Girls Basketball: Slow start dooms Cougars in their first away game of the year

Unable to overcome a scoreless first quarter, the Niwot girls dropped their Dec. 5 road opener to the Mead Mavericks, 47-39. The loss moves the Cougars to 1-2 on the season, with three games left before the winter break.

The Mavericks jumped out of the gate quickly, scoring an easy field goal on their first possession. They would go on to score 13 points in the quarter, while keeping the Cougars off the board entirely.

Niwot junior Allie Colvin finally got things going offensively for the Cougars when she hit the first of her three 3-pointers with 3:40 remaining in the half. Niwot also clamped down defensively in the quarter, holding Mead to just six points. At the break, the Cougars trailed 19-12.

Niwot’s offense kept pace with the Mavericks in the second half, and the Cougars even cut the deficit to just four points. Ultimately, however, Niwot could not stop Mead sophomore Abby Glynn, who ended the night with 19 points.

Colvin went 3-for-7 beyond the three-point line on the night, and led all Cougars scorers with nine points. Junior Sophie Grant and sophomore Zoe Gonzales each chipped in with six points, while Rosie Setter and YY Chen each had five.

Missed shots plagued the Cougars throughout the contest. The Cougars were a disappointing 12-of-48 (25%) in field goal shooting on the night, and made just eight two-pointers on 39 attempts. Niwot also struggled at the free throw line, hitting just 11-of-32 (34%).

After an eight-day break, the Cougars faced Skyline on Dec. 13. Their road trip continues with games at Berthoud on Dec. 16 and Skyview (at the Pepsi Center) on Dec. 19.

(12/5) — Mead 47, Niwot 39

Niwot (1-2, 0-0) 0 12 11 16 — 39

Mead (1-0, 0-0) 13 6 15 13 — 47

Ali Mercier 1 2-4 2, Allie Colvin 3 0-0 9, Rosie Setter 2 1-5 5, YY Chen 1 2-2 5, Meah Ricciardiello 0 0-2 0, Mary Gillett 1 2-4 4, Zoe Gonzales 3 0-7 6, Sophie Grant 1 4-8 6, Shelby Stevens 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 11-32 39.