Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

Denver, COLO. – The 2024 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament crown resides in Denver, Colo., as the Regis Rangers claim their second consecutive RMAC Championship. Regis defeated the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in the tournament’s championship round with a score of 76-64. Regis guard, Josey Ryan, earns the RMAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player honor after dropping 56 points throughout the tournament.

The night opened with the Rangers establishing themselves early, as they went on an 8-0 run. Once UCCS went on their own run, both squads started lighting it up from all areas of the court. Throughout the first quarter, the Rangers shot 50% from the field and 75% from three, while the Mountain Lions shot 42% and 57%, respectively. These impressive offensive performances led to a 26-22 game at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was much of the same, as the Mountain Lions shot 41% from the field and the Rangers got to the free throw stripe a handful of times, equating to 10 total free throw attempts. At the end of the first half, no team had gained momentum or a considerable advantage, leading to a score of 40-38.

The second half was all Rangers, as they applied consistent pressure en route to a 36-26 half. Josey Ryan got the second half started with a midrange jumper to boost her game total to 21 points. Ryan’s jumper set the Rangers on fire as they sprung into a 9-2 run. After  UCCS answered back, thanks to a Krystina Hagood layup and a pair of Amayah Moore Allen buckets, the Rangers went back on another run, this time 7-2. To end the quarter, the Rangers found themselves in the driver’s seat and in control with a 56-48 lead. In the fourth quarter, the Rangers really began to pull away, as they held the Mountain Lions to 1-6 shooting from the three-point stripe and 7-18 from the field. On the offensive end, the Rangers kept consistent pressure on the Mountain Lions' defense, leading to several trips to the free throw line. Josey Ryan carried the load for the Rangers tonight, as she tallied a career high 31 points and a +/- of 17. Morgan L. Smith and Erin Fry joined their teammate in the +/- category with impressive totals of 18 and 12, respectively.

Thanks to her dominant tournament performance, Ryan was named the RMAC Women’s Basketball Tournament MVP. Teammates Fry, Smith and Sam Deem were also named to the RMAC All-Tournament team, accompanied by UCCS student-athletes Maison White and Moore Allen.

Up next for the Rangers is the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament, after receiving an automatic bid thanks to their victory in their RMAC Championship. However, both teams will find out their fate in the NCAA Tournament with the selections announced on Sunday, March 10 at 10:30 ET.