GOLDEN, CO- Colorado Christian headed up 6 West to Golden on Saturday afternoon for a matchup at Colorado School of Mines. Led by a career high 28 points from freshman
Elise Grosdidier, CCU pulled away for an important 74-61 victory.
Hayley Luther scored the first points for her team with a jumper, and
Dasiya Jones drilled a three-pointer moments later. Elise got her excellent day started with a jumper to put her team on top 7-6, and she followed with a layup and
Nicole Bowlin put in a layup for a 13-9 advantage. The Orediggers went on a run to close the quarter, taking a 21-17 lead to the second quarter.
The defense was in great form in the second quarter, and the offense took advantage. A Grosdidier tipin cut the gap to two, and after a mini run from Mines, the offense got hot. Trailing by six they made their move, starting with a jumper from Elise and a three from Bowlin. Grosdidier followed the next possession with a three-pointer of her own, and after a Jones layup the Cougars found themselves ahead 34-28. Outsourcing the hosts 18-9 in the quarter, CCU went to the half leading 35-30.
Victoria Perez gave her team their largest lead of the day with a three to make it 40-30, and the teams traded baskets throughout the quarter. After Mines cut the deficit to just three, CCU responded with 5 straight from Grosdidier off a jumper and three and a Bowlin layup to restore the 10 point lead at 51-41 heading to the final frame.
Josie Grosdidier put in a layup to start the fourth, and a Jones jumper saw CCU go up by 14. Luther then splashed home a three-pointer as the offense stayed scorching hot. Try as they may, Mines never got within single digits the rest of the way, and Perez closed the scoring with a free throw to ice an impressive 74-61 victory.
Elise Grosdidier had her best game at the collegiate level, pouring in 28 points to go with 6 rebounds. Grosdidier was one of four cougars to score in double digits as Jones had 15 points and 8 rebounds while Bowlin and Perez each tallied 11 points.
With a statement victory in hand, CCU will return home for a January 23 matchup against Fort Lewis at 6 p.m. MST.
