DENVER – The Regis University women's basketball team improved to 2-0 with a 66-58 win over the St. Mary's University Rattlers (0-2) on Saturday evening, earning two big regional wins to start the season.
 
How It Happened: Regis got things rolling with a 9-0 run capped off by a layup from graduate student Tashika Burrell to start the game, leading to a big 23-point first quarter from the Rangers. The defense held the Rattlers to only 12 points in the first 10 minutes of the game, providing a nine-point cushion heading into the second quarter. Things got much closer in the second quarter as they visitors outscored RU 18-10 to close the gap to three-points, 33-30, as the teams headed to the locker rooms for halftime.
 
The score was tied at 33 just minutes into the third quarter, but Regis did not give up the lead. With the score tied at 37 points apiece, freshman Megan Pohs dropped a dime to senior Erin Stroberg who was rolling to the rim, allowing her to finish her layup while absorbing contact and drawing an and-one opportunity. Stroberg knocked down her shot at the charity stripe and put the Rangers in front by three, 40-37. A few possessions later, the lead grew to six on another basket from Stroberg. RU held onto a 45-41 lead as we entered the fourth quarter.
 
The teams traded baskets a couple times to start the quarter, but for the first time in the game, Regis lost the lead, 52-51, after StMU hit a three-pointer with 4:56 to go in the fourth. Junior Josey Ryan responded with a jumper on the other end of the court to reclaim the lead, and then Ryan found freshman Athena Saragoza who knocked down her three-point jumper from the wing. Ryan was sent to the free-throw line with 2:24 left on the clock and she splashed home both shots to give the Rangers a 58-52 lead. The RU defense locked it down on the other end as Burrell stole the ball away from the Rattlers. In transition, Burrell was fouled and sent to the line for some big free-throw attempts. Both of her shots swished through the hoop to extend the lead to eight, 60-52. Ryan converted two more free-throw attempts with nine seconds to go wrapped things up.
 
Regis played great team basketball on both ends of the floor. The team also showed some resilience as they turned up the heat after they lost the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter. It was a strong effort against an opponent that would not give up.
 
Game Notes: Ryan (5-14 FG, 6-6 FT, 2-5 3-PT) led the team with 18 points in the game. Burrell was next with nine points (4-4 FT) as she and junior Sam Deem shared the team-lead with three assists. Junior Morgan L. Smith grabbed a team-high nine rebounds in the game as three other Rangers had six rebounds apiece (Ryan, Stroberg and Fry). Stroberg's (3-4 FG, 1-1 FT) clutch hoops helped her finish with seven points in 17 minutes on the floor. For the second night in a row, RU outrebounded their opponents (46-41), 16 of which were offensive boards. As a team, Regis shot 32.8 percent (22-67) from the field and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc (6-21 3-PT). The bench outscored their opposition (26-20) for the second-straight contest and the second chance points (19-9) and fast break points (13-3) tilted heavily in favor of the Rangers.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: Owning a 2-0 record to start the season, the Regis University women's basketball team will host the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds this Wednesday, November 17 in a non-conference tilt in the Regis Field House. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.