DENVER, Colo. – The championship matchup is set for the 2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament. The tournament’s No. 1 seed Regis opened Friday’s festivities with an 81-73 win over fourth-seeded Adams State in the first semifinal matchup in Regis Field House in Denver, Colo. No. 2 seed Colorado School of Mines closed out the evening with a 74-66 win over sixth-seeded Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Game 5 – #1 Regis – 81, #4 Adams State – 73
The Rangers came out on top in a fast-paced showdown against the Grizzlies that featured a combined 56 successful field goals and 37 fast-break points between the two squads. Regis used a career-high 29 points from Josey Ryan, who finished the game shooting 11-for-19 from the field, 3-for-7 from three-point range and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line. Newly minted RMAC Player of the Year, Erin Fry, notched a 50-percent clip from the field to finish the game with 14 points, while Sam Deem and Erin Stroberg each added in 12 points. While the Rangers struggled to convert from the charity stripe, they made up for it with a 50-percent team field-goal percentage and eight successful triples.
Adams State continued its up-tempo style that found success throughout the season and forced Regis into 12 turnovers that resulted in 10 points. The Grizzlies also poured in 20 points on the fast break and pounded the paint for 36 points. Elaina Watson led Adams State with 22 points, while Harmanie Dominguez and Angelline Nageak each finished in double figures with 18 points and 10 points, respectively.
Game 6 – #2 Colorado School of Mines – 74, #6 MSU Denver – 66
The Orediggers came out swinging in Friday’s second semifinal showdown, earning a 74-66 win over a gritty sixth-seeded Roadrunners. Colorado School of Mines was carried to victory by Ashley Steffeck and Sammy Van Sickle, who combined for 49 points. Steffeck finished the contest with 32 points, tying for sixth all-time on Mines’ single-game scoring list. Van Sickle eclipsed the 1,000-point mark with her final bucket of the evening, a corner three-pointer with six minutes left in regulation, that places her at 1,001 points for her career.
While the Orediggers never relinquished their lead, the Roadrunners consistently had Mines on its heels and dominated the game in the paint by a 34-26 margin. As a team, MSU Denver shot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. Kendra Parra conducted the offense for the Roadrunners with an efficient 77.8-percent (7-for-9) shooting effort to close the game with 15 points. Tosjanae Bonds added 16 points of her own, while Mikylah Espinosa and Jaiden Galloway each contributed nine points.
Following Friday’s semifinal contests, Regis and Colorado School of Mines will now meet for the second time this season to decide who will take home the RMAC Women’s Basketball Tournament title. Regis claimed the season’s previous meeting by a 76-64 margin inside Regis Field House (Jan. 13).
The Rangers and Orediggers will square off Saturday, March 4, inside Regis Field House in Denver, Colo., in a 7 p.m. tipoff. The title game will be broadcast on the
RMAC Network with Mary Kay Mauro providing play-by-play and Spencer Pattison covering color-commentary duties.