Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
DENTON, Texas – UC-Colorado Springs put together a 14-4 run in the second half en route to recording a 61-55 victory over Midwestern State in the Best Western Premiere Pioneer Classic opener at Kitty Magee Arena Saturday afternoon. 
 
UC-Colorado Springs (3-0) began its run in the latter part of the third period with a jumper by Kristen Vigil beginning a 9-4 run before a three-pointer by Jen Vigil closed out the quarter with UCCS holding a five-point advantage at 43-38. A three-point play by Tori Fisher less than two minutes into the fourth quarter capped off the UCCS spurt to take its largest lead of the game at 48-38 with 8:33 remaining.
 
Midwestern State (2-1) pulled within two at 48-46 with junior guard Whitney Taylor contributing four points in the run. The Mountain Lions stretched their lead back out to seven before a jumper for junior post Avery Queen and a triple for freshman guard Leanna James brought the Mustangs to within a basket with 4:09 to play.
 
A Queen layup with 2:14 remaining made the score 57-55 in favor of UCCS, but the Mustangs were unable to pull even on the next possession with UCCS holding MSU scoreless in the final two minutes of play.
 
In the first quarter, UCCS outscored the Mustangs 10-4 in the final 2:59 to take a 16-12 lead after the opening period. 
 
Queen scored 11 points in the second period alone with nine straight coming in a span of 1:46 to help Midwestern erase a three-point deficit and take a 28-24 lead at halftime.

NOTES
- Avery Queen netted a season-high 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting
- Kristin Rydell added 12 points and a team-best seven rebounds while Whitney Taylor also reached double figures with 11 points
- Midwestern State shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55) from the field while UC-Colorado Springs finished with a 37.7 (20-of-53) clip
- UCCS shot 3-of-16 (18.8%) from behind the arc after coming in averaging 10.5 triples per game with Midwestern State firing 6-of-15 (40%) from long range
- UCCS totaled 25 trips to the charity stripe, shooting 18-of-25 (72%) while MSU managed to make just eight trips going 7-of-8 (87.5%) from the line

STAT OF THE GAME
11 – Avery Queen scored 11 of her 17 points in the second quarter

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State closes out Texas Woman's Pioneer Classic tomorrow with a 2 p.m. tipoff against Newman (Kan.) at Kitty Magee Arena.