CCU Women's Basketball was defeated by Colorado School of Mines on Tuesday night 79-62.

Both Colorado Christian and neighboring Colorado School of Mines came out ready to play on Tuesday night. The two squads are close in location and in conference rankings with Mines at #7, record of 7-6, and the Cougars at #9 with a record of 6-7.

It was a slow start for both troops as CCU and CSM missed various different shots, especially in the second quarter. The Cougars finished the first quarter only down by three points 22-19, but in the second there were only eight points scored by blue and gold. Alex Nelson and Kaitlyn Hinch both had four points each; every other CCU player was stumped. Colorado Mines was also in a bind in the second quarter scoring 13 points, compared to 22 every other quarter. The Orediggers turned the ball over quite a bit, but dominated CCU in rebounding throughout the whole game. Overall, Mines had 21 second chance points against the Cougars, with 15 offensive rebounds.

The Orediggers had a damaging second half surge that made it difficult for the Cougars to gain momentum. In the first minute of the third quarter, as the Cougars were stagnant on offense, the Orediggers scored five quick points and eventually spread the gap 42-27 only a minute and a half in. The difference? Mines started making their shots from three. In the first half they went 2-10 at 20%, but after the third quarter they doubled it, shooting 40% from downtown. CSM created a comfortable 13 point gap to go into the fourth and final quarter.

A series of turnovers, offensive rebounds by Mines, and un-favored calls pounded the Cougars into the ground. The Orediggers continued to hit buckets and play defense as Christian fought hard to score points. In the end, CSM had 10 more rebounds than CCU and made their shots.

Alex Nelson and Mikala Gordon scored high for the Cougs with 12 points. Nelson also led in rebounds with nine, and Gordon had four steals. Leisha Crawford hit buckets early, but ended the game as a top scorer with 10 points and four rebounds.

Colorado Christian will be back at the CCU Event Center on Saturday, January 24^th 1:00 PM. The Cougs will take on Fort Lewis College.