possessions to go up by three with 1:30 on the clock. A Brooke Neal layup cut the deficit one with :15 left, but that was the final score for the Grizzlies. After fouls, the final score ended 76-72.
The Grizzlies had four players in double-digits with Brooke Neal leading the way with 20 points on 7-16 shooting, 3-9 from deep, and 3-4 at the free throw line. Ruiz put up 16 on 6-14 from the floor and 4-9 from three. Harris and Gregory also chipped in 12 and 10, respectively. Harris also grabbed eight boards for the Grizzlies. As a team, the Grizzlies shot 37.1% from the floor going 26-70. From three, Adams State went 11-31 totaling 35.5%. The Grizzlies went 9-10 from the line shooting 90%.
For the Cougars, McGinley led the way with 24 points while Jordan Baer added in 16. McGinley went 4-6 from three. The team went 26-58 from the field shooting 44.8%. From deep, the Cougars went 6-14 totaling 42.9%. From the line, Regis went 18-21 going 85.7%.
Adams State is back in action next weekend as they take on Dixie State and Westminister College for their final home games of the year. Both games begin at 5:30 in Plachy Hall.
