CSU-Pueblo 58, Western State 45

CSU-Pueblo used a 12-0 second half run to put away a scrappy Western State team Friday, claiming a 58-45 win over the Mountaineers.

The ThunderWolves saw a Mountaineer team that played one of its best halves of the season in the first half, sinking its first eight field goal attempts.  Despite that, CSU-Pueblo, shooting just 35 percent at the halfway mark, still held a 28-26 lead at the break.

But CSU-Pueblo finally opened up in the second half.  Holding a 36-32 lead, the Pack scored 12 straight points, led by a pair of threes by Kami Dahlberg (Sr., Peyton, Colo.).  Dahlberg's treys broke a 1-for-24 start from beyond the arc by the ThunderWolves, and were two of just four three-pointers the ThunderWolves sank all night long.

Combined with the first career double-double by Katrina Selsor (Fr., Glenwood Springs, Colo.), who went for 11 points and 12 boards in the win, and a typical day for point guard Rachel Espinoza (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.), who buried a game-high 16 points and turned in five assists and four steals, CSU-Pueblo put Western State away and held on for the win.  The Pack also got strong play from Caitlyn Jewell (Sr., Pagosa Springs, Colo.), who was one board away from a double-double, going for 12 points and nine rebounds in a strong game at the post.

CSU-Pueblo improves to 11-5 overall and 7-1 in conference play, one of the best conference starts for the team in school history.  The Pack will return to their home floor of Massari Arena Saturday when it hosts Mesa State.