LAKEWOOD, Colo. – In a spirited effort, Colorado Christian University upset Black Hills State University 61-57 Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action in Lakewood, Colorado.
Black Hills State got off to a sluggish start not hitting a field goal until a 3-point basket from Courtney Patterson pulled the Yellow Jackets within three points at 10-7 with 12:59 remaining in the first period. The first four points for the Green and Gold came from the charity stripe.
Down 18-13 and just under four minutes remaining in the first half, Dakota Barrie gave the Yellow Jacket some momentum going on a personal 4-0 run. She pulled an offensive rebound and went straight up to the basket with it. After a defensive stop, Barrie then hit a jump shot from the left corner make the score 18-17.
After a jumper from the Cougars (1-8, 1-2 RMAC), Cassidy Kotelman, much like Barrie, went on her own 4-0 run to give the Yellow Jackets their first lead of the game at 21-20 with just under a minute on the clock.
The Green and Gold entered halftime with a 23-22 lead.
Up 41-40, the Yellow Jackets (3-3, 2-1 RMAC) embarked on a 6-0 run led by an old-fashioned three-point play from Chelsey Biegler. The senior scored a layup while getting fouled and sank her free throw. After a defensive stop, Patterson caught the ball on the right wing and drove towards the basket for a reverse layup.
Rachel Erickson then stole the inbounds pass and made one-of-two free throws from 47-40 lead with 8:51 remaining.
However the Cougars quickly answered back, taking a 51-47 lead. That lead ballooned to 57-51 with 2:15 remaining. Black Hills State pulled within three points on a trey from Patterson. However, Claire Paxton seized the opportunity on a layup to give the home squad a five point lead with one minute in regulation.
Just eight seconds later, Patterson again hit a long-range shot. After grabbing a defensive rebound with 19 seconds on the scoreboard, the Yellow Jackets were unable to convert on a go-ahead basket and were forced to foul. Kate Louthan sank both free throws for the 61-57 victory.
Patterson was the only Yellow Jacket in double figures with a game-high 20 points while the Cougars placed three in double digits led by Louthan with 18 points. Paxton added 17 and Ali Meyer had 14 points.
The Yellow Jackets won the rebound margin 35-32 led by Biegler with six. CCU was led by Paxton and Louthan who each had nine.
Black Hills State, who ranks second in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense, did not allow a made trey as CCU went 0-7 from deep.
The Yellow Jackets continue their four-game tour of the Denver area Saturday at Colorado School of Mines. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m.
