DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University women's basketball team (6-7, 5-3 RMAC) overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to claim their fifth conference win of the season, 68-60, over Western State Colorado University (5-9, 2-6 RMAC).

How it Happened: Western shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the field on their way to 20 first-quarter points that forced Regis to play from behind the entire first-half. The Mountaineers knocked down the first points of the game with a jumper on their first possession.

The Rangers went down 5-1 before back-to-back buckets by senior Majestie Robinson and senior Mary Sigler knotted the game at five with seven-minutes to play in the first quarter.

The score was tied for just 15 seconds before a layup by Western sparked a 6-0 run. RU scored just eight first-quarter points and trailed 20-8 after ten minutes of play. 

Sigler scored the first four points of the second quarter while the Regis defense caused four turnovers and held the Mountaineers scoreless for four-straight minutes. Siglers' points helped the Rangers close the gap, but the Mountaineers responded with a 5-0 run to stretch their lead to 13 (25-12). RU went into the locker room with a 29-19 deficit after Robinson converted a layup to close out the half.

Senior Chante Church sank a three-pointer to open the second half and set the tone for their 25-point third quarter. Church scored 11 third-quarter points as Regis slowly chipped away at the lead. Sigler caught a pass from junior Shelby Espinosa and heaved up a long-range shot that pulled the Rangers within one (39-38).

On the ensuing RU possession, Church went 1-for-2 from the foul line to tie the score at 39. It was two made free-throws by sophomore Jaz'Myne Snipes that gave Regis their first lead of the game, 41-39, with 3:07 left in the third quarter.

Western followed Snipes' free throws with a 6-0 run that gave them a 44-41 advantage. The Rangers answered with four-straight points but the Mountaineers scored the final point of the quarter from the charity stripe to enter the fourth quarter with a 45-44 edge.

RU continued their second half dominance as they outscored Western 24-15 in the fourth. The teams traded buckets for the first four minutes of the final quarter before a jumper by freshman Whitney Jacob gave Regis their first lead of the quarter, 52-51. Two minutes later, Robinson sank a three-point shot to secure the Rangers lead.
With 1:52 remaining in the contest, the Mountaineers were within two, 58-56, but RU made 8-of-9 free-throws to pull ahead and win 68-60.

Game Notes: Sigler lead all scorers with 21 total points on 47 percent shooting. She shot 7-of-15 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. Church and Robinson were the other two Regis players with double-digit points with 14 and 12 respectively. The Rangers collectively shot 40 percent from the field.

Espinosa grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds as RU out-rebounded the Mountaineers 34-28. Espinosa tallied five offensive boards and nine defensive. Jacob and Sigler each snagged four boards helping Regis to 14 second-chance points.

The Rangers were able to force Western into 23 turnovers as they stole the ball 10 times. Robinson lead the team with four steals and Espinosa added three of her own.

Up Next for the Rangers: The women's basketball team will host Colorado Mesa University on January 6 at 5:00 p.m.