Kayla Mackel’s Career Night Propels Colorado College to Victory

What a night at Reid Arena! The Colorado College Tigers women’s basketball team put on a show, rolling past McMurry 85–63 in a game full of energy and hustle.

This win bumps their streak up to seven and keeps them unbeaten in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). Suddenly, they’re tied for first place.

Senior Kayla Mackel went off, dropping a career-high 30 points and leading the Tigers with confidence. Her performance really set the tone, and the whole squad seemed to feed off her energy.

Dominant First Half Sets the Tone

The Tigers wasted no time, jumping out to a 24–15 lead by the end of the first quarter. Mackel got hot early, hitting shots and sparking her teammates.

By halftime, Colorado College had stretched the lead to 49–41. Their shooting was just wild—over 70 percent from the field in the second quarter? That’s not something you see every day.

Key Players in the First Half

Several players made their mark before the break:

• Kayla Mackel: She scored in all four quarters. Mackel finished with 30 points on 12-of-22 shooting, including five threes, plus seven assists and three boards.
• Rayna Welsch: The freshman ran the floor with poise, teaming up with Andie Will for 24 points and seven assists in the first half alone.
• Andie Will: Kept the offense moving and chipped in key buckets to hold the lead steady.

Third Quarter Challenge and Response

McMurry didn’t go quietly. In the third quarter, they clawed back and cut the lead to just five late in the period.

They pushed the pace, grabbed second-chance points, and kept things tense. But every time McMurry got close, Colorado College found an answer.

Steadying the Ship

Here are a couple moments that helped the Tigers steady themselves:

• Kayla Mackel: Drained a big three to bump the lead back to eight.
• Rayna Welsch: Took it strong to the hoop, making it 61–54 and keeping the Tigers’ rhythm alive.

Fourth Quarter Surge

Then came the knockout punch. Colorado College went on a 22–5 run in the final quarter, shutting the door on McMurry.

Their defense locked in, holding McMurry to just 15.4 percent shooting. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ offense kept rolling.

Key Plays in the Fourth Quarter

Some moments stood out down the stretch:

• Back-to-back threes from Kayla Mackel: Those shots stretched the lead and seemed to break McMurry’s spirit.
• Fast-break layup by Isa Nelson: That bucket pushed the lead to 22 in the last two minutes, and at that point, it was basically over.

Overall Team Performance

This win really was a group effort. The Tigers shot a blazing 56.7 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep.

Inside, they controlled the paint, outscoring McMurry 48–34. That’s how you get it done.

Additional Contributions

Other players stepped up, too:

• Rayna Welsch: Ended up with 18 points, five boards, and three assists.
• Andie Will: Added 10 points and six assists.
• Isa Nelson: Chipped in 11 points.
• Iliana Greene: Came off the bench and hit two threes on her way to nine points.

Defensive Prowess

Defense made a huge difference, too. Colorado College forced 13 turnovers and turned those into points when it mattered.

They also held McMurry to just 15.4 percent shooting in the last quarter. That kind of defense makes comebacks pretty much impossible.

Defensive Highlights

Here are a few defensive stats that jump out:

• Forced Turnovers: 13, which led to key buckets.
• Fast-break Points: Outpaced McMurry 8–5 in transition.
• Bench Scoring: The Tigers’ bench outscored McMurry’s 15–11.

Conclusion

The Colorado College Tigers improved to 12–4 overall and 7–0 in SCAC play with this win. Their streak now sits at seven games.