CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State led by double digits at halftime, but a talented Adams State team reeled the Eagles back in and took over in the second half to defeat CSC by a 74-64 final score on Thursday evening at the Chicoine Center. 

The Eagles (1-11, 1-6 RMAC) scored 21 points in the first quarter and took their largest lead of the night when Ella Moser hit a three with five seconds remaining in the first half to make it 38-27 Eagles at halftime, but Adams State (12-5, 6-1 RMAC) outscored the hosts 29-11 in the third quarter and took off from there.

McKenzi Petersen starred for the Eagles, shooting 9-for-14 from the field to score a CSC career-high 20 points along with six rebounds. Moser finished with 13 points, including a trio of three-pointers, and added three steals on the defensive end. 

Freshman point guard Kenna Wagner set a career high with five assists and contributed eight points and four rebounds. Evelyn Old Coyote led the team with eight rebounds, doubling her previous season high of four.

The Eagles shot 42.6 percent from the field, 25 percent from three (6-24) and 60 percent from the line (6-10). Chadron State went 9-for-17 from the field (52.9 percent) and 3-for-7 from deep (42.9 percent) in the first quarter.

The Grizzlies improved their field goal percentage in every quarter, shooting just 31.2 percent in the first but upping that to 38.4 percent in the second, 39.1 percent in the third and 41.7 percent in the fourth quarter. Adams State also more than tripled CSC's free-throw attempts, making 21 of 31 foul shots. 

Adams State's Kiiyani Anitielu, who last season set the RMAC single-game scoring record with 52 points against Westminster, led the charge for the Grizzlies with a season-high 30 points, her highest scoring total since that record-breaking game. Sophomore Taejhuan Hill had a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double for ASU.

Chadron State started hot. The Eagles went to Petersen for layups in the paint twice plus a three from Audrey Quintana to take a 7-3 lead just three minutes into the game. Leading 16-15, the Eagles went on a 5-0 run in the final 90 seconds of the first quarter, with an Amya Winfrey layup and Ella Moser three stretching CSC's advantage to 21-15.

Petersen scored seven of CSC's 17 points in quarter number two while Dreanna Jackson added all five of her points for the game. The Eagles held a six-point lead – 32-26 – with 45 seconds remaining in the first half when Petersen converted a layup with a foul and hit the ensuing free throw. After Adams State went 1-for-2 from the line at the other end, Moser drained her third three-pointer of the half off an assist from Alex Ridenour to give CSC a double-digit lead at the break, 38-27.

Unfortunately, that would be the high mark on the night for the Eagles, as the Grizzlies came out with renewed defensive energy and forced Chadron State into 14 turnovers in the third period alone. Adams State converted those 14 third-quarter turnovers into 16 points, outscoring CSC 29-11 overall in the quarter and turning the 11-point deficit into a seven-point lead.

For the game, Chadron State had 24 turnovers while the Grizzlies had just 11. That helped Adams State overcome CSC's rebounding advantage, as the Eagles plucked 48 rebounds compared to ASU's 37.

Chadron State will have another chance to win on its home floor when the Eagles welcome New Mexico Highlands (6-8, 2-5 RMAC) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Chadron State—McKenzi Petersen 20, Ella Moser 13, Kenna Wagner 8, Audrey Quintana 7, Dreanna Jackson 5, Keziah Toran 4, Amya Winfrey 4, Evelyn Old Coyote 3. Totals: 26-61 FG (6-24 3PT) 6-10 FT. 64 points, 48 rebounds, 13 assists, 24 turnovers.

​Adams State—Kiiyani Anitielu 30, Taejhuan Hill 13, Ashiian Hunter 10, Elaina Watson 9, Mia Ervin 5, Jada Price 4, Jaden Ferris 2, Brya Brooklyn Arroyo-Gillcreese 1. Totals: 24-64 FG (5-16 3PT) 21-31 FT. 74 points, 37 rebounds, 12 assists, 11 turnovers.