Junior Kayla Mackel scored a career-high 26 points to lead the Tigers to a 76-61 win over SUNY New Paltz in the D3Hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. 
 
The Colorado College women's basketball team improved to 9-1, it's best record through 10 games since the 1976-77 season (10-0). Mackel finished the game with 26 points, six rebounds and a steal. 
 
Senior Healy Bledsoe recorded a career-high seven steals, defending her SCAC Defensive Player of the Year title with high regard. 
 
Senior Zoë Tomlinson recorded a season-high 18 rebounds along with 24 points, four rebounds, and three blocks. It was Tomlinson's eighth double-double of the season and her sixth straight dating back to Nov. 25th. 
 
CC got out to a slower first quarter than usual, making only three shots from the floor and went into the second tied 13-13 with the Eagles. But in the second. The Tigers shot 64.29 percent from the floor and put up a game-high 27 points in the quarter. 
 
Mackel and Tomlinson scored nine points each followed by Bledsoe who scored seven. By the end of the game, the trio accounted for 81.5 percent of the team's points. 
 
CC went into the halftime break with a nine-point advantage and despite New Paltz having its best shooting quarter as well. 
 
In the third, Mackel continued to lead the Tigers in scoring, however the Hawks were able to cut the lead down and eventually take a 47-45 lead with 3:54 remaining in the quarter. New Paltz made a game-high nine field goals in the third. 
 
Now trailing by three after another Hawks' three-pointer, Mackel drilled a jumper inside the paint to make it 52-51, then Tomlinson converted on a layup to regain the 53-52 lead for the Tigers. CC never trailed for the remainder of the game and went on a 9-0 run to close out the third quarter. 
 
Leading 60-52 going into the fourth, CC kept the pressure on and built the lead up to as many as 17 points with 4:54 left after a Mackel jump shot. 
 
CC's defense had it's best quarter to close out the game, limiting New Paltz to a 26.67 shooting percentage and only four made shots from the floor 
 
The Tigersshot 54 percent to close out the game and outscored the Hawks 16-9 in the final 10 minutes of play to cruise to the 76-61 win. 
 
Senior Laura Strenk and sophomore Isa Nelson combined for 12 points and 12 rebounds. Strenk led the team with six assists and had two steals. 
 
It's the sixth victory this season for CC, with a scoring margin of 15 points or more. 
 
The Tigers will return home to Reid Arena this Saturday to host St. Thomas in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup at noon MT.