Box Score McKenzee Gertz produced her fourth double-double of the season to lead Colorado College to a 65-57 victory over the University of Dallas in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.

Gertz connected on six of 12 shots from the floor, including four of nine three-point attempts, while recording a team-high 18 points. The freshman winger also grabbed a season-best 16 rebounds and had three steals.

Sophomore point guard Jordan Meltzer posted season highs with 12 points and five steals for the Tigers.

The Crusaders were within a point when sophomore guard Celsi Caraway drained a three-pointer five seconds into the second half, but CC outscored Dallas 18-9 during the next nine minutes to take a double-digit lead after 30 minutes.

Meltzer's steal and layup gave the Tigers a 46-34 lead during the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

UD cut its deficit to 54-50 when senior forward Helen Onyenso scored with 3:34 to play, but Colorado College answered with a three-pointer from junior guard Casey Torbet and a layup from sophomore guard Nia Duplain.

The Crusaders were within seven points after senior forward Michelle DeCoud hit a jumper with 1:28 remaining, however CC hit all six of its free throws during the final minute to seal the victory.

After trailing most of the first 10 minutes, UD scored the first five points of the second quarter to build a 13-8 lead on a three-pointer from Caraway.

The Tigers took a one-point lead on an old-fashioned three-point play by Payton Katich and then a three-pointer from Gertz, and then after Caraway scored on a layup, CC took the lead for good when Meltzer turned a steal into a layup.

DeCoud recorded a game-high 22 points for the Crusaders, who slipped to 4-4 overall.

Caraway finished with 17 points and four steals.

Colorado College (3-7) returns to action on Friday, Dec. 30, when the Tigers play host to Lewis & Clark College in the Pikes Peak Holiday Classic.