DENVER, CO – In the closest game of the season Colorado Christian had chance to win the game at the buzzer and led by as many as 10 in the second half. A game where the defenses shined the Cougars and Roadrunners battled all night as neither team could truly pull away from the other.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Both teams took some time to warm up in the first quarter, with the score being 8-3 in favor of MSU Denver half way through the quarter. The Cougars went on a 5-2 run to end the quarter and carry the momentum into the second.

The momentum carried in to the second as the Cougars took their first lead of the game with 7:49 left in the second quarter. The quarter ended with a flurry of points as the Cougars and Roadrunners trading blows and ended with the Cougars leading by one, 23-22 heading into halftime.

As has been the case the entire season the third quarter treated the Cougars well as they scored 17 points which was the highest scoring quarter for them in the game. This quarter was highlighted by a 10-2 run for Colorado Christian which stretched their lead to ten but an eleven point run by the Roadrunners evaporated the lead and MSU Denver led by one heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter was a story of back and forth battles, with neither team leading by more than three throughout the entire quarter. It came down to the final play as MSU Denver hit one of two free throws to go up by two with five seconds remaining, Lourdes Gonzalez was then fouled on a shot with two seconds to go. After hitting her first free throw, the second one did not find the net and the Cougars were not able to get another shot off before the clock expired for a heartbreaking 57-56 loss.

COUGAR LEADERS: Lourdes Gonzalez led the team with her fourth career triple double, with 17 points and 10 rebounds, both numbers led the team. Sam Nunez had 13 points and Brookelyn Hurlbut had seven rebounds. Mara Kemmer led with three assists.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• The Cougars had 13 points off turnovers
• Gonzalez has two triple doubles in three games this season
• The Cougars shot 40.8% from the field and 30% from three point range

UP NEXT: The Cougars will host South Dakota Mines this Saturday, December 19 at the CCU Event Center, tip-off is at 2 p.m., no fans will be allowed.