CSU-Pueblo 81, Mesa State 60
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - CSU-Pueblo stepped up in resounding
fashion Friday night, downing Mesa State 81-60 and moving very
close to hosting a home playoff game to open the RMAC Shootout.
The Pack improves to 17-9 with the win, a half-game behind
second-place Adams State in the RMAC West Division. If
CSU-Pueblo can snag a win Saturday night at Western State, the
ThunderWolves will likely host a home playoff game with the
Grizzlies. The only way Adams State will win the right to
host, barring a CSU-Pueblo loss to Western State, is if Colorado
Christian, Colorado Mines and New Mexico Highlands all win their
Saturday night regular season finales.
Ignoring factors they cannot control, CSU-Pueblo took care of
its own business Friday, playing one of its more dominant games of
the season against the Mavericks. The Pack was untouchable in
the first half, never trailing aside from giving up a game-opening
three to Mesa State. CSU-Pueblo responded by opening up a
14-3 lead, stretching their advantage to 22 by the end of the first
half, 43-21, practically securing the win by halftime.
The Pack benefitted from 10 first-half points by Rachel
Espinoza (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) and a near double-double in
the first half alone by Caitlyn Jewell (Sr., Pagosa
Springs, Colo.), who busted out for seven points and eight
boards in the first frame. Jewell finished the contest with
one of her best career stat lines, scoring 16 and going for 12
rebounds, securing the double-double while shooting 6-for-10 from
the floor.
Also telling the story for the Pack was its impressive day
dishing the ball. CSU-Pueblo logged 24 assists, one of the
highest single-game team marks in program history. The Pack's
point-guard combo of Espinoza and Kendall Babler (So.,
Rifle, Colo.) was unstoppable, combining for 15 assists
between them, going for seven and eight assists,
respectively. Defensively, the Pack was solid, out-boarding
the Mavericks 41-31.
CSU-Pueblo's regular season finale comes Saturday in
Gunnison at Western State against a Mountaineer squad that
clinched the RMAC West Division's final playoff spot Friday.
