ALAMOSA – The Adams State University women’s basketball team faced a large deficit in the third quarter of its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Tuesday at Plachy Hall gym.

The Lady Grizzlies then mounted a comeback effort and tied the game on a couple occasions late in the game. However, a 3-point basket with 2.2 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as the Lady Grizzlies lost to the Lady Mountain Lions 63-60.

Christabel Longe gave ASU an early 2-0 lead, but Amyah Moore Allen tied the score. Kiiyani Anitielu put the Lady Grizzlies back into the lead with a 3-pointer.

Breelyn Robinson knocked down a short jumper and then a three for a 7-5 UCCS lead. Moore Allen then made a jumper and added a free throw to increase the lead to 10-5.

Anitielu drained her second trey of the game, and Taejhuan Hill made two free throws to tie the score at 10-10.

Mya Wilson put the Lady Mountain Lions back into the lead with a layup, and Moore Allen made two more free throws. Hill connected on a jumper to cut the Lady Grizzlies’ deficit to 14-12.

Amaya Snowden and Moore Allen both made layups for an 18-12 advantage. Hill split at the line, but so did Snowden. Ri’Ahana Davis closed out the first quarter scoring with a layup and a free throw to bring the Lady Grizzlies within 19-16 at the end of the period.

Brooke Rodgers began the second quarter with a layup to narrow the margin to 19-18. Maison White scored in the paint and later split a pair of free throws. Jayla Jackson-Allen made a layup to give UCCS a 24-18 lead.

Rodgers drove for a layup, but Snowden split at the line. Rodgers made two free tosses, however, Snowden hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 28-22.

Davis brought the Lady Grizzlies within a four-point deficit, but Snowden scored again. Rodgers made two more from the line, however, Jackson-Allen and Moore Allen both scored to stretch the UCCS lead to 34-26 at halftime.

Gia Bradley opened the second half with a 3-pointer. Rodgers accounted for Adams State’s first two points of the third quarter, but Moore Allen scored in the paint again. Hill scored for the Lady Grizzlies to close the gap to 39-30.

White scored two baskets and Snowden one as the Lady Mountain Lions took their largest lead of the game at 45-30 with 5:01 left in the third.

Longe ended the run with two free throws, followed by a Anitielu lasyup. Longe scored again to help the Lady Grizzlies reduce the deficit to 45-36.

Wilson ended the ASU Rally with a layup, but Davis made two free throws, and Angeline Nageak drained a three. Snowden scored in the paint, but Longe made two from the line to cut the UCCS lead to 49-43 at the end of the third quarter.

Anitielu knocked down a jumper and later split at the line to help ASU cut the deficit to 49-46. White drove for a layup, but Hill split at the line, and Anitielu scored four straight points to tie the score at 51-51 with 4:43 left in the game.

Jackson-Allen put the Lady Mountain Lions back in front with a layup, but Nageak made a pair of charity tosses to again deadlock the score.

Ellie Reynolds buried a 3-point basket for a 56-53 UCCS lead. Anitielu made a layup, but Moore Allen made two free throws. Davis scored in the paint, but Moore Allen drove for a layup.

Anitielu swished a three to knot the score at 60-60. But Bradley made the game-winning trey with 2.2 seconds remaining.

The Lady Grizzlies attempted to set up a potential game-tying score, but Anitielu’s 3-point attempt was short.

The Lady Grizzlies had three players score in double figures. Anitielu led the way with 20 points, while Longe and Rodgers both scored 10.

UCCS was led by Moore Allen with 17 points and Snowden with 13.

Both teams gathered 44 rebounds. Hill led ASU with 13, and White and Moore Allen led UCCS with 16 and 10, respectively.

Adams State (19-11) will now wait until Sunday to see whether it will receive a berth in the regional tournament which will take place March 14-17.

Colorado-Colorado Springs 63, Adams State 60

UCCS – White 4-6 1-2 9, Reynolds 1-3 0-0 3, Bradley 2-6 0-0 6, Robinson 2-8 0-0 5, Moore Allen 6-22 5-5 17, Vidal 0-3 0-0 0, Wilson 2-3 0-0 4, Snowden 5-7 2-5 13, Hagood 0-0 0-0 0, Jackson-Allen 3-7 0-0 6. Total 25-65 8-11 63.

3-point goals – Reynolds 1-2, Bradley 2-6 Robinson 1-5, Moore Allen 0-3, Vidal 0-1, Wilson 0-1, Snowden 1-1, Jackson-Allen 0-3. Total 5-22.

Adams State – Hill 1-6 4-8 6, Longe 3-9 4-6 10, Rodgers 3-3 4-4 10, Anitielu 7-23 3-5 20, Davis 3-12 3-3 9, Nageak 1-7 2-2 5, Pickard 0-2 0-0 0, Price 0-0 0-0 0. Total 18-62 20-28 60.

3-point goals – Longe 0-1, Anitielu 3-9, Davis 0-4, Nageak 1-3, Pickard 0-2. Total 4-19.

UCCS 19 15 15 14 – 63

Adams State 16 10 17 17 – 60

Rebounds – UCCS 44 (White 16), Adams State 44 (Hill 13). Assists – UCCS 8 (Reynolds, Moore Allen, Vidal 2), Adams State 8 (Anitielu, Davis, Nageak 2). Steals – UCCS 8 (Vidal 3), Adams State 6 (Hill, Longe, Rodgers, Anitielu, Davis, Nageak 1). Fouls – UCCS 24, Adams State 16. Turnovers – UCCS 13, Adams State 14.