DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University Women's Basketball team dropped a home game to Minnesota State-Mankato, ranked #9 in the most recent WBCA DII Women's Basketball Top 2 Coaches Poll, 92-88 on Saturday night. The Rangers fall to 2-4 on the year, while the Mavericks improve to 5-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mankato scored almost immediately to start eh game, but Athena Saragoza responded with a corner three, which put her over 1,000 career points. Taylin Serlen scored on a pair of layups, but the Mavericks still jumped out to an 18-7 lead. Serlen scored again, and Erin Fry hit a pair of free throws, but MSUM held a 27-12 lead after one.
Saragoza started the second period with three triples, however, Mankato had a response each time, and RU trailed 21-37 at 7:15. The teams traded free throws, with the majority of the Rangers attempts coming from Fry and Serlen, and Jessica Bollwahn hit a jumper to end the half, the Rangers behind, 38-51.
Saragoza remained hot to start the second half, scoring again from deep, while Fry and Bollwahn helped bring the game within six, 51-57. After Addison Branscum scored off an offensive rebound, and Fiona Snashall hit an Alexa Dominguez assisted three, Regis trailed 61-66. The Mavericks scored the final basket of the third, and took a 71-65 lead into the final quarter.
A quick 6-0 run to start the period, that included two Dominguez jumpers, brought the match within two, and triples form Rachel George, Saragoza, and Fry gave Regis their first lead of the game, 81-80 with 3:52 left in the game. Mankato responded with six unanswered points, but Snashall scored, and Fry hit three free throws with under a minute left. MSUM went up four, but Fry scored from deep, and after the Mavericks missed a free throw, Regis had the ball, down two. But an errant pass gave the ball back to Mankato, who hit two final free throws to secure the 92-88 win.
GAME NOTES
· Saragoza is the 23rd member of the Rangers 1,000 point club
· Saragoza led RU with 26 points, going 7-15 from three
· Fry added 22 points, 10 assists, and three rebounds
· Branscum led all players with 11 rebounds
· Serlen had 16 points and two steals
· The Mavericks Natalie Bremer led all players with 30 points
· Regis went 11-32 from three (34.4%), while Mankato went just 2-12 (16.7%)
· MSUM scored 46 points in the paint, and 26 off turnovers, while RU had only 20 and 12, respectively
Up Next
The Rangers return to the hardwood on Thursday, December 5 at New Mexico Highlands University.
