ALAMOSA – The Adams State University women’s basketball team came closer to having a home court in the upcoming Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament as defeated the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs 71-65 Thursday at Plachy Hall Gym.

The Lady Grizzlies started off by scoring the first seven points of the game. Taejhuan Hill gave ASU the early lead with a layup, then Brooke Rodgers made a layup and added a free throw. Kiiyani Anitielu knocked down a jumper for a 7-0 lead.

Breelyn Robinson sank a 3-point basket to put the Lady Mountain Lions on the board. But Hill made a pair of free throws.

Amaya Snowden made two layups and a free throw to cut the ASU lead to 9-8. Angeline Nageak made a jumper, but Robinson drove for a layup. Nageak hit a jumper, but Amyah Moore Allen made two from the line.

Anittielu drove for a layup and Ri’Ahana split at the line for a 16-12 Lady Grizzlies lead. Rylie Ottman and  Mya Wilson both scored to knot the score at 16-16.

Hill made one of two free throws to give ASU a 17-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Anitielu split at the line to start the second quarter, and Anitielu drained a three for a 21-16 advantage. But UCCS went on an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 24-21.

Rodgers made one of two free throws, and Anitielu scored in the paint to tie the score at 24-24. However, the Lady Mountain Lions again scored eight unanswered points for a 32-24 lead.

Anitielu made a trey in the final minute to bring the Lady Grizzlies within 32-27 at halftime.

Rodgers opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer and Anitielu made a layup to tie the score at 32-32. Ottman put UCCS back into the lead, but Hill made two free throws to again deadlock the score.

Ottman scored again, but Hill made two more free throws, and Anitielu buried a three for a 39-36 ASU lead. Robinson made a layup, but Anitielu and Hill both scored to increase the lead to 43-38.

Wilson scored again, but Hill scored four straight points. Moore Allen split at the line, and after Hill converted two more free throws, Moore Allen scored in the paint.

Davis split at the line, however, Wilson hit a jumper to cut the Lady Grizzlies’ lead to 50-45.

Davis made two free throws for a 54-46 advantage.

Moore Allen and Maison White both scored to cut the deficit to 54-50. Anitielu scored again, but Gia Bradley also scored and White split at the line to bring UCCS within 56-55.

The teams exchanged baskets until Anitielu made a layup, and Rodgers also scored a layup and also made two free throws for a 66-59 lead.

Robinson ended the ASU run, but Anitielu made two free throws. The teams traded points to finish the game.

The Lady Grizzlies had four players score in double figures. Hill lead the way with 19 points, followed by Anitielu with 17, Rodgers with 16, and Nageak with 13.

Hill also grabbed 17 rebounds for a double-double.

Moore Allen was UCCS’s top scorer with 17, followed by Robinson with 14, and Wilson with 10.

Adams State (16-10, 11-6) will host CSU pueblo on Saturday with fourth place in the RMAC on the line. Game time is at 1 p.m.

Adams State 71, UCCS 65

UCCS – Moore Allen 6-12 5-6 17, Robinson 6-12 0-0 14, White 3-8 1-3 7, Ottman 3-3 0-0 6, Bradley 1-6 0-0 2, Wilson 3-8 4-6 10, Snowden 3-4 1-1 7, Hagood 1-3 0-0 2, Vidal 0-4 0-0 0, Reynolds 0-1 0-0 2. Total 26-61 11-16 65.

3-point goals – Moore Allen 0-1, Robinson 2-5, Bradley 0-4, Wilson 0-3, Hagood 0-1, Vidal 0-3, Reynolds 0-1. Total 2-18.

Adams State – Hill 4-15 11-14 19, Anitieu 7-16 3-4 17, Rodgers 4-4 7-10 16, Davis 2-13 2-4 6, Longe 0-3 0-0 0, Nageak 4-7 2-2 13, Pickard 0-0 0-0 0, Wilcox 0-1 0-0 0. Total 21-59 25-34 71.

3-point goals – Anitielu 0-1, Rodgers 1-1, David 0-7, Longe 0-1, Nageak 3-6, Wilcox 0-1. Total 4-17.

UCCS 16 16 14 19 – 65

Adams State 17 10 27 17 – 71

Rebounds – UCCS 40 (White 10), Adams State 36 (Hill 17). Assists – UCCS 7 (Vidal 3), Adams State 12 (Hill, Anitielu, Nageak 3). Fouls – UCCS 26, Adams State 18. Fouled out – Moore Allen, Wilson. Turnovers – UCCS 21, Adams State 14.