LAKEWOOD, CO- In their second RMAC game of the season, the Colorado Christian women's basketball team showed the same fight as the night before. Fighting hard against a talented Westminster squad, the Cougars were in the game to the finish, ultimately falling by a score of 66-59.

"Our team has a really gritty mentality and I'm really excited about this group of girls. If we could start off the game the way we finish I think a lot of different outcomes would occur" said head coach Diane Thompson.

HOW IT HAPPENED- The Cougars got off to a fast start in the first quarter as Agnes Paul and Haley Hanson combined for five quick points in the first two minutes. Mia Guest entered the game and promptly drilled a three-pointer to put Colorado Christian ahead by two. A strong close from the Griffins put them up 10 heading to the second quarter.

Hanson pulled the Cougars to within six with a jumper as they rallied back. Westminster continued to have an answer as a mini-run to close the half put them ahead by 11 at the break.

Free throws played a part in this game, and Jordyn Brown made hers count, going 7-7 on the day from the stripe. A pair to start the half closed the gap to nine as the Cougars looked to push back. Hanson went on a run of her own, scoring four straight in the paint. Lourdes Gonzalez picked up a bucket and a foul and completed the three-point play
late in the third as the two teams played evenly to head to the final frame with the same gap as halftime.

The defense clamped down for the Cougars in the fourth quarter, as Christen Curry and Gonzalez fired up the bench with turnovers and charges taken. Hanson hit from downtown again to bring the Cougars within seven down the stretch as it suddenly became anyone's game. Westminster played steady down the stretch though, and the Griffins edged the Cougars by a score of 65-59.  

"When we commit to the defensive plan, I think we took 8 or 9 charges which is pretty amazing. Really helping out each other and committing to if you get beat my teammates got my back, and I think we do a really good job of that" Thompson said.
 
COUGARS LEADERS:
Haley Hanson led Colorado Christian with 18 points and Lourdes Gonzalez pulled down 10 rebounds for the second consecutive day. Sydney Daniels paced the Cougars with five assists.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Cougars bench poured in 28 points
• Colorado Christian's tough defense forced 19 turnovers
• The Cougars finished with 22 points in the paint

UP NEXT- The Cougars return to action on the road at Fort Lewis College on December 11 at 5 p.m.