GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Regis University women's basketball team played a game that saw the lead change 15 times on Friday, but double-digit efforts from four different Rangers put the Rangers on top, 66-60, over the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks to extend the win streak to 12.
Senior forward Sam Deem is hitting her stride as a member of Regis' (16-5 overall, 13-2 RMAC) starting five, scoring a season-high 19 points and finishing in double-digit scoring for her fifth straight game.
"Toughness and togetherness are the two words that described how we played this game," said Regis women's basketball head coach, Molly Marrin. "We played most of the game without the lead and we kept trusting each other and believing we could win. It was impressive to see our composure for 40 minutes in one of the toughest places in the country to play."
How It Happened: Both teams took turns leading quarters on Friday. CMU led after the first, Regis after the second, and the Mavericks once again after the third. Neither team led by more than four at the end of each quarter.
Either squad shot around 34 percent from the floor, and 26 percent from beyond the arc, the difference maker in the end, were free throws.
While both teams were busy passing the lead back and forth, the Rangers were racking up visits to the charity stripe. By the end of the night, Regis had attempted 28 free throws, and made 22 of them (.786).
"We shot 28 free throws and made 14 of the last 16," said Marrin. "That was a huge moment for us."
Alongside Deem's 19 points were three other Rangers who also finished in double-digits. Regis hasn't had a game with less than four players finishing in double figures since the matchup against Fort Lewis College on Jan. 7.
Finishing in double-digits were the usual suspects for the blue and gold. Junior guard Erin Fry finished with 16 points and made 10 trips of her own to the free throw line and ended the night with a shooting percentage of .600 (6-10).
La Vista native, Josey Ryan, added an identical 16 points of her own and secured her first double-double of the season with career-high 11 rebounds. Rounding out the four was graduate student forward Erin Stroberg coming off the bench and scoring 10.
"I can't think of the last game that we had less than four people in double figures and it speaks to our team first mentality and balanced scoring weapons," said Marrin. "To consistently have four or five girls in double figures is super rare, and has helped us in this conference stretch."
Game Notes:
- Josey Ryan shot 80 percent (8-10) at the free throw line
- Erin Fry stole the ball three times from the Mavericks and had six assists
- Sam Deem finished with two blocks
Up Next: The Rangers continue their road trip up to Salt Lake City, Utah where they will take on the Westminster College Griffins at 5:00 P.M.
"Westminster is a very fundamental team that doesn't make many mistakes. They also play really well together so we will need to lock in defensively on and off the ball," said Marrin.
