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Women's Basketball

Cougars Sign Stephenie Allen and Kelsie Hert for 2008-09

April 17, 2008—CCU women’s basketball is pleased to announce the addition of 6’0” forward Stephenie Allen of Pueblo West High School and 6’1” forward Kelsie Hert of Glenwood Springs High School.
 
As a senior at Pueblo West, Stephenie Allen led the Cyclones to a sweet sixteen berth; posting an impressive 17 points and eight rebounds per game, while being voted First Team All South Central League.

Allen currently holds the record at PWHS with 426 single-season points, 207 single-season rebounds and will be graduating this May with a 3.83 GPA.

“Stephenie will be a strong inside presence for us next year. Even as a freshman, she has the ability to step in and begin contributing right away,” noted women’s assistant, Nikki Long.

Kelsie Hert is coming off a stellar senior campaign for the Glenwood Springs Demons, during which she averaged 12 points and six rebounds per outing.

Kelsie helped GSHS to the 4A state quarterfinals and capped off her stellar high school career with a Western Slope All-Conference selection.

Hert will be graduating this May with a 3.86 GPA.

“At 6’1”, Kelsie has the size to play inside and the athletic ability to step out and be effective from the perimeter. Her combination of character and ability will be a tremendous asset to CCU,” added coach Long. 

Women’s Basketball Completes Best Season in Years

March 31, 2008—With a decisive 84-67 victory over Mid-Continent University in the NCCAA National Championship Tournament, the CCU women’s basketball team was able to put a punctuation mark on one of their most successful seasons in years.

During the course of the season, the women recorded a program-best 15 wins, while landing an RMAC Playoff berth for the first time in seven years.

Led by senior forward Sara Davis and a strong group of underclassmen, the Cougars stormed out to a 5-2 record in conference play, while racking up huge wins over Regis University, Adams State and Mesa State among others.

Sophomore guard Talmai Aguirre, finished the season ranked second in CCU history with 562 single season points, while moving into first place with 91 made single season three point field goals.

Sophomore forward Abby Rosenthal launched her own assault on the record books, storming ahead to first place in single season rebounds (251) and first place in single season blocks (42).

Sara Davis finished her stellar Cougar career ranking in the top-five in the CCU record books in an unprecedented 12 statistical categories.

With 802 career rebounds, Davis smashed the old record held by Brooke Carrigan (1997-01) by 251.

The future continues to look bright for Kristen Buckley’s Cougars, who lose only one starter and return a solid and experienced core for the 2009 season.

Cougars Salvage NCCAA’s with 84-67 win over Mid-Continent

March 15, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team won the last game of the NCCAA consolation bracket Saturday afternoon, downing Mid-Continent College 84-67 (box score) in Oakland City, Indiana.

Talmai Aguirre finally found her offensive stroke, shooting 7-14 for a game-high 20 points.

CCU shot 50% from the field, and dished out 20 assists in the win.

Ashley Braasch and Ainsley Barratt each chipped in 10 points, while Abby Rosenthal added 14 points and four rebounds for CCU.

With the win, CCU finishes seventh in the NCCAA National Tourney, and 15-20 on the season.

Cougar Woes Continue with 79-70 loss to Emmanuel

March 14, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team continued their late season slide, falling this time to Emmanuel College 79-70 (box score) in the consolation bracket of the NCCAA national tournament.

Abby Rosenthal paced the Cougars with 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Katie Miller exploded for a season-high 15 points on 4-5 shooting.

The Cougars trailed 38-24 at the break, shot 33% for the game and were outrebounded 55-45 in the nine point loss.

Four players scored 10 points for Emmanuel, led by Ashley Jackson who went for 10 points and eight rebounds in the win.

The Cougars finish up the season Saturday at 1:00 p.m. when they square off against Trinity International.

Cedarville Stuns Cougars 69-61 in NCCAA

March 13, 2008—The #4 seeded CCU women’s basketball team dropped their first contest of the NCCAA national tournament 69-61 (box score) to #5 Cedarville University Thursday evening in Oakland City, Indiana.

Trailing 36-29 at the half, the Cougars were unable to summon any second half heroics, as the Yellow Jackets held on for the eight point victory.

Cedarville’s Alison Lemon proved to be the Cougar killer Thursday night, scoring 28 points and swiping 11 rebounds in the victory.

Ainsley Barratt paced CCU in the losing effort, logging 15 points on 6-8 shooting to go with a team-high nine rebounds.

The usually potent Talmai Aguirre struggled to heat up offensively, scoring 12 on the evening while shooting an ice-cold 2-11 from deep.

CCU held a 44-37 advantage on the glass, but shot only 32% from the floor, including 14% from beyond the arc.

The Cougars are now in the consolation bracket and will face #1 seeded Emmanuel College tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. local time.

Emmanuel was upset by tournament host, and this year’s NCCAA Cinderella, #8 Oakland City in the final game of the evening.

Click here for all of the NCCAA tournament results and stats.   

Aguirre Honored as NCCAA Player of the Week

March 4, 2008—For the third time this year, Talmai Aguirre has been named the NCCAA National Player of the Week.

Aguirre led the Cougars to a 95-66 blowout over Oklahoma Wesleyan in game one of the NCCAA regional tournament this past Tuesday at the Cougar Event Center.

The 5’7” shooter from Silver City, New Mexico, let loose for 27 points in only 22 minutes of play, while shooting 7-10 from beyond the arc and grabbing six rebounds for good measure.

The Cougars now advance to the national tourney in Oakland City, Indiana, on March 13, 14, 15. Stay tuned to the Cougar website as additional information will be released when available.

Cougars Crush Oklahoma Wesleyan 95-66, Advance to National Tourney

March 3, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team made an emphatic statement in the first round of NCCAA competition, dismantling the Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles 95-66 (box socre) to advance to the national tournament in Oakland City, Indiana.

The Cougars jumped out to a quick 18-8 lead in the first six minutes and were never really threatened from that point on.

CCU held a 48-32 lead heading into the half and outscored the Eagles by an additional 13 points after the break to sail to the 29 point decision.

11 Cougars got in the scoring column, led by Talmai Aguirre who poured in 27 points in only 22 minutes of action.

Abby Rosenthal tacked on 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Sara Davis and Ainsley Barratt logged 10 points each.

Audrey Finley added four points, 10 rebounds and a team-high four assists in the Cougar win.

The Cougars held a decisive 56-40 advantage on the glass, and finished the game firing 40% from the field, including a 50% effort from beyond the arc.

CCU now takes a head of steam into the NCCAA national championship round which will be held March 13, 14, 15 in Oakland City, Indiana. The Cougars are guaranteed three games in three days. Pairings and brackets will be released when available.

Aguirre, Rosenthal Earn NCCAA All-Region Recognition

March 1, 2008—Talmai Aguirre and Abby Rosenthal have each been named to the NCCAA All-Region team.

Aguirre earned three NCCAA Player of the Week nods for an outstanding sophomore campaign, while Rosenthal moved into second place at CCU in single season rebounds, and first place in single season blocks.

The super sophomore combination led the Cougars to their first playoff appearance in seven years, and now looks to do some damage in the NCCAA national tournament which will be held March 13, 14, and 15 in Oakland City, Indiana.

Cougars Fall 73-43 to #12 Fort Lewis in RMAC Tourney

February 29, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team had a tough time against the nations #12 ranked Fort Lewis College Skyhawks, dropping a 73-43 (box score) decision in the first round of the RMAC tournament Friday evening in Durango, Colorado.

Fort Lewis led from stem to stern, taking a 37-21 lead into the half and outscoring the Cougars by an additional 14 points in the final chapter to pull off the 30 point win.

Sara Davis led the way for CCU, scoring a team-high 14 points and grabbing 7 rebounds to go with an assist and a steal.

Abby Rosenthal scored nine points and inhaled 10 rebounds in the Cougar loss.

The Cougar shooting woes seemed to carry over from the regular season finale, as the ladies were only able to cash in on 25% of their field goal attempts.

Despite being eliminated from RMAC action, the ladies are the NCCAA central region’s number 1 seed and open up the NCCAA tourney this Monday when they host defending national champs, Oklahoma Wesleyan, at 6:00 p.m.

Three Cougars Earn RMAC All-Conference Honors

February 27, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team is back in the postseason for the first time in seven years, thanks in large part to Talmai Aguirre, Sara Davis and Abby Rosenthal, who each earned a spot on the 2007-08 RMAC all-conference team.

One of the best pure scorers in CCU history, Aguirre has been voted to the RMAC All-East second team. Talmai currently averages a conference second 16.9 points per game and has led the Cougars in scoring on 19 occasions.

The 5’7” sophomore guard from Silver City, New Mexico, already ranks 5th overall in career scoring as a Cougar, and is only nine points away from CCU’s third-ever 500 point season.

A 5-9 senior forward from Cimarron, New Mexico, Sara Davis earned a spot on the RMAC East Division Honorable Mention team.

The do-everything forward has started all 30 games this season, while averaging nine points and almost six rebounds per outing.

Davis is the Cougars all-time leading rebounder with 622 career regular season boards, and ranks in the top five in 11 single season and career records at CCU.

Standing 6’1” and possessing all of the tools necessary to be a dominant force in the paint, Abby Rosenthal was also voted to the RMAC East Division Honorable Mention team.

Rosenthal enjoyed a breakthrough sophomore campaign, moving into first place all-time at CCU with 34 single season blocks, and third place in Cougar history with 201 single season rebounds.

Abby shoots close to 50% from the floor, is averaging 9.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and has logged a team-high four double-doubles on the year.

Congratulations to this year’s award winners and to the 2007-08 Cougars for their best season in years! 

#8 Cougars Off to Durango for Round One of RMAC Tourney

February 24, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team is back in the conference postseason for the first time in seven years. Game one will be no easy contest however, as the ladies must make the trip to Durango, Colorado to battle the RMAC’s #1 seed Fort Lewis Skyhawks.

CCU gave the Skyhawks all they could handle in a tough December 8 meeting, before eventually falling 55-67 at the Cougar Event Center.

Fort Lewis rolls into tournament time with an 18-1 conference record, and has won 12 of their last 13 home games this season.

The Cougars are led by the hot-shooting Talmai Aguirre, who is averaging a team-best 16.9 points per game, and has the potential to get hot quickly and take over a game on her own.

Abby Rosenthal has established herself as CCU’s anchor in the paint. The 6’1” forward has come alive in her sophomore season, averaging 9 points and 6 rebounds per game, while blocking a CCU all-time best 34 shots this season.

With Aguirre, Rosenthal and the rest of the Cougars, the ladies have all the tools necessary to get hot early and upset the #1 ranked Skyhawks and advance to the second round of the RMAC tournament for the first time in school history.

Don’t miss the action as it gets underway this Friday, February 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the Whalen Gymnasium in Durango, Colorado.

Iron Unkind for Cougars in 53-61 Loss to Mines

February 23, 2008—The Cougars offense was a no-show Saturday night, as the ladies managed only 12 first half points, shot 24% on the game, and fell 53-61 (box score) to the Colorado Mines Orediggers in the regular season finale at the Cougar Event Center.

Despite the shooting woes, CCU made a 10-0 run in the second half to pull within 10 points (36-46) with nine minutes remaining, and eventually cut the margin to four points (51-55) on a Audrey Finley trey with 1:14 left.

With the clock working against them, CCU was forced to foul, and the Diggers drained all six free throw attempts down the stretch to walk away with the eight point decision.

Talmai Aguirre led the Cougars with 22 points, while converting 9-9 from the freebee stitch.

Emily Dalton scored a game-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds and Peanut Eickelman added 16 and five board in the Oredigger victory.

CCU (13-17, 9-10 RMAC) now heads to Ft. Lewis for the first round of the RMAC playoffs this Friday at 6:00 p.m.

Davis, Cougars Drop 71-64 Decision at Metro

February 19, 2008—Cougar senior Sara Davis, scored a team-high 18 points to go with six rebounds, but it was not enough as the Metro State Roadrunners edged out a 71-64 victory (box score) over CCU Tuesday evening at the Auraria Event Center.

The Cougars went into the break trailing 37-30, but closed the gap to only three points (55-52) at the eight minute mark thanks to an Ainsley Barratt jumper.

Metro answered however, rattling off a 7-2 run over the next three minutes and eventually pulling ahead by as many as 11 with time running down before settling for the seven point win.

Abby Rosenthal logged her fourth double-double of the year, pouring in 10 points and 10 boards, while Meghan Verbitsky tallied 10 points on 3-6 shooting from deep.

The Cougars wrap up the regular season this Saturday, when they host the Colorado Mines Orediggers at 5:00 p.m.

Mathis Logs 28 as Lopers Roll to 93-76 Victory

February 16, 2008—Amy Mathis unleashed for 28 points and eight rebounds, while shooting 6-7 from downtown to lead the University Nebraska-Kearney Lopers to a 93-76 victory (box score) over CCU Saturday night at the Cougar Event Center.

The Cougars trailed 47-40 after a hard-fought first half, but had trouble containing the RMAC’s number one ranked Lopers, who pulled ahead by as many as 19 points in the second half.

Sara Davis scored 12 points and swiped 11 rebounds for CCU, while Talmai Aguirre tacked on a game-high 24 points to go with four steals and two assists.

UNK kept the nets blazing, as the visitors fired 56% for the game and 66% from downtown, while holding CCU to a 33% shooting clip.

CCU is back in action on Tuesday evening when they travel downtown to face the Metro State Roadrunners at 6:00 p.m.

Busch’s Double-Double Lifts Chadron to 66-65 Upset over Cougars

February 15, 2008—Chadron State’s Sunni Busch poured in 19 first half points, and finished with a game high 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Chadron State Eagles to a 66-65 (box score) victory over CCU Friday night at the Cougar Event Center.

The Cougars went into the half with a 29-29 tie, led by a team-high eight points from Abby Rosenthal.

CCU had no answer for Busch however, who was one rebound shy of a first half double-double with 19 points and nine boards in the opening 20 minutes.

Coming out of the break, Chadron trailed by five points early on, but battled back to take a six point advantage at the eight minute mark.

CCU edged ahead 56-55 with 5:17 remaining thanks to a pair of free throws by Sara Davis.

The Eagles quickly regained the lead on a Busch jumper on the ensuing possession and ultimately ran the margin back up to five points with only 1:42 left.

The Cougars had an opportunity with only nine seconds to go, as Sara Davis forced a jump ball that gave CCU possession. Trailing by only two points, Davis was then sent to the free throw line after a technical foul was whistled on Chadron’s Chelsea DeHaven.

The 80% free throw shooter was only able to connect on 1-2 attempts however, and with CCU trailing by one point and time running down, the Chadron defense forced a Cougar turnover that sealed the 66-65 decision.

Rosenthal finished with 19 points and eight rebounds for the Cougars, while Talmai Aguirre tacked on 11 points while struggling through a 1-11 effort from beyond the arc.

Davis added 10 points and seven rebounds in the Cougar loss.

CCU now falls to 9-7 in conference play and 13-14 on the season. Chadron improves to 8-16 and 5-11 in the RMAC.

The Cougars are back in action tomorrow evening when they host the University of Nebraska-Kearney at 7:00 p.m.

Women’s Basketball Hosts Round One of NCCAA Tourney

February 12, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team will host the NCCAA’s defending national champs, Oklahoma Wesleyan, in the first round of the national tournament this February 26 at 6:00 p.m.

The Cougars are currently ranked seventh nationally in the NCCAA, and first place in the central region.

In addition to joining the NCCAA tournament, the ladies (13-13, 9-6 RMAC) are still in the hunt for an RMAC postseason berth which would begin on February 29.

Come out and support one of the most talented Cougar teams in years, as they look to make some noise in both the NCAA and NCCAA playoffs!

Cougars Crush Rangers 79-71 in OT Thriller

February 10, 2008—Four Cougars scored in double figures, led by Abby Rosenthal, who erupted for 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead the CCU women’s basketball team to a 79-71 (box score) overtime road win over the Regis Rangers Saturday evening in Denver, Colorado.

CCU led 35-29 at the half and increased the margin to as many as 13 in the second period.

Regis kept gunning however, and eventually used a 16-5 run over a seven minute span to move to within two points (62-60) with 1:21 remaining in regulation.

A Talmai Aguirre layup with 15 ticks showing gave the Cougars a three point lead, before Breanne Burley of Regis canned a trey with five seconds left to send the contest into the extended period.

It was all Cougars all the time in the extra set, as a Rosenthal layup, coupled with an Aguirre triple on the next possession gave CCU a commanding five point lead with 3:58 left.

Regis knotted things up at 71 each with 2:55 remaining, but an Aguirre jumper and a Rosenthal layup on the following two possessions put the game out of reach for the Rangers, as CCU rolled to the eight point victory and their third straight win.

Aguirre finished with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Ashley Braasch carried over the hot-hand from the night before, canning 4-4 from deep to finish with 12 points in the CCU victory.

Ainsley Barratt tacked on 11 points and six boards on 4-6 shooting for the Cougars.

CCU held a commanding 48-30 advantage on the glass, while shooting a respectable 43% for the game.

With the win, CCU improves to 13-13 overall and 9-6 in the RMAC.

The Cougars are back in action next Friday when they host the Chadron State Eagles at 6:00 p.m.

Davis’ 19 Leads CCU to Season Sweep over UCCS

February 8, 2008—Sara Davis did a little bit of everything Friday night, scoring 19 points, grabbing five rebounds, while posting four steals and an assist to lead the CCU women’s basketball team to a 65-57 victory (box score) and a season sweep over the UCCS Mountain Lions in Colorado Springs.

The Cougars overcame a 33-42 rebounding disparity with a 50% effort from beyond the arc to go along with 10 steals on the evening.

Holding a narrow 26-25 margin at the half, the ladies climbed ahead by as many as six points on two occasions, and finally extended the cushion to a game-high 10 points on a pair of Abby Rosenthal free throws with just over a minute to play.

Talmai Aguirre finished with 14 points, four rebounds and two steals in the victory.

Ashley Braasch was on fire for the Cougars, pouring in 12 points thanks to a sizzling 4-5 shooting touch from deep.

Jode Krall was once again the steady hand at the point, dishing out a game-high five assists in 21 minutes of action.

The win improves the Cougars to 12-13 overall and 8-6 in RMAC action.

CCU is back at it tomorrow evening when they face Regis University in the evening’s second game at 7:00 p.m.

Second Half Rally Lifts Cougars over Chadron 54-49

February 2, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team overcame a four point halftime deficit to pull off a huge 54-49 (box score) road win over the Chadron State Eagles Saturday night in Chadron, Nebraska.

Audrey Finley added to her already impressive rookie year numbers, posting a team-high 11 points on 5-8 shooting.

The Cougars pulled ahead 5-2 on an Ashley Braasch three at the 15 minute mark, but the Eagles battled back to lead by as many as six points late in the opening stanza, and take a narrow four point lead into the half.

Coming out of halftime, Abby Rosenthal cut the Eagle margin to two points with a layup on CCU’s opening possession.

Jodie ‘the glove’ Krall put on a defensive clinic, nabbing one of her five steals on the next possession to set up another Braasch trey which gave the Cougars their first lead of the second half.

CCU held the lead for the next six minutes, before a Samantha Arkurlari jumper put Chadron back ahead by one point (31-30) with 12:23 left in the contest.

The Eagle advantage did not last long, as Finley canned a triple on the next possession to give CCU a lead they would not relinquish.

The Cougars built a six point lead with 1:30 remaining and converted seven free throws down the stretch to come away with the hard-fought road win.

Sara Davis brought her blue collar on the road trip, as the senior forward complimented her seven points with 11 rugged rebounds in the victory.

Braasch finished with nine points and five rebounds, while Krall logged four assists and only one turnover.

The ladies now gear up for a trip to Colorado Springs, when they battle the Mountain Lions of UCCS this Friday at 6:00 p.m.

Cougars Stumble to 93-57 Loss at Kearney

January 31, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team had their hands full against the University of Nebraska-Kearney Thursday night, dropping a tough 93-57 decision (box score) at UNK’s Health and Wellness Center in Kearney, Nebraska.

Kearney took a commanding 23 point (24-47) lead into the break, and outscored the ladies 46-33 in the second half to cruise to the 36 point victory.

Five players reached double-digit scoring for the Lopers, led by Jade Meads, who exploded for a game-high 23 points on 10-13 shooting.

Talmai Aguirre finished with 14 points for CCU, while Ainsley Barratt logged 11 points and five boards.

The loss drops the Cougars to an even 6-6 in RMAC action and 10-13 overall, while UNK improves to 17-5 and 10-2 in conference.

The ladies now look to get back on track this Saturday when they square off against the Eagles of Chadron State. Game time is slated for 6:00 p.m at Chadron, Nebraska.

Rosenthal’s Double-Double Sparks 68-60 Victory over UCCS

January 26, 2008—CCU’s Abby Rosenthal would not be denied Saturday night, as the 6’1” sophomore forward erupted for 17 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and six steals to lead the Cougars to a 68-60 victory (box score) over the UCCS Mountain Lions at the Cougar Event Center.

Each team traded leads in a hard-fought opening stanza, before a pair of Talmai Aguirre free throws knotted the affair up at 29 each heading into the break.

CCU controlled the action after halftime, pulling ahead on an Aguirre three at the 17 minute mark, and eventually constructing an eight point advantage with five minutes showing.

The Mountain Lions cut it to three points on a Kristin Buttars free throw with 2:45 on the clock, but the Cougar defense buckled down, forcing three missed UCCS jumpers and coming away with a clutch steal with just over a minute remaining to pull off the eight point decision.

Tonya Tripp paced UCCS with 16 points and four rebounds in the loss.

Ainsley Barratt logged 14 points, five rebounds and two assists for CCU, while Sara Davis tacked on eight points and seven rebounds in the victory.

The Cougars now improve to 10-12 overall and 6-5 in the RMAC. The loss drops UCCS to 9-13 on the year and 3-8 in conference play.

CCU hits the road this Thursday for a 6:00 p.m. date with the Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney.

Balanced Attack Propels Regis over CCU 73-65

January 25, 2008—The Regis Rangers landed four players in double figures and outscored the Cougars 39-26 in the second half to pull off a 73-65 victory (box score) Friday evening at Colorado Christian.

Paulina Tuell led all scorers with 19 points for Regis, with Stevie Seitz tacking on 16 points and five boards. Courtney Ault shot a steady 5-10 to finish with 15 points, and Breanne Burley logged 13 points and five assists in the Ranger victory.

CCU took a five point advantage into the break, backed by 13 first half points from Talmai Aguirre. The Rangers came storming back in the second 20 minutes and eventually earned a one point lead with 12:37 remaining off a Kammy Martindale jumper.

Over the next seven minutes the game saw five lead changes, as each team hit their offensive stride and began trading bucket for bucket.

In the end however, the Cougars found themselves exchanging layups for three point baskets, as Regis canned three long distance attempts down the stretch to keep CCU at bay.

Aguirre finished with a team-high 18 points, four assists and five rebounds for CCU.

Abby Rosenthal logged her 12 points off of a variety of dazzling up and under moves, while collecting two rebounds and two blocks, and freshman Audrey Finley came out of nowhere to post her best game of the year with 11 points, four boards and two assists in the Cougars loss.

With the win, the Rangers improve to 9-9 and 5-5 in RMAC play, while the Cougars drop to 9-12 and 5-5 in conference.

CCU is right back at it tomorrow evening when they host UCCS at 5:00 p.m.

Aguirre, Bailey Earn RMAC Academic Second-Team Honors

January 23, 2008—Talmai Aguirre of the CCU women’s basketball team and Peter Bailey of the men’s basketball team, have each been named to the RMAC All-Academic Second-Team for their outstanding accomplishments in the classroom and on the court.

To qualify for Academic all-RMAC, student athletes must have a GPA of 3.20 or better, be a starter or key reserve, and have completed two consecutive semesters at their current institution. Their GPA is what they have earned prior to basketball season beginning. RMAC Sports Information Directors select a First and Second Team Academic All-RMAC. These SID’s took into account the student-athletes work in the classroom, as well as on the basketball court.

While not selected to the RMAC first or second team, Ashley Braasch, Monica Chase, Sara Davis, Katie Miller, Abby Rosenthal and Holly Valdez earned a spot on the RMAC Honor Roll for the women, and Tyler House earned a spot on the Honor Roll team for the men.

Diggers Bury Cougars 54-52 in OT

January 18, 2008—The Colorado Mines Orediggers recovered from a 10 point deficit midway through the second half to force overtime and ultimately escape with a 54-52 victory (box score) over the visiting Cougars Friday evening in Golden, Colorado.

CCU took a narrow 22-21 advantage into the halftime, and increased the margin to 10 points (39-29) on a pair of Cortney Bray free throws with eight minutes remaining.

The iron was unkind for the Cougars over the next six minutes however, as CCU missed a host of jumpers and Mines was able to rattle off a 13-1 run and pull ahead 42-40 with 2:21 left in regulation.

Each team traded jabs over the next couple minutes before Jodie Krall sank back-to-back free throws to give the Cougars a three point advantage with 34 ticks showing on the clock.

Savanna Afoa missed a three point attempt on the following Mines possession, but a Talmai Aguirre turnover with 14 seconds left gave the Diggers one last chance.

14 seconds proved to be plenty of time for Peanut Eickelman’s heroics, as the junior guard drained a three to send the matter into an extra session.

It was all Orediggers in overtime, as the hosts jumped up by four points and held on for the narrow two point victory.

Aguirre led the way for CCU with 18 points, while Ainsley Barratt chipped in nine, with Sara Davis and Abby Rosenthal tacking on eight each.

The icy January temperatures seemed to seep into the Cougars offense, as the ladies were only able to convert 28% of their field goal attempts for the game, including a chilly 15% from deep.

CCU looks to get back on track on January 25 when they host the Regis Rangers at 6:00 p.m.

Roadrunners End Cougar Win Streak with 69-51 Victory

January 15, 2008—The Metro State Roadrunners put an end to CCU’s four game win streak with a 69-51 victory (box score) over the Cougars Tuesday night at the Cougar Event Center.

Metro jumped out to a decisive 17-3 advantage and never looked back. The Cougars were limited to 14 first half points, while committing 16 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of action.

Talmai Aguirre led the CCU charge in the second half, scoring 17 of her 19 points and hitting a three at the 13 minute mark to bring the ladies to within 10 points.

The 14-2 Cougar run would all be for naught, as Metro answered with a 16-3 run over the next five minutes to put the contest safely away.

Metro’s Stephanie Sauter was on fire from the land of plenty, connecting on 6-11 three point attempts and finishing the game with a team-high 18 points to go with five boards.

Aguirre was the lone offensive highlight for CCU, shooting an efficient 4-8 from deep and hitting 7-8 free throws.

Metro now improves to 10-6 overall and 6-2 in the RMAC, while CCU falls to 9-10 and 5-2 in conference.

The Cougars are back in action this Friday when they take on the Orediggers of Colorado Mines at 6:00 p.m. in Golden, Colorado. 

Cougars Sweep RMAC /NCCAA Player of the Week Honors

January 14, 2008—Following a sweep of tough back-to-back conference road games in New Mexico, the Cougar men’s and women’s basketball teams brought the brooms out once again, this time sweeping the RMAC and NCCAA Player of the Week Honors.

Talmai Aguirre, the RMAC’s leading scorer, earned the award for the women’s team, following an impressive 29 point display against New Mexico Highlands, with a 26 point effort versus Western New Mexico.

Over the weekend, Aguirre averaged 27 points, four rebounds and two assists, while shooting 47% from the floor and connecting on 12 of 13 free throw attempts.

On the men’s side of the action, Brian Stamer nabbed his third player of the week nod of the season. Stamer shot a perfect 4-4 in a win over New Mexico Highlands, before logging his sixth double-double of the year with a 26 point 11 rebound effort in a win over Western New Mexico.

The pre-season all-American combined for 34 points and 17 rebounds on the weekend, while shooting an efficient 54% from the floor.

Both teams are back in action on Tuesday, January 15, when they host the Roadrunners of Metro State. 

Aguirre’s 26 Lifts Cougars to Fourth Straight Win

January 12, 2008—CCU super soph, Talmai Aguirre, racked up a game-high 26 points Saturday evening, leading the Cougars to their fourth straight win with an electrifying 76-68 (box score) come from behind victory over the Western New Mexico Mustangs in Silver City, New Mexico.

The Cougars got out of the gates slowly, trailing the entire first half and heading into intermission on the wrong end of a 34-30 point total.

Proving once again that this is not the Cougar team of yester-year, the ladies fought back and eventually pulled ahead 36-35 early in the second stanza off of an Aguirre layup.

Over the next nine minutes, CCU built a nine point advantage and would not be seriously threatened again. The ladies sealed the deal at the freebee stitch, downing 10 free throws in the final two minutes to put the contest in the bag.

The fab-forward combination of Abby Rosenthal and Sara Davis was once again hitting on all cylinders, as the two combined for 10 rebounds while going for 14 points apiece.

CCU was hot from the beyond the arc, connecting on 50% of their long distance attempts, while firing 42 free throws to WNMU’s 19.

With the weekend sweep in the books, the ladies improve to 5-2 in conference play and look to make it five in a row this Tuesday when they host the Roadrunners of Metro State.

Balanced Attack Boosts Cougars over Cowgirls 96-72

January 10, 2008—Four Cougars reached double-digit scoring Thursday evening, led by Talmai Aguirre’s 29 points, as the ladies cruised to a 96-72 victory (box score) over the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The Cougars led from beginning to end, opening up a 13 point lead early in the first half, and extending the margin to as many as 29 points after the break, before settling for the 24 point win.

Aguirre shot an effective 11-23 from the floor, dished out three assists and pulled in seven rebounds in the win.

Sara Davis was her usual self, notching the games only double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Abby Rosenthal tacked on 15 points and eight rebounds.

Freshman post Cortney Bray, chipped in 10 points, four boards and canned all eight of her free throw attempts.

With the victory, the ladies improve to 8-9 overall and 4-2 in RMAC action.

CCU is back in action this Saturday, when they travel to Silver City, New Mexico to take on the Western New Mexico Mustangs at 6:00 p.m.

Cougars Edge Mountaineers 65-62 in Thriller

January 3, 2008—The CCU women’s basketball team held off a strong second half surge by the Western State Mountaineers and escaped with a 65-62 victory (box score) in a vintage RMAC thriller Thursday evening at the Cougar Event Center.

CCU jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half, and led by as many as 16 in the second before watching the Mountaineers whittle away the lead to set up the exciting final minutes.

The Mountaineers used an 18-6 run during a five minute span in the second stanza to keep things interesting, before a Beth Thom free throw made it a one possession game (60-57) with only 1:28 remaining.

Chelsea Wilkins followed Thom’s miss on her second free throw, converting a three-point play to knot the contest up at 60 each with a perilous 58 ticks showing.

The Cougars then edged ahead by one point when Abby Rosenthal went 1-2 at the charity stripe 13 seconds later.

CCU’s Sara Davis came out of nowhere to steal the ball on Western’s following possession, and when the Mountaineers were forced to foul the always reliable Talmai Aguirre, the game seemed safely in hand.

Surprisingly, Aguirre missed on both attempts, but in heroic fashion Rosenthal deftly maneuvered for position, grabbing the offensive rebound and converting a put back to give the Cougars a three point cushion with a mere 17 seconds remaining.

With just eight seconds on the clock, Taryn Brennan canned a jumper in the paint to once again bring the CCU lead down to one point.

Once again it was Talmai Aguirre back at the free throw line with a chance to redeem herself and put the Cougars back ahead by three points.

Calm and collected, Aguirre stepped to the line and drained both attempts, making Western’s final possession a desperation three that failed to draw iron with time running down.

Davis got a hot hand early, draining one turnaround fade away after another before finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Aguirre and Ainsley Barratt each tacked on 13 points, while Rosenthal tallied five points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Jodie Krall was once again Miss Efficient at the point, playing some determined defense while shooting a perfect 2-2 from the field, 2-2 from the charity stripe, and managing two steals while not committing a single turnover.

Western was led by the 20 point six rebound effort of Chelsea Wilkins. Taryn Brennan added 12 points and five boards in the Mountaineer loss.

With the win, the Cougars improve to 7-9 overall and 3-2 in conference, and now gear up for a trip to Las Vegas, New Mexico and a date with the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls next Thursday at 6:00 p.m. 

Duo’s Double-Double Lifts Cougars over Corban

December 29, 2007—Sara Davis and Abby Rosenthal each notched a double-double for the Cougars Saturday night, as the ladies got back in the win column with a 62-56 victory (box score) over Corban College in the final day of the Mesa State Christmas Weekend Classic.

Davis posted 17 points, 13 rebounds and three steals, while Rosenthal added 12 points and a career-high 19 rebounds in the Cougar victory.

CCU overcame a nine point first half deficit to take a three point lead (36-33) into the break. The Cougars kept the momentum rolling after the half, controlling the action and extending the margin to as many as 12 points before settling for the six point decision.

Ainsley Barratt and Talmai Aguirre each added nine for CCU, and Audrey Finley chipped in six points on 2-3 shooting.

In a contest in which most of the stats were relatively even, the game was decided in the paint, as Davis, Rosenthal and the rest of the Cougars owned a decisive 53-44 advantage on the glass.

With the victory, the ladies improve to 6-9 overall and now set their sights back on conference play this Thursday, when they host the Mountaineers of Western State at 6:00 p.m.

Cougars Suffer Christmas Setback with 65-60 loss to Tarleton

December 28, 2007—The CCU women’s basketball team struggled through a poor shooting second half, squandering an eight point half time lead and dropping a 60-65 decision (box score) to Tarleton State Friday evening in the Mesa State Christmas Weekend Classic.

Taking the court for the first time in almost two weeks, the ladies enjoyed a hot-shooting first half, connecting on 60% of their field goal attempts, including 42% from long distance and taking a commanding 34-26 lead into intermission.

It was a different story after the break, as the ladies shot a wintry 24% and managed only six made baskets in the final 20 minutes of action.

Tarleton’s 11-31 effort wasn’t exactly burning up the nets, but proved good enough to edge out the five point victory.

Talmai Aguirre finished with 21 points, while Sara Davis added 11 points, four assists and five rebounds.

Freshman sensation, Jodie Krall, earned the start for the Cougars and managed four assists, two steals and only two turnovers in the loss.

The ladies are back in action tomorrow evening when they take on Corban College at 4:00 p.m.

Join the Free Women’s Basketball Christmas Clinic!

December 18, 2007—The CCU women’s basketball team would like to invite girls ages 8-13 to participate in a free CCU Christmas Basketball Clinic.

Learn from CCU coaches and players, enjoy pizza and receive free admission into that night’s CCU vs. Western State College basketball game.

The Clinic will be held on January 3, from 2:30-4:30 and is open to the first 60 participants.

Please contact Coach Nikki Long at njaycox@ccu.edu or 303-963-3189 for more information or to participate.

Cougars Back in Win Column with 73-72 victory at Adams

December 15, 2007—Three Cougars reached double digit scoring Saturday night, led by Talmai Aguirre who logged a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, as CCU pulled off an important 73-72 (box score) road win over the Adams State Grizzlies in Alamosa, Colorado.

CCU trailed 36-42 at the half, but pulled ahead by as many as 11 after the break, paced by a perfect 15-15 effort from the charity stripe.

The Cougars were all over the offensive glass in the final 20 minutes, swiping eight offensive boards to Adams two, and converting 13 second chance points.

With CCU ahead by ten points at the 7:30 mark, the Grizzlies pulled off a 7-0 run over the next two minutes capped by a Vera Jo Bustos trey which brought Adams to within three.

Both teams traded jabs until only 41 seconds remained when Adams claimed their first lead in 18 minutes thanks to another Bustos three ball, giving the Grizzlies a one point advantage.

Aguirre would not let the Cougars drop there third straight conference bout however, as the super-soph drained the game winning jumper on the ensuing possession and secured the defensive rebound on the other end, as the Cougars improved to 2-2 in RMAC action.

Fellow sophomore Ainsley Barratt handled business once again, rolling out 19 points on 6-10 shooting while pulling in four rebounds and going 7-8 from the freebee stripe.

CCU’s senior standout, Sara Davis, also broke the double-digit barrier, tacking on 12 points and going 2-5 from deep in the Cougar victory.

The Cougars only managed three treys on the game, but compensated with an 88% effort from the free-throw, while pulling in 11 more rebounds over the course of the contest.

CCU now heads into a 13 day layover, before traveling to Grand Junction for the Mesa State Classic on December 28 and 29.

Cougars Stumble 58-70 in Pueblo

December 13, 2007—The first conference road trip of the year was an unfriendly one for the CCU women’s basketball team, as the Cougars dropped a 58-70 decision (box score) to the CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves Thursday evening in Pueblo, Colorado.

CCU scored the first five points of the game, only to see the Thunderwolves grind out 12 unanswered in the next four minutes to take a lead they would not give up.

Pueblo led by as many as 19 in the first half and increased the margin to 22 after the break, before the Cougars made a strong comeback bid midway through the final half, pulling off a 16-3 run to cut the Pueblo advantage to only nine points with eight minutes to play.

Over the next three minutes, a pair of Pueblo three point makes and a jumper in the paint increased the margin back up to 17 and all but stifled the CCU rally.

Abby Rosenthal was the only Cougar to reach double digits in the loss, as the 6’1” sophomore wracked up 19 points on 8-10 shooting, while swiping seven rebounds.

Talmai Aguirre finished the contest with nine points and Holly Valdez tacked on six points and a game-high five assists in the loss.

The Cougars suffered through a tough shooting night, firing 39% from the field, including 26% from long distance, and 50% from the charity stripe.

CCU is back in action on Saturday evening when they travel to Alamosa to take on the Adams State Grizzlies at 6:00 p.m.

Late Game Run Lifts Skyhawks over Cougars 67-55

December 7, 2007—The Fort Lewis Skyhawks outscored CCU 8-0 over a three minute span in the second half, ending the Cougar win streak at four, and escaping the Cougar Event Center with a 67-55 victory (box score) Saturday night at Colorado Christian.

CCU led for all but four minutes of the first half, increasing the margin to as many as eight points midway through, before Fort Lewis mustered a 26-24 lead with two minutes remaining off of a Erin Kerr layup – the first Skyhawk lead since the opening minutes of play.

Trailing 25-28 at the half, the Cougars quickly regained the advantage 29-28 early in the second stanza off of an Ainsley Barratt jumper in the paint.

The Cougar lead would not last long and on the next possession an Audrey George three point play gave the Skyhawks a lead they would not relinquish.
 
A resilient Cougar squad whittled away at a six point deficit with eight minutes remaining, and eventually cut the Fort Lewis margin to one point at the six minute mark.

However, over the next three minutes, eight unanswered Skyhawk points would douse any hopes of a Cougar rally, and the CCU hot streak of late was effectively put on ice.

CCU’s Abby Rosenthal led all players with 18 points on an impressive 6-10 shooting display and chipped in a team-high seven rebounds in the losing effort.

Talmai Aguirre had a tough shooting night, connecting on 4-15 attempts for a team-second 13 points.

Barratt was a perfect 4-4 from the floor for nine points and five rebounds before fouling out with 42 ticks remaining.

Allison Rosel set the tone for Fort Lewis, notching a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while collecting three steals and converting all six of her free throw attempts.

With the loss, CCU drops to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in the RMAC, while Fort Lewis completes the weekend sweep and improves to 6-1 and 2-0 in conference.

The Cougars take the floor once again this Thursday when they travel to CSU-Pueblo for a 6:00 p.m. date with the Thunderwolves.

Cougars Roll to Fourth Straight with 59-51 Victory over Mesa

December 7, 2007—CCU sophomore Ainsley Barratt chipped in seven points, eight rebounds, and a variety of hustle plays, including a crucial late-game block to help the Cougars notch their fourth straight win of the year with a 59-51 victory (box score) over the Mavericks of Mesa State Friday evening at the Cougar Event Center.

The Cougars took a narrow five point margin into recess backed by the red-hot shooting of Talmai Aguirre, who logged 14 first half points on 4-7 shooting from the land of plenty.

Trailing 40-34 eight minutes into the second half, Mesa knocked out seven unanswered points capped by a Cassie Hutto jumper to give the Mavericks there first and only lead of the game 41-40 with 10:46 on the clock.

CCU regained the lead thanks to back-to-back jumpers by Ashley Braasch and Cortney Bray, and eventually extended the margin back up to seven on an Abby Rosenthal layup with three minutes remaining.

Still clinging to an uncertain eight point advantage, Barrat blocked a Lindsey Kame three point attempt with just under a minute left to douse any hopes of a Maverick rally and secure the Cougar victory.

Aguirre finished the contest with 20 points and two steals, Rosenthal added 10 points and seven boards, and Sara Davis tacked on five points and four boards for CCU.

Mesa was paced by Hutto who tallied a team-high 12 points on 6-9 shooting, and Brittany Folwer who broke into double digits with 11 points in the loss.

With the victory, the Cougars improve to 4-6 and 1-0 in conference play, while the Mavericks fall to 1-6 and 0-1 in conference on the young season.

CCU concludes the weekend double-header tomorrow with a 5:00 p.m. tip off against the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis.  

Cougar Basketball Tips-Off Conference Season Tonight!

December 5, 2007—Come out and support the CCU men’s and women’s basketball teams this weekend, as they square off against Mesa State and Fort Lewis College in the RMAC opener.

The women (3-6, 0-0 RMAC) are riding a three game winning streak heading into conference action paced by the high-scoring displays of sophomore Talmai Aguirre (Silver City, NM). The hot-shooting guard is currently averaging an RMAC second 17.3 points per game, while draining 89% of her free throw attempts. Talmai has detonated for 20 or more points on three separate occasions, including a 27 point outburst in a win over Oklahoma Panhandle State.

The ladies look to keep the streak alive this Friday when they face the 1-5 Mavericks of Mesa State. Normally a strong RMAC team, the Mavericks have gotten off to a slow start in 2007, beginning the season 0-3, and losing each contest by an average of 15.4 points per outing. Keep your eyes on the high scoring duo of Brittany Fowler and Kelsie Gourdin, who are each chipping in an impressive 16 points per game for the Mavericks.

On the men’s side of the action, the 2-3 Cougars are coming off of a 103-69 drubbing of Montana State-Billings, the biggest Cougar margin of victory since 1997.

Setting the tone once again for the men is senior forward Brian Stamer. A household name to any Cougar fan, Stamer picked up where he left off last year, averaging 17.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while ranking second on the team with 17 assists and nine steals.

This weekend will be no easy task for the good guys, as Mesa and Fort Lewis combine for a hefty 6-3 overall record. The 3-1 Mavericks are a perennial RMAC power with a balanced attack - boasting three players who reach double-digit scoring each night.

A win for Stamer and the Cougars over Mesa would mark the first since 2003-2004, and would be a huge catalyst into a season filled with high-expectations.

If you can’t make it out to the game, you can always visit our website for live stats and a live audio broadcast provided by the voice of Cougar Athletics, Chris Polton.

Don’t miss a minute of the excitement, as the conference season and the long march to March begins this Friday at 6:00 p.m. right here in the Cougar Event Center.  

Aguirre Earns NCCAA Player of the Week Nod

December 5, 2007—CCU super soph, Talmai Aguirre, has been named the NCCAA Player of the Week for her dominant play in back-to-back victories during the CCU Thanksgiving Classic.

Aguirre scored a game-high 20 points in a 64-54 victory over previously undefeated Saint Leo College (Florida), before pouring in a season-high 27 points while shooting a perfect 12-12 from the charity stripe and collecting a team-high eight rebounds to go with two steals in a 68-55 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Over the weekend, Aguirre combined for 47 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals, while shooting an incredible 18-18 from the free throw line on the way to earning tournament MVP honors. 

Krall’s Free-throw Lifts CCU to 65-64 Victory

December 4, 2007—With mere seconds remaining in a tied game, CCU freshman Jodie Krall (Solon, Iowa) stepped to the free-throw line for the most important attempts of her young collegiate career. Displaying the poise of an upperclassman, Jodie calmly drained her first attempt to send the Cougars to their third straight victory of the year with a 65-64 decision (box score) over Colorado College Tuesday evening in Colorado Springs.

Krall’s game winner capped a back and forth battle that saw 12 ties and 15 lead changes. Each team went into intermission tied at 32 each and neither squad was able to pull ahead by more than five points in the second half.

CCU was able to take the lead for good at the three minute mark off of a fantastic Talmai Aguirre three-point-play. The Cougars then built a four point cushion with 1:42 remaining thanks to a timely Abby Rosenthal jumper. The contest was far from over however, and back-to-back Tiger buckets set up Jodie for her last minute heroics.

Colorado College had possession of the ball with 20 seconds left and an opportunity to take the lead. Senior forward Paige Whitley drove the lane but was unable to convert a contested lay-in. That’s when Krall came out of nowhere to secure the defensive rebound in the midst of a scramble while drawing the Tiger foul.

Ainsley Barratt notched 15 points for the Cougars, while shooting 3-4 from beyond the arc. Aguirre logged 15 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals, while Rosenthal added eight points and a block in the victory.

With the win the Cougar improve to 3-6 and hope to keep the momentum alive this Friday as they open up conference play against Mesa State College at 6:00 p.m.

Aguirre and Miller Earn All-Tourney Honors

November 26, 2007—Cougar women’s basketball standouts Talmai Aguirre and Katie Miller have been named to the All-Tournament Team from this past weekend’s CCU Thanksgiving Classic.

The Cougars rolled to back-to-back wins in the annual turkey day extravaganza, paced by a combined 47 points by the high-scoring Aguirre, and 19 points and nine rebounds by the hard-nosed play of Miller.

Joining Katie and Talmai on this year's all-tournament team is Tamra McCaskill and Katie McElrath of Missouri-Rolla and Jasmine Williams from Oklahoma Panhandle State.

In addition to the all-tourney recognition, Talmai also received the highest praise possible for her weekend heroics when she was selected by opposing coaches as tournament MVP.

Aguirre, Miller and the rest of the Cougars look to extend the winning streak to three straight on December 4, when they head to Colorado Springs to battle the Colorado College Tigers. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Davis, Aguirre Trigger 68-55 thumping of Aggies

November 24, 2007—Sara Davis and Talmai Aguirre sparked a strong second half surge by the CCU women’s basketball, as the Cougars sailed to a 68-55 victory (box score) over the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies Saturday night in the final game of the CCU Thanksgiving Classic.

With Abby Rosenthal in early foul trouble, and the usually potent Cougar offense shooting bricks in the first half, CCU still managed a narrow 27-22 advantage heading into intermission.

The Cougars came out gunning in the second stanza, never trailing and eventually pulling ahead by 10 points at the six minute mark on a Talmai Aguirre jumper in traffic.

Not going down easily, the Aggies stormed back on a 10-4 run to pull within four points (53-49) with four minutes to play on a Sarah Polson trey.

The final minutes turned into the Sara Davis and Talmai Aguirre show however, as Davis nailed jumper after jumper and Aguirre found the sweet stroke from deep, while going a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe.

As a unit, Davis and Aguirre combined for 32 second half points and 10 rebounds as the ladies pulled off their second win in as many nights.

Jasmine Williams paced the Aggies with 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the loss and Polson tacked on eight points and five boards.

Aguirre poured in a season-high 27 points while inhaling eight rebounds for CCU.

Davis finished with 12 points, six boards and three assists, while Katie Miller chipped in eight points and a variety of intangibles on the way to the Cougar victory.

The Cougars (2-6, 0-0 RMAC) are back in action on December 4th when they travel to Colorado College for a 7:00 p.m. tip off.

Cougars Hold off Late Saint Leo Charge for 64-54 Victory

November 23, 2007—The CCU women’s basketball team nabbed their first victory of the season Friday evening, holding off a strong second half rally by the Saint Leo Lions, and escaping with a 64-54 victory (box score) in the second game of the CCU Thanksgiving Classic.

The Cougars stormed out to an impressive 31-9 lead in the first half, and took a 44-20 cushion into intermission behind 10 points on 3-5 shooting by Talmai Aguirre.

It was a different story after the break, as the Lions turned up the defensive pressure and forced 14 second half Cougar turnovers. The ladies shot 0-7 from downtown after the break, and managed only 46% of their free throw attempts.

Saint Leo closed the gap to eight points (60-52) with a minute remaining, but Aguirre calmly knocked down four consecutive free throws with time running out to help the Cougars pull out the ten point win.

Aguirre finished with 20 points in 26 minutes of action, while Sara Davis went to work on the glass, swiping 11 rebounds to go with seven points.

Katie Miller chipped in seven rebounds in the win, while managing 11 points on some crafty post play and 5-5 shooting from the charity stripe.

Dominique Daniels paced the Lions, scoring 11 points to go with nine rebounds – five of them offensive.

With the victory, CCU improves to 1-6 on the year and is right back in action tomorrow evening when they face off against Oklahoma-Panhandle State in the final game of the Thanksgiving weekend bonanza.

Coyotes Cage Cougars 91-64

November 19, 2007—Four players reached double figures for the University of South Dakota Monday night, as the Coyotes cruised to a 91-64 victory (box score) over the visiting CCU Cougars.

Sara Davis led the way for CCU, scoring a team high 17 points and shooting a perfect 3-3 from downtown. It was far from enough however, as the ladies trailed by 21 points at the half, and were outscored by an additional six points after the break.

Talmai Aguirre added 14 points on 5-15 shooting, and Ainsley Barratt chipped in nine points and five assists in the loss.

Turnover problems continue to plague the Cougars, who committed 24 miscues which led to 33 South Dakota points.

The ladies now head home and gear up for Saint Leo University in the first game of the Colorado Christian University Thanksgiving Classic this Friday at 6:00 p.m.

Hall, Northern Rallies Past Cougars for 76-66 Victory

November 17, 2007—CCU had no answer for Northern State’s Noelle Hall, who poured in 33 points on 14-18 shooting, while inhaling 11 rebounds to lead the Wolves to a second half rally and a 76-66 victory (box score) over the Cougars Saturday night in the final contest of the Wildcat Classic.

The Cougars led 38-35 at intermission, and extended the margin to as many as six points midway through the second half when Talmai Aguirre sank a three at the 12 minute mark to give the Cougars a 47-41 cushion.

The Wolves came stalking back however, scoring seven unanswered and taking the lead 48-47 thanks to a Hall putback with 9:35 remaining.

CCU remained within striking distance, but could not quite reel in a Northern team who ultimately extended the margin to double-digits with less than a minute remaining, when the Cougars were forced to foul.

Aguirre once again put on an offensive showcase, dropping 20 points on 7-17 shooting, while Ainsley Barratt chipped in 12 in the loss.

Abby Rosenthal added 10 points and six boards for CCU and senior Sara Davis tallied seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.

The ladies wrap up the five day roadie this Monday when they battle South Dakota at 5:00 p.m.

Strong Second Half Lifts Wayne State over Cougars

November 16, 2007—The Wayne State Wildcats outscored CCU 38-20 in the second half, and cruised to a 74-53 decision (box score) Friday evening in the feature contest of the Wildcat Classic.

The Cougars led 29-23 in the first half, but were unable to fend off a 12-0 Wayne State run over a stretch of four minutes that gave the Wildcats a 35-29 advantage.

CCU closed the gap to 36-33 at intermission, but fell prey to a strong Wayne State second half that left the ladies on the short end of a 21 point decision.

Talmai Aguirre racked up a game-high 16 points, and Abby Rosenthal chipped in 12 points and three rebounds in the loss.

CCU and Wayne State each shot a chilly 37% on the contest, but the difference in the game came down to taking care of the ball, as CCU amassed 27 turnovers while logging only five assists.

The ladies take the court once again tomorrow evening, when they square off against Northern State at 4:00 p.m. local time. Click here for a live internet broadcast!

Louellen Hurst named RMAC Nominee for 2007 NCAA Woman of the Year

November 7, 2007—Louellen Hurst, a 2007 CCU graduate, student body president, and four year member of the women’s basketball team, was recently named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year.

The program honors outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community service.

Each year, RMAC schools are asked to submit a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The conference then selects the top candidate to represent their respective university and the RMAC as one of nine national finalists.

The winner of the NCAA Woman of the Year for 2007 was announced during a dinner Saturday, October 27 in Indianapolis.

CCU would like to congratulate Louellen for her great accomplishments as a student-athlete and being selected to represent CCU as a conference nominee for this prestigious award. 

Second Half Shooting Woes Plague Cougars in Disney Finale

November 4, 2007—Augustana College erased a five point half time deficit to cruise to a 73-54 victory (box score) over CCU in the final game of the Disney Classic Sunday morning.

It was a tale of two halves for the Cougars, who shot a remarkable 46% from the field in the first half, including a blistering 45% from downtown, to take a 37-32 advantage into intermission.

Coming out of the break, CCU’s hot hands went ice-cold, as the ladies were only able to convert 19% of their attempts. It didn’t take long for Augustana to capitalize, as the Vikings broke the game wide open with a 14-2 run midway through the second half.

The Cougars were led by Ainsley Barratt’s nine points off the bench, while Talmai Aguirre, who had seven point at the break, was held to just a pair of free throws in the second half.

The ladies are back in action on November 16 when they travel to Wayne State. Tip off is slated for 5:00 p.m.

Vikings survive Second Half Cougar Rally

November 4, 2007—Late free throws and key baskets allowed the Western Washington Vikings to hold off a second half Cougar rally, as WWU held on for a 72-63 victory (box score) in the second day of the Disney West Coast Tip-off Classic.

Krystal Robinson led Western Washington with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Clarie Pallansch added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the 1-1 Vikings.

Talmai Aguirre paced the Cougars with 20 points, four assists and three steals, with Abby Rosenthal tacking on 10 points in the loss.

Despite trailing by as many as 10 points several times in the second half, CCU posted a late rally and took the lead 51-50 thanks to an Ashley Braasch three-pointer with 6:56 remaining.

Sara Davis then added a second triple moments later to put the Cougars ahead by four.

Each team exchanged blows for the next three minutes before Western Washington exploded on a 13-4 run to seal the victory.

UC-San Diego Outlasts Cougars 69-58 in Season Opener

November 2, 2007—The CCU women’s basketball team dropped a 58-69 decision (box score) to UC-San Diego Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, California.

The Cougars put a scare in the regional powerhouse Tritons, leading by as many as nine in the first half, and then pulling to within seven late in the second half, when Abby Rosenthal cashed in a steal by Ainsley Barrett with 1:47 remaining.

That would be as close as the Cougars could get however, as UCSD cashed in their free throws down the stretch to pull out the 11 point decision.

CCU super soph, Talmai Aguirre, unloaded for 18 points and six rebounds, while Rosenthal chipped in 11 points and three boards in the loss.

The Cougars look to get their first notch in the win column tomorrow evening when they square off against the Vikings of Western Washington. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time.

Follow the Cougars Live at the Disney Classic!

November 2, 2007—The CCU women’s basketball team tips-off the 2007-08 season this weekend in Anaheim, California at the Disney Division II West Coast Tip Off Classic.

The action gets underway at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, when the ladies take on regional powerhouse UC-San Diego. On Saturday, CCU faces Western Washington at 7:30 p.m. before squaring off against Augustana at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. All times are local.

Click here to access results, recaps and live stats from the tournament website. Go Cougars! 

Aguirre Named Pre-Season RMAC First-Team

September 27, 2007—CCU Athletics is proud to announce that sophomore Talmai Aguirre has been named 2007-08 Pre-Season First Team All RMAC.

Aguirre, a high scoring guard from Silver City, New Mexico, averaged a team-high 17.5 points per game last season, while finishing second in the RMAC in made three point field goals per game.

Talmai helped the ladies to seven wins last year, including a confidence building upset over regionally ranked Nebraska-Kearney. For her efforts Aguirre was named 2006-07 RMAC Freshman of the Year, in addition to being voted to the All-RMAC Second-Team.

Talmai and the rest of the Cougars tip off the season on November 2, when they battle UC-San Diego in Anaheim, California at the first game of the West Coast Disney Tip-Off Classic.

Schedule Set for Disney Tip-Off Classic

September 12, 2007—The schedule for the inaugural Disney West Coast Basketball Tip-Off Classic  has been finalized, and the Cougars look to face some of the nation’s elite in Anaheim, California.

Each team will play one game per day; with action commencing on November 2nd when the Cougars square off against defending CCAA and West Region champion UC-San Diego at 2:30 p.m.

The following evening CCU will gear up for one of the powerhouses of the GNAC, the Western Washington Vikings in the evening’s feature event at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, November 4th, the Cougars wrap up the weekend with an 11:00 a.m. date against Augustana College.

For 10 years, the Disney Tip Off Classic tournament at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has featured the country’s top men’s and women’s Division II programs. This year the tournament has been expanded to the west coast to provide additional team’s access to the early season event.

The eight-team tournament — four men and four women’s teams — will be played at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena in Anaheim, Calif.  The California Collegiate Athletic Association will serve as the host conference for the event.  The Anaheim Convention Center is directly across the street from the Disneyland Resort.

UC San Diego, Western Washington and Augustana were all regional championship contenders last season with UCSD winning the west and advancing to the Division II Elite Eight.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Session One - WOMEN
12:00 p.m. – Western Washington (H) vs. Augustana (V)
2:05 p.m. – UC San Diego (H) vs. Colorado Christian (V)

Session Two – MEN
4:30 p.m. – Metro State (H) vs. Montana State-Billings (V)
6:35 p.m. – Cal State San Bernardino (H) vs. Kentucky Wesleyan (V)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Session Three – MEN
12:00 p.m. – Montana State-Billings (H) vs. Cal State San Bernardino (V)
2:35 p.m. – Kentucky Wesleyan (H) vs. Metro State (V)

Session Four – WOMEN
4:30 p.m. – Augustana (H) vs. UC San Diego (V)
6:35 p.m. – Colorado Christian (H) vs. Western Washington (V)