Colorado College took an important step toward earning a berth in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament with a decisive 81-63 victory over Austin College on Saturday afternoon at Reid Gymnasium.
Not only did the Tigers move one game ahead of the Kangaroos in the Western Division, CC climbed past Trinity University into third place and trails second-place Millsaps College by just a game.
Colorado College improved its overall record to 9-12 and squared its conference mark at 6-6. AC slipped to 7-12 overall and 5-7 in the conference.
Every one of Tigers' 11 available players scored at least two points and played at least 12 minutes as Colorado College matched its largest margin of victory this season.
Kalli Kemling paced the Tigers with 13 points, while Marissa Gradoz added 11. Gracie Rennecker connected for a career-high eight points.
Becky Luetjen, who was honored before the game for becoming the 10th player in program history to record 1,000 points, narrowly missed recording her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Colorado College made three of its first four shots from behind the arc and jumper out to a 13-4 lead. CC buried a season-high 11 three-points baskets.
Kersti Marusich scored five of her game-high 15 points to help the 'Roos pull to within 13-10 with 13:26 remaining in the first half, but Austin managed only 11 points the rest of the half.
The Tigers' lead hit double-digits when Jordy Stephenson knocked down a three-pointer with 6:28 to go, and CC took its biggest lead at 38-19 after Emily Wattman-Turner made three free throws with 1:39 to play in the first half.
Colorado College took its biggest lead at 61-30 when Jenny Knapp drained a shot from behind the arc 6:47 into the second half. Angeleena Young scored all nine of her points during the final 9:19 to help the 'Roos trim their deficit to 17 with 1:04 to go.
The Tigers hit the road for the final time next weekend when they travel to Trinity and Southwestern University on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
