PUEBLO, Colo. (December 14, 2014) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo women's basketball team rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat the visiting Metro State University of Denver Roadrunners, 58-57, Sunday inside Massari Arena.
With the win, the ThunderWolves remain unbeaten in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contests at 4-0, while their overall record improves to 6-2. CSU-Pueblo also remains unbeaten at home this season, upping their mark at Massari Arena to 6-0. MSU Denver falls to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in RMAC tilts.
The Pack's biggest advantage in the game came at the free-throw line where they made 17-of-22 attempts, including 12-of-16 chances in the second half. Comparatively, the Roadrunners made just 3-of-7 attempts from the charity stripe during the contest.
CSU-Pueblo finished the game with a 32.7 (18-of-55) field-goal percentage, but did shoot 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) in the second half. MSU Denver posted a team field-goal mark of 44.6 (25-of-56) percent for the contest.
The Roadrunners owned the advantage in rebounds (41-33) and assists (13-11), while the ThunderWolves held the edge in blocks (3-1) and steals (10-6).
Angie Moore (So., Katy, Texas) scored a game-high 19 points off of the bench for the Pack. Ashley Piper (Jr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa) added 15 points and four steals, while Katie Nehf (Sr., Broomfield, Colo) tallied eight points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks.
For MSU Denver, Deni Jacobs recorded 12 points and nine rebounds, while Brittany Curl notched 12 points and eight rebounds. Kaysha Fox finished the game with six assists, matching Nehf for the game-high.
Trailing 8-5 early in the contest, CSU-Pueblo notched three-point baskets by Dee Arrieta (Jr., Pueblo West, Colo.) and Ana Gurau (Jr., Longmont, Colo.) on back-to-back possessions to move ahead 11-8 with 13:44 showing on the game clock.
The Roadrunners controlled the remainder of the opening stanza, building an 11-point lead (25-14) with 7:10 remaining until halftime. The ThunderWolves were able to cut the deficit to eight points on a pair of free throws by Tuileisu Anderson (Fr., Vancouver, Wash.) in the final minute of the period, sending the game to the intermission with the score 31-23 in favor of the visitors.
MSU Denver continued to maintain its lead in the second half, extending it back to as many as 11 points (44-33) with 8:03 elapsed in the period.
CSU-Pueblo began to chip away at the deficit, using strong inside play from Nehf and Moore and solid free-throw shooting. A tough one-handed jump shot in the lane from Piper pulled the Pack to within three, at 52-49, with 4:50 remaining in the game.
After a three pointer by Jenae Paine gave the Roadrunners a 55-49 lead, the ThunderWolves outscored the visitors 9-2 over the final 2:22. Piper scored seven of the team's nine points down the stretch, including the go-ahead free throws with 30 seconds left in the game.
A last-second shot attempt by MSU Denver was unsuccessful as the Pack escaped with the 58-57 victory.
The ThunderWolves take to the road next weekend for their final game before the Christmas and New Year's break. CSU-Pueblo travels to Western New Mexico, Friday, and New Mexico Highlands, Saturday.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
