ALAMOSA, Colo.— For the first time since Nov. 15, 2017, when the Grizzlies defeated Central Christian College 92-55, the Grizzlies opened their season on the winning side. The Grizzlies opened the season with a 97-72 win over the Midwestern State University Texas on Friday in the Lone Start/Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Challenge.
Adams State's 97 points was the most since Feb. 28, 2015 when the Grizzlies put up 97 points over Western Colorado. This was also the first time that both Grizzly men and women basketball teams (ASU MBB def. Texas Permian Basin 72-69) won their season openers in the same year since 2013. That year the Grizzly women defeated Eastern New Mexico 58-46 and the Grizzly men defeated Iowa Wesleyan 87-79.
Because of the win tonight, the Grizzlies now trail in the series, 3-2.
Adams State and Midwestern State were even during the first quarter with both teams putting up 19 points.
The second period saw Adams State outscore the Mustangs 27-15 to take a 46-34 lead at the break thanks ten points in the frame by Riahana Davis and a deep trey at the buzzer by Harmonie Dominguez.
The Grizzlies did not let up in the third quarter as they outscored the Mustangs 31-14 in the quarter including Darlisha Reed popping off for eight points in the quarter including a 4-of-5 showing from the free throw line.
The Grizzlies than saw Sharmayne Finley close out the game with nine points in the fourth quarter before allowing bench players to play the final five minutes.
Adams State was led by Finley, who went 12-of-18 from the field including 1-of-2 from beyond the arch, and 2-of-2 from the free throw line for 27 points. Finley also had a team-high seven rebounds in the game.
Five other Grizzlies also finished in double figures as Dominguez (13), Kiiyani Anitielu (13), Davis (10), Elaina Watson (10) and Reed (10) all accomplished that feat.
In the game, the Grizzlies shot 37-of-69 (53.6 percent) from the field and 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from beyond the arch. They were also strong at the charity stripe as they shot 17-of-21 (81 percent) from the free throw line.
The Grizzlies will look to continue the weekend on Saturday when they host the Cameron University Aggies. The Aggies head to Alamosa after traveling 163 miles from Colorado Springs where they played the UCCS Mountain Lions. The Aggies were able to defeat the Mountain Lions 67-59.
