Denver, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's basketball teams' March Madness run came to an end as the Pack were defeated Friday night 58-54 by fourth-seeded UCCS in the semifinals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament held here at Regis Field House.

With the loss, the Pack's final record on the season is 17-15, while UCCS continues their quest for a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 23-7 overall record. UCCS will take on No. 2 seeded Regis University tomorrow in the RMAC Tournament Finals for the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

CSU Pueblo had their chance leading 54-49, but surrendered a 9-0 run the last five minutes of the game to just fall short.

CSU Pueblo was led by their workhorse and leader, redshirt junior forward Alisha Little (Aurora, Colo./Northern Colorado). Little led all scorers with 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field and also continued to dominate on the boards as she pulled down 17 rebounds, and recorded three blocks. Little posted her NCAA Division II leading 24th double-double of the season.

This will be a bittersweet sendoff to graduate student guard Romola Dominguez (Denver, Colo./Central Arkansas) as she was the heart and soul of this talented group. Dominguez concluded the evening with five points, six assists, and two steals.

Junior guard Landri Hudson (Aurora, Colo./Wyoming) continued to show her ability to score the ball as the 303 native scored eight points and went 2-of-5 from deep.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSU Pueblo fell behind early in the game after a good start from UCCS's Maison White. White was able to get the first bucket of the game on a slip screen to set the tempo for the Mountain Lions. White was able to score seven points in the first quarter and played almost the entirety of the first.

The Pack were able to get their girl going as well as Little scored six points in the quarter. After junior guard Tomia Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo.) made a free throw to tie the game at 9-9, UCCS was able to answer with a 7-0 run the last two minutes of the quarter to take a 16-9 lead after one.

Just like Tuesday's win over Colorado Mesa, the Pack put their foot on the pedal in quarter number two as CSU Pueblo won the quarter 18-10. CSU Pueblo threw the first punch, going on a 7-0 run from Little, Autumn Watts (Centennial, Colo./McNeese State), and Hudson. CSU Pueblo and UCCS sat in a stalemate once the score got to 21-21, but Little broke the tie with a three pointer from the top of the key.

Amyah Moore Allen (UCCS), along with Dominguez and Little went back and forth on a free throw battle to end the quarter and CSU Pueblo found themselves with a one-point lead at 27-26 going into the break.

UCCS briefly took the lead to start the second half at 29-27 but the Pack answered back with a 7--0 run from Little and Johnson to take a 34-29 lead. Mya Wilson answered with a layup, but Little made her way right down the court and threw in a ridiculous hook shot to put the Pack back up five. For the next few minutes, the Pack were able to keep the lead at three to four points, but just under two minutes UCCS answered with a quick 7-0 run to silence the CSU Pueblo faithful.

Down 43-40, Dominguez who was playing her butt off, went down the court and was fouled trying to euro step. Dominguez calmly hit both free throws to end the quarter and UCCS led 43-42 going into the final frame.

Once again CSU Pueblo threw a deadly punch to start the fourth as the Pack started off on a hot 7-2 run sparked by Little and Hudson. CSU Pueblo kept their lead at four until Watts and Little extended it to seven at 54-47 with 5:27 to play.

This is where UCCS threw their haymaker as Morre Allen converted on a driving layup, followed by a three from Breelyn Robinson, and another bucket from Morre Allen and just like that the Pack's lead had evaporated. With the score tied 54-54 with 2:48 to go, the Mountain Lions retook the lead on a layup off a turnover from White.

No scoring happened from either team until with 21 seconds to go in the game, White scored off a turnover to extend their lead to four. CSU Pueblo had no answer to close out the game and fell 58-54.

UP NEXT FOR THE PACK
Head Coach Tommie Johnson, along with assistants Jalen Little and Jaylyn Duran will get right back to it as they have their eyes set on an off-season to bring in more talent to an already talented group.