Pack falls in playoffs for first time since 2007.

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Mar. 1, 2010) - The third time was not the charm for the ThunderWolves Tuesday night, as CSU-Pueblo lost an RMAC playoff game for the first time since 2007, falling to Colorado Christian 95-76 in the RMAC Quarterfinals.

With the loss, their third of the season to the Cougars, CSU-Pueblo ends its season with a 16-11 record.

CSU-Pueblo started relatively even with the Cougars, going back and forth through the first seven minutes of the game, but couldn't open up a lead higher than two.

CSU-Pueblo led 16-14 when Colorado Christian went on a 17-2 run that sank the Pack for good.  CSU-Pueblo would never recover, only getting within 10 points on one occasion.

The difference in the game was certainly defensive, as CSU-Pueblo's defense broke down in giving up nearly 100 points.  Colorado Christian, meanwhile, outboarded the ThunderWolves by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, 48 to 27.  In fact, CCU's offensive rebound total of 17 was nearly the same amount as the ThunderWolves' defensive rebound total. 

The loss halted the Pack's run for a fourth straight RMAC Shootout title, and was its first loss in a quarterfinal game since Kip Drown became head coach in 2005. 

It also marked the final games for seniors Amanda Bartlett (Sr., Kiowa, Colo.) and Rachel Espinoza (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.), who went for five points and 16 points, respectively, in their final games.  The duo had epic results in their careers, as they were one of just a handful of athletes to play on three RMAC Shootout Championship squads.