Women’s basketball: Season ends with a hopeful glimpse

Despite finishing 2-17 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the lady Mountain Lion's basketball season ended Feb. 26 with glimpses of hope and possibility for the future.

The highlight of the year may have been the team's exciting, high scoring victory against Nebraska-Kearney 101-93 on Feb. 12, in which the women came within one point of breaking the school's scoring record of 102 set in 1994.

"The win over Nebraska-Kearney was great for the players and showed what some of them are capable of. We have shown glimpses this season of a positive future," said Athletic Director and Head Coach Stephen Kirkham.

The constant factor that plagued the women throughout the majority of the season was consistency. UCCS rarely managed to play a competitive 40 minute game and, unfortunately, success came sporadically.

Thus was the case Feb. 26 when UCCS took on the Roadrunners of Metro State at the Gallogly Events Center in their final game of the season. The lady Mountain Lions surged back and fourth throughout, bringing the game to 41-40 with just nine minutes left to play. The game fell out of reach after the women missed eight straight field-goals, resulting in a season-low 27.3 field-goal percentage and a 47-59 loss.

"With some more size and speed, we will compete at a much higher level [next year]. The players in the program that will return also need to commit to being better players next season," added Kirkham. "Some old sayings always ring true: Players are made from March to October, [while] teams are made from October to March." 

Once the final buzzer sounded on the 2009-10 season, two players from UCCS not only completed their collegiate careers but will always remain a part of basketball history for UCCS.

Senior Janean Jubic will leave UCCS as No. 3 on the all-time list in assists and No. 4 in 3-pointers made. Following her will be senior Lauren Holm, who ranks No. 3 all-time in free-throw percentage. u

"Lauren and Janean have really given a lot of themselves to UCCS as players, students, and people. They will be missed," Kirkham said.