RMAC Shootout Semifinal: CSU-Pueblo 66, Colorado
Christian 63
PUEBLO, Colo. - In the RMAC Shootout, all CSU-Pueblo does is
win.
Colorado Christian found that out firsthand Friday night.
Despite playing arguably a better game than the ThunderWolves,
the Cougars were no match for CSU-Pueblo's Shootout experience as a
Pack surge in the final minutes willed the ThunderWolves to 66-63
win.
The victory sends CSU-Pueblo to the RMAC title game against a
familiar foe, fourth-ranked Fort Lewis, which won their semifinal
match against Metro State Friday, as well.
CSU-Pueblo, playing without its starting point guard in
Rachel Espinoza (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.), who was lost
for the season with a knee injury in the RMAC quarterfinal game
Tuesday, took some time to find its rhythm. Colorado
Christian jumped out a 16-8 lead at one point, and was dominant in
the second half, forcing 10 turnovers and blocking three
ThunderWolf shots, headlined by a 12-point first frame by
post Juanise Cornell.
Despite all that, CSU-Pueblo was only trailing 29-28 at the
break after admittedly not playing its best basketball.
The second-half turned into a dogfight as each team scratched
and clawed for momentum. The game would come down to whichever
player made a big play down the stretch, and that play came from
Katrina Selsor (Fr., Glenwood Springs,
Colo.).
With the game tied at 63 with 2:10 remaining, Selsor went up for
a layup, making the bucket and drawing the foul. She
completed the back-end of the three-point play to give CSU-Pueblo a
66-63 lead going into the final two minutes of the game.
Selsor again stepped up inside of one minute, stopping the
Cougars on their final possession with a big shot block of Cornell
at the 22-second mark.
All told, Selsor, the newly-crowned RMAC West Division Freshman
of the Year, put the ThunderWolves on her back and played nothing
like a freshman, netting 19 points along with a career-high 15
rebounds.
Also playing strong for the ThunderWolves was Caitlyn
Jewell (Sr., Pagosa Springs, Colo.). Playing
against Christian's two-headed monster at the post in Cornell and
Abby Rosenthal, Jewell overcome a poor start to finish with 15
points and seven boards, undoing her six turnovers with a
career-high six steals.
The Pack's latest playoff showdown with Fort Lewis, for the
first time in an RMAC Championship game, will tip off at 7:30 p.m.
at the Colorado State Fair Events Center in Pueblo.
