DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University Ranger women's basketball opened up the New Year with a thrilling finish to take down one of the last undefeated teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in the No. 17 ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves 58-56. Regis snapped CSU-Pueblo's ten-game win streak holding the ThunderWolves to their lowest point total all season largely due to the all-around team effort. 

CSU-Pueblo jumped out to an early lead as RU kicked it into gear closing out the first quarter with a 6-0 run to even up the score, 14-14. A back-and-forth battle ensued at the start of the second quarter with both teams battling through each possession making sure each basket was earned.

Bay'lee Purdy tied the score yet again, 20-20, as Regis continued to pressure the ThunderWolves. Another impressive 8-2 run to close out the second quarter gave the Rangers a 30-25 lead at halftime.

Regis would hold their largest lead of the game at the 6:13 mark in the third quarter with a three-point basket from Purdy, 38-31. CSU-Pueblo would not go down without a fight eventually tying the score 40-40 with 3:42 to play. The ThunderWolves continued the hot streak closing out the third quarter regaining control of a 50-46 lead and outscoring the Rangers 25-16.

A 10-3 run to start the fourth quarter gave RU just the spark they needed to control the speed and tempo of the remaining time on the clock. During that run, Regis held one of the top-scoring teams in the RMAC scoreless for an eight minute stretch.

Nearing the final minute of play, the ThunderWolves hit one from distance tying the score 56-56. Battling until the final horn, as Regis has throughout every game this season, the Rangers came down with three offensive rebounds as the game came to a dramatic close when Purdy, the night's leading scorer, knocked down a clutch baseline jumper off an inbounds pass from Majestie Robinson.

With only 2.7 seconds remaining, CSU-Pueblo took advantage of calling a timeout to advance the ball. RU played out the final seconds with tough defense not allowing the ThunderWolves to even get a shot off. Regis out-rebounded the visitors 47-21 and pulled down 19 offensive rebounds.

Purdy put up 23 points in 40 minutes of action hitting crucial shots at pivotal moments in the game. Kaylie Rader could not be stopped inside recording her fourth double-double this season with 11 points and 15 rebounds, eight of which were offensive.

The Rangers are back on their home court Sunday, January 3 at 1 p.m. against Western State (3-5, 1-5 RMAC).