DENVER – The Regis University women's basketball team commenced the 2019-20 season with a commanding 65-48 win over UT Permian Basin at Regis Field House on Friday.
 
Junior forward Whitney Jacob had a share of the game-high with 18 points and had a double-double on account of the game-high 14 rebounds. She also had one steal.
 
How It Happened: Late in the third quarter with 1:38 on the clock, freshman guard Kali Murrell sank a 3-pointer to put the Rangers up, 51-23, and Regis proved to not need any additional points from that moment on.
 
RU never trailed in the game and scored on junior forward Grace O'Neill's opening-tipoff layup just 18 seconds into the contest.
 
Though freshman guard Rory Carter's free throw with 3:11 left in the first quarter tied the game at 6-6, a layup by Jacob put the Rangers back ahead, 8-6, with 2:49 to go.
 
Following a 3-pointer by Falcons junior guard Kayla Galindo with 1:02 left in the first quarter to make the score, 14-9, with Regis leading, RU went on a 26-0 run that started on freshman guard Morgan Smith's layup with 26 seconds to go in the opening quarter.
 
This run was so large, it lasted the entire duration of the second quarter. The Rangers outscored UTPB, 21-0, in that period in which Regis went 14-for-25 (56.0%) from the field.
 
The run was capped off by junior guard Emma Sterkel's trey at the 8:17 mark in the third quarter, which gave RU a 40-9 advantage.
 
From that point on, the Rangers didn't allow a Falcons run to exceed seven points. This run began at the 1:08 mark of the third on freshman guard Holly Hemmeline's 3-pointer and was bookended with 18 seconds remaining in that frame on freshman point guard Alexus Quaadman's layup.
 
Game Notes: Jacob as well as Smith and Murrell, the latter two making their debuts for Regis, all scored double-digit point totals and each had a steal to their credit. Murrell additionally had the game's only block.
 
RU was stellar in its shooting, making 23 of 50 (46.0%) from the field, which included an 8-for-19 (42.1%) showing from the arc. The Rangers additionally made 11 of 16 (68.8%) at the free-throw line.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: Regis kicks off the season with a 1-0 record overall. RU will next host No. 12 West Texas A&M (1-2) at Regis Field House on Saturday at 6 p.m.