Colorado Mesa validated its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women’s basketball titles in the regular and postseasons as the third-seeded Mavericks opened NCAA Division II Championship play with an 80-45 win on Friday over Lubbock Christian in Denton, Texas. READ MORE
Three-time RMAC Player of the Year Olivia Reed Thyne finished with her 20th double-double of the year and the 63rd of her career, leading all scorers with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Reed Thyne has now compiled 2,367 points and grabbed 1,375 rebounds in her career to rank among the Centennial State’s all-time “elite” players.
With eight rebounds in her game Saturday, Reed Thyne will become the all-time career rebounding leader in Colorado collegiate history, to pass Colorado State Pueblo’s Alisha Davis Little. Reed Thyne ranks third all-time in scoring behind Colorado State’s Becky Hammon (2,740) and Davis Little (2,641). RECORD BOOK
With its 31st straight victory to improve to 34-1 on the season, Colorado State advances to the regional semifinals on Friday against seventh-seeded Texas Tyler (21-10), which posted a 66-56 upset win over second-seeded West Texas A&M (28-4) on Friday. BOX SCORE
In the last of four games of the South Central Regional, UCCS (22-10) trailed for only once in the game for an 18-second period in the fourth quarter (53-52) as the Mountain Lions scored a 67-62 win over RMAC rival Adams State (22-11) to advance. UCCS WEB ARTICLE / ADAMS STATE WEB ARTICLE
Adams State trailed 29-12 in the second period with 4:09 left before intermission as the Grizzlies outscored UCCS 15-1 to close the gap to 30-27 at halftime. UCCS defense was a key down the stretch as Adams State made only one of its last eight shots from the field with no baskets in the last 3:10 of the contest.
With the win, UCCS meets Texas Woman’s University (30-1) on Saturday. TWU, which advanced with a 68-49 win over Eastern New Mexico on Friday, defeated the Mountain Lions in Colorado Springs 80-69 on November 15.
In junior college play, Lamar (21-7) advanced to the Region IX postseason semifinals in Rock Springs, Wyo. After a first-round bye, the second-seeded Antelopes won their ninth-straight game by defeating Central Wyoming 65-56 on Thursday.
In the semifinals against Northwest of Sheridan, Wyo., on Friday, Lamar led 32-22 with 2:40 remaining in the second quarter before Antelope coach Chris Godfrey was assessed two technicals and ejected from the game.
From that point on, Northwest outscored Lamar 47-20 in the final 22 minutes, 40 seconds of the game to post a 69-52 win over the Antelopes.
Hosted by TWU at Kitte Magee Arena, Denton, Texas (BRACKET)
Friday, March 13 – Regional Quarterfinals
- (3) Colorado Mesa 80, (6) Lubbock Christian 45
- (7) UT Tyler 66, (2) West Texas A&M 56
- (1) Texas Woman’s 68, (8) Eastern New Mexico 49
- (4) UCCS 67, (5) Adams State 62
Saturday, March 14 – Regional Semifinals
- Colorado Mesa vs. UT Tyler, 4 p.m.
- Texas Woman’s vs. UCCS, 6:30 p.m.
First Round Campus site Results (Lamar and Western Wyoming byes)
- Central Wyoming 71, North Platte 58
- McCook 63, Casper 62
- Northwest 88, Northeastern 57
- Gillette 90, Southeast 72
- Laramie County 73, Western Nebraska 59
- Eastern Wyoming 73, Otero 53
Thursday, March 12 Quarterfinal Results at Rock Springs
- Northwest 67, Eastern Wyoming 61
- Lamar 65, Central Wyoming 56
- Gillette 79, Laramie County 63
- at Western Wyoming 65, McCook 60
Friday, March 13 Semifinal Schedule at Rock Springs
- Northwest 69, Lamar, 62
- Gillette vs. Western Wyoming, 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 14 Finals
- Northwest vs. Gillette/Western Wyoming winner, 3 p.m.
The Region IX champion will advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Women’s Basketball Championship on March 24-31, at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La.
