PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Jan. 4, 2014) - CSU-Pueblo remained undefeated in conference play, rallying late to hold off UC-Colorado Springs 65-64.
Untimely fouls defined the Pack's night, nearly threatening the ThunderWolves' chance to win, but in the end, CSU-Pueblo overcame and pulled out the victory despite a bad relationship with the officials.
The main target of whistles was Jenay Locke (Sr., Gilbert, Ariz.). The Pack's point guard was solid in her time on the floor Saturday night, but she played too aggressive and got into foul trouble early, racking up three fouls in the first half. Despite not scoring in the first half, Locke was the main contributor to the Pack's points, recording six assists. The Pack didn't score a single first half point when she wasn't on the floor, carrying a slim 28-26 lead into halftime.
Missing from the game to start the first half, the ThunderWolves lost the lead and struggled to get it back. Locke was sent to the bench for good after a controversial technical foul while she was sitting on the bench fouled her out of the game as CSU-Pueblo held a tenuous 39-38 lead, and from there, UCCS took over.
The Mountain Lions embarked on a 25-13 run over an eight minute span, holding a 59-53 lead with just 4:32 remaining in the game.
But the ThunderWolves would not go so softly into the night, as Ashley Piper (So., Cedar Rapids, Iowa), taking over the one-guard position from Locke, hit two clutch buckets to bring the ThunderWolves within two, 59-57.
Taylor Fox (Sr., Santa Cruz, Calif.) followed it up with a clutch three-pointer with two minutes remaining, and the lead was handed over to the Pack on a layup by Alex Evans (Sr., Louisville, Colo.), and suddenly CSU-Pueblo was in control, 61-60, with 1:38 left.
Fox then showed off her defensive chops, making a key rebound on a UCCS miss, then taking down a key board after an Evans free throw attempt with 19 seconds left, all but icing the game as the ThunderWolves held a 63-61 lead.
Only a desperation three at the buzzer by UCCS made the score look closer the two-possession affair that it was.
The victory is the Pack's seventh straight as it has opened RMAC play 7-0 for just the second time in school history and first time in 24 years. Only the 1979-80 team, which won an RMAC title by going 8-0 in its abbreviated conference schedule, was better.
The Pack will try to equal the exploits of that team in a very hostile environment - at nationally-ranked Colorado Mesa - which is 12-0 this season and 8-0 in RMAC play. Friday night's matchup will be for supremacy of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
