LAS VEGAS, NM. – The Regis University women's basketball team embarked on its final weekend of the regular season, taking on the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls and coming away with the win, 74-57.
With the win, and a Colorado School of Mines road loss to Adams State on Friday, the Rangers have secured the No. 1 seed in next week's RMAC tournament, which gets underway with quarterfinal action on Tuesday.
Regis will have the opportunity to win the regular season title outright, the program's first since the 2006-07 season, on Saturday against CSU Pueblo in the regular season finale.
Senior guard Josey Ryan erupted for 21 total points on the night, shooting a blistering 63 percent (5-8) from the three-point line for the Rangers (21-6 overall, 18-3 RMAC) while the Regis defense held the Cowgirls (13-14 overall, 7-14 RMAC) to a 36 percent (22-60) from the field.
"Our focus was great this week in preparing for this weekend and overall I thought we did a good job of fixing game adjustments during the game," said Regis women's head basketball coach, Molly Marrin. "We have a few matchups and rotation lapses but I'm proud of the way we played and competed."
How It Happened: The Cowgirls jumped to a quick 7-6 lead within the first three minutes of the game, but the Rangers answered back with a three-pointer from sophomore Athena Saragoza and held the lead for the rest of the game.
The Rangers continued their offensive pressure throughout the first half, finishing with an 11-6 scoring run and capping their first half efforts shooting 43 percent (12-28) from the field.
Leading the scoring charge for the Rangers was senior guard Josey Ryan who went off for 21 points and shot 5-for-8 (.625) from beyond the arc. In addition to her scoring efforts, Ryan also secured four rebounds, two assists, and a team-high three steals.
"[Josey] Ryan did a great job of being shot ready on the kick outs and versus the zone and getting herself ready to shoot before she caught it," said Marrin. "She knows I trust her to take those looks and her execution was excellent."
For the second half of the game, the Rangers' defense held the Cowgirls to only 23 points the entire second half and to a 35 percent (11-31) field shooting percentage.
Regis' bench has been one of their strong suits throughout the 2022-2023 season, and the bench once again proved themselves as they outscored NMHU's bench, 15-0.
"Our bench depth showed again tonight and I'm proud of how so many different people stepped in and gave great minutes off the bench," said Marrin.
Game Notes:
- Rangers won in the fast break points category, outsourcing NMHU 22-4
- Regis scored 14 points off of turnovers
- Erin Fry shot 50 (4-8) percent from the field
- Erin Stroberg led all Rangers in rebounds with eight
Up Next: The Rangers play for their outright claim to the regular season RMAC title against Colorado State University Pueblo on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
"I want to enjoy this bus ride tonight with some of my favorite people to be around. We are truly grateful for the time we get to spend together as a team," said Marrin.
