LAKEWOOD,CO- The Cougars hosted Regis University at the CCU Event Center on Friday evening. In a back and forth affair, Colorado Christian came out on top in thrilling fashion, winning 81-79 with a last-second defensive stop.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED- The theme of the game for the Cougars was how they responded to runs from Regis. The Rangers jumped on top early 5-0, but a quick 6-0 run from Colorado Christian led by Lourdes Gonzalez, Christen Curry and Agnes Paul put their team ahead. Consecutive layups from Gonzalez tied the game at 10 as the teams battled back and forth. A run from the Rangers put them up 19-14 heading to the second quarter.

The lead stretched all the way to 27-14 for Regis, but then the Cougars responded. India Cole drilled a three-pointer, and Sophia Karasinski joined the party from beyond the arc to cut into the lead. Karasinski then hit a three and converted a three-point play as the lead lessened to just one for the Rangers. Regis fought for a 36-32 lead at the break.

The Rangers again came out firing in the third, snagging an eight point lead with several baskets. Again, back came the Cougars with a jumper from Curry and a layup from Jordyn Brown. Paul and Sydney Daniels tied the game at 42 with consecutive jumpers. Brown began to take over late in the third quarter with a free throw and jumper. Brown then made what turned out to be an enormous play for the Cougars, banking home a three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to make the Regis lead just 59-57 heading to the final frame. 

Brown and Cole got their team going in the fourth with back-to-back threes. A jumper from Brown gave the Cougars the lead 70-69 with 4:34 left in the game. Another Cole three put Colorado Christian up 73-71 with 2:44 to play. A two-point Rangers lead was brief as Paul converted a three-point play for the one point lead. Leading by two with under a minute, Regis was forced to foul the Cougars. Gonzalez hit a number of clutch free throws and made a last second stop on a streaking Rangers player to preserve the thrilling 81-79 victory. 

COUGARS LEADERS:
Jordyn Brown paced the Cougars with 22 points, while Lourdes Gonzalez put up 17 and six rebounds. Brown and Sydney Daniels dished out four assists each. 

 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Cougars saw their bench outpace Regis by a tally of 44-17

• Second chance points was led by Colorado Christian 14-7

• The game was tied five times and saw seven lead changes

UP NEXT- Colorado Christian will play again on February 5 at home against Colorado School of Mines at 5 p.m