It was a very successful week for the Colorado Christian Athletics Programs with a multitude of wins across all sports! The week started off with the basketball teams traveling to Nebraska on Tuesday. The women's team had a huge victory against Chadron with a buzzer beater by Maggie Phipps to win the game 74-71. Following basketball, the softball team then traveled to California for 6 games and finished 4-2. A very strong start for our softball team and a school record already broken! Kali Crandall set the new record with 15 strikeouts in just one game! There is much to highlight, but stay tuned for 6 more upcoming games this week as softball wraps up in California on February 11th. Baseball also made a strong showing as they traveled to Florida and beat #22 ranked Nova Southeastern University this weekend. During their short stay in Florida, their last game was canceled due to rain, but they will be back at it on February 10th in Oklahoma! Our basketball teams also had an incredible weekend as both took victories against Western Colorado Saturday night. This makes for 5 total wins just on Saturday among baseball, softball, men's basketball, and women's basketball. A very memorable weekend for our programs!
Women's Basketball Recap
1/31 Chadron, NE- Colorado Christian headed to Nebraska on Tuesday night for an early week matchup with Chadron State. After a late Eagles rally, Maggie Phipps came through with a game ending three at the buzzer to give her team a 74-71 victory.
Point guard
Nicole Bowlin led the offense with 18 points. Closely following her were
Dasiya Jones and Phipps, who each put up 15 points respectively.
Agnes Paul was dominant down low, pulling down 12 rebounds, while Phipps had five. The assists were split evenly, as Bowlin,
Regan LoConte and
Mykaela Moore had two apiece.
CCU was effective in the fast break, scoring 19 points to their opponents 14. They scored 14 points off turnovers while the bench put up 13. A scorching 58% shooting in the games' final period led to a close game down the stretch. After a tying bucket with four seconds left from the Eagles, Phipps put the game in her hands, sprinting up the court for a three point attempt that fell for a thrilling 74-71 win for the Cougars.
2/4 Lakewood, CO - The Cougars took to the floor on Saturday Night looking for revenge against Western Colorado after an earlier loss in the season, as they played at the CCU Event Center. Revenge is exactly what was served as they beat Western Colorado with a score of 68-56.
From tip off the Cougars struggled from the start, but as the game progressed found their groove and fought back. Regaining control in the second quarter, they were able to take the lead going into halftime 26-22.
Leading the way in the first half Agnes Paul and Regan LoConte both putting up seven points each, Paul going 3-5 from the floor and LoConte hitting 2-5. CCU took control of the boards in the first half grabbing 24 rebounds compared to Western's 13, which helped them take back control of the game.
Going into the second half, the Cougars kept their lead maintaining their strong lead ending the game 68-56. The Cougars had a strong presence on the line tonight leading the free-throw percentage 78 to Westerns 70 shooting 22 more free-throws than the mountaineers.
Colorado Christian had 3 players all scoring in double-digits, Agnes Paul finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, Maggie Phipps had 14 points, and Regan LoConte finished with 13 points.
The win tonight boosts the Cougars record to be 10-12 overall and 6-10 in conference play. Colorado Christian is scheduled to play Colorado State University Pueblo on Friday February 10 on the road in Pueblo, CO.
Softball Recap
IRVINE, CA- The Cougars played their final two games of the CUI Kickoff Classic on Sunday, taking on Chico State and Hawaii at Hilo. Colorado Christian used a gem from Abrie Castillo and an inside the park home run to edge the Wildcats 2-1, and they brought the bats out for a 10-3 victory over the Vulcans.
GAME ONE
Taking on a quality Chico State team in their first contest, CCU did not flinch and stayed locked in throughout. Neither team could put together much offense in the game, as both pitchers frequently got out of jams and shut down their opponent. Something was bound to give, and it did in the bottom of the fifth. Kayla Middleton stepped up to the plate with Mikayla Oaks on base, and smacked a ball between the center and right fielder that saw them both dive and not make it to the ball. Middleton charged around the bases and came all the way home to give her squad a 2-0 lead. The Wildcats threatened to come back in the final inning, scoring a run and putting a runner at third. However, Castillo was having none of the rally, inducing a popup to second base and a strikeout to end things 2-1.
Castillo was excellent all day, pitching her way to a complete game victory with four strikeouts. Kayla Middleton came up huge for her team with a smart read on the basepaths as she came all the way around to score an in the parker and give her team the two runs needed to win.
GAME TWO
In their second contest of the day, the Cougars got right to work, as Savannah Tourville doubled home Kenzie Middleton after her game-opening single. The Vulcans responded in their half of the first, tacking on two runs to take the lead. Tourville came through yet again in the second, doubling home the tying run to score Sami Edwards. Heading to the fight it was a tie game, but Edwards showed why she is an All-American, slapping an RBI single to give CCU the lead for good. Things unraveled for Hilo in the sixth, starting with an RBI single from Taylor Olsen. Logan Menzies pinch hit and promptly picked up an RBI knock herself. An error allowed Kayla Middleton to score as the lead grew to 6-2. The Vulcans brought it back to three at 6-3, but a four-run seventh from CCU put things away as they claimed the 10-3 victory.
A group effort of Alexis Hamilton and Kali Crandall kept the Vulcans in check, and Menzies came through big with two at bats and three RBI as a pinch hitter.
Up next for the Cougars is a doubleheader at Azusa Pacific University on February 7 at 5 and 7 p.m. MST.
Baseball Recap
Fort Lauderdale, FL- After an exciting opening game, the baseball team continued their road trip in Florida as they squared off against #22 ranked Nova Southeastern University. The Cougars jumped out to an early lead 6-2 after three innings of play, and held on to secure the victory by a final score of 7-6.
The Cougars got off to a great start as they tallied two runs in each of the first three innings to take a 6-2 lead after three innings of play. Gabe Ramos got the scoring off to a start as he singled home the first run of the game in the first inning, and later came home to score on a wild pitch. Kade Carney and Caden Walton got into the act in the second inning as they each tallied RBI base hits. Carney once again came up in the third with two runners on and connected for another base hit to score two more runs.
Things tightened up in the middle innings as Nova tallied a single run in the fifth inning, followed by a pair of runs in the seventh to cut the CCU lead down to just one at 6-5. However, a Frankie Shearn RBI single extended the Cougars lead to 7-5 heading into the bottom of the eighth. The Sharks answered back in the bottom of the eighth to make it a 7-6 game heading into the final inning of play.
The Cougars had their closer JC Watne on the mound who came in relief in the seventh inning and finished up the game. Watne struck out the final batter of the game to secure the first victory of the season for CCU while also earning his first save of the year.
The top of the Cougars lineup provided the offense early on as Caden Walton went 2-5 with an RBI, Frankie Shearn went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored and Gabe Ramos went 2-3 with two runs scores and an RBI. Cole Kennedy picked up the win on the mound as he threw three innings striking out five batters, and JC Watne collected the save going 2 and 2/3 innings allowing just two hits.
This marks the first victory of the year for the team after recording a tie in Friday's game. They are now 1-0-1 on the year.
Men's Basketball Recap
Lakewood, CO- The Colorado Christian Cougars took on Western Colorado on Saturday February 4 at home in the CCU Event Center. An excited crowd set the tone on the court for the battle tonight. CCU took the lead early in the game and pulled away with sharp shooting to solidify a victory by a final score of 94-81.
From the jump CCU took the lead in the first half. The high energy on the court and in the stands encouraged a fast paced first half. DJ McDonald and Jason Gallant lead the way in the first half for the Cougars, McDonald putting up 14 points and Gallant with 12. CCU battling for 26 rebounds proving beneficial for the team verses the 15 from Western. Cougars are driving the game going into half time 45-38.
CCU remained on top into the second half, ending the game 94-81. Emotions ran high as both teams battled for the lead, but in the end the Cougars won the day. In the second half, CCU pulled away by shooting 74% on the floor (17-23). From the bench CCU shot 24 over Westerns 4 points and grabbed 15 points off turnovers.
Jason Gallant scored 22 points as well as 8 rebounds. DJ McDonald, Noah Kon, and Isaiah Alonzo contributed to the win with McDonald scoring 27, Kon with 17, and Alonzo with 13.
With the win, the Cougars move their record to 8-5 at home for the season.
Next up: On Tuesday, February 7th, the softball team will play Azusa Pacific University at 5pm and 7pm MST. They will then continue on to Irvine California for four more games. They take on Northwest Nazarene University on February 9th at 2pm and 4m MST, and then Concordia University at 1pm and 3pm MST. Next, the men's and women's basketball teams play Friday, February 10th at Pueblo facing the Thunderwolves of CSU Pueblo. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm MST for the women's game, and 7:30 pm MST for the men. Last but not least, baseball will take on Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma for four games February 10th-12th. We have a lot of exciting things ahead!
