Tournament Central
The game recap is presented by MAA Corporate Partner Wet Grocer / Airport Self Storage
PUEBLO, Colo. - Western State Colorado University women's basketball began the 2014-15 season Friday afternoon at the Al Kaly Shrine Classic in Pueblo, Colorado. The Mountaineers were up against Upper Iowa University in the first game of the tournament and fell to the Peacocks 77-68.
Western (0-1, 0-0 RMAC) got in a hole early as Upper Iowa (1-0, 0-0 NSIC) scored the first eight points of the game. The Mountaineers would come surging back, taking their first lead of the game at the 7:31 mark in the first half off a
Jade McIntosh (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colorado) jumper.
McIntosh led the Mountaineers in scoring with 21 points. The senior forward also pulled down a game high 14 rebounds.
After a Peacocks' free throw tied the game at 27-27, Upper Iowa went on a 13-4 run over the final 2:38 in the first half to take a 40-31 lead into the break.
The Mountaineers continued fighting in the second half but were unable to regain control of the score.
Western did pull within three points with two minutes remaining in the game after McIntosh hit her seventh field goal of the game. However, Upper Iowa pulled away and ended the game ahead nine points.
The Mountaineer defense proved solid against the Peacocks. Western forced Upper Iowa into 27 turnovers, scoring a total of 31 points off those mistakes.
Upper Iowa's Lindsay Carroll led all players in scoring with 26 points.
Ajai Ford (Jr., Los Angeles, California) was the only other Mountaineer to score in double figures. Ford 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field.
Western will play their second game of the Al Kaly Shrine Classic tournament Saturday against Montana State University - Billings. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Massari Arena.
