LAKEWOOD, CO – Colorado Christian played the closest game of the season so far as they battled until the end with Northern State University.
The game went back and forth throughout the entire game with 18 lead changes total. In the end a few late turnovers buried the Cougars and they could not recover. Northern State held on for the 66-61 win.
Sam Nunez had a career night for the Cougars, scoring 33 points on 11-16 shooting and going 4-5 from three point range. 33 points is the most points a Colorado Christian player has scored since January 10, 2007, when Talmai Aguirre scored 34 against Johnson and Wales and the most points ever for a Colorado Christian Women's Basketball player against a Division II opponent. It is also the second most points scored in the RMAC this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The game stayed close through the first quarter, with the teams going back and forth with the biggest lead being four points in the very start for Northern State. The first quarter ended in a 17-17 tie.
The second quarter was similar to the first, with both teams keeping it close. Colorado Christian held the biggest lead of the quarter with six points. The quarter ended with the Cougars holding a one point lead. The first time that they have held a lead going into halftime this season.
The Cougars held the lead for most of third quarter, holding the lead until the 1:51 mark of the third quarter. Going into the fourth quarter the Wolves had a 44-42 lead with only their second lead of the quarter despite outscoring the Cougars 15-12 in the quarter.
The fourth quarter was the highest scoring quarter of the game, with Northern State scoring 22 points and 19 points for Colorado Christian. Colorado Christian tied the game with 18 seconds left to play, Northern scored on a layup and after two Cougar turnovers the Wolves were able to secure the victory.
COUGAR LEADERS: Lourdes Gonzalez had four assists for the Cougars and Marie Tsoungui had seven rebounds for the Cougars.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- The Cougars had 15 fast break points once again showing they are one of the fastest teams in the RMAC.
- Colorado Christian scored 28 points in the paint.
UP NEXT: RMAC plays begin next week as the Cougars travel out to Chadron State to start the conference season. Tip-off will be on December 6, at 5:30 p.m.
