Finishing up their travel weekend in South Dakota, Colorado Christian fell to the Hardrockers of South Dakota School of Mines by only six points after a final minute free throw run. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: The game was off to a rough start for the Cougars, after they were only able to get up 9 points to the Hardrockers 19. However the team tightened up their defense and outscored South Dakota Mines in the second quarter by 2, 13-11. This took the score going into the locker rooms 30-22 with the lead in favor of the Hardrockers.

Both teams started out the second half playing their best offense – the Cougars scoring 21 and the Hardrockers scoring 23. South Dakota Mines at one point took a lead as great as 15 points, but the Cougars shortened it to 10 before the end of the quarter. This put them in a rough spot going into the final quarter of play, down 53-43.

Colorado Christian started out the 4th quarter hot with a 7-0 run to shorten the deficit to just 3 points. They continued to fight and had the score tied at 60 with just a little over a minute left. The Hardrockers took the lead after a free throw put them ahead by 1. The Cougars were unable to score and began fouling to slow down the game, but South Dakota Mines made all 7 of their free throws to finish with the 6 point win.

GAME LEADERS: Leading Colorado Christian in scoring again was Jordan Baer, finishing with 19. Sarah McGinley was next on the charts with 16, followed by Marie Tsoungui with 10. Tsoungui also led the team in rebounds and assists, with 8 and 5 respectively.

UP NEXT: The loss gives the Cougars an overall record of 7-8, and a conference record of 5-4 to place them in the middle of the pack. Colorado Christian will host the Utah schools of the RMAC, Dixie State and Westminster College, on January 18th and 19th for their next round of games.