LAKEWOOD, Colo. (January 16, 2015) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo women's basketball team opened a four-game road trip Friday with a 53-49 setback to Colorado Christian University at the CCU Event Center.
The ThunderWolves fourth loss in their last five games drops their overall record to 8-6 on the season and lowers their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference ledger to 6-4. The Cougars improve their overall mark to 6-10 and pull even with the Pack in the RMAC standings at 6-4.
Colorado Christian owned the shooting edge over CSU-Pueblo, posting a 44.2 percent (23-of-52) mark from the field, while the ThunderWolves notched a 37.3 field-goal percentage (19-of-51). The Pack did out shoot the Cougars from beyond the three-point line, knocking down nine treys compared to just two for the home team. In the rebounding category, Colorado Christian had the advantage, 39-25, while also holding a big edge in assists, 17-3.
Dee Arrieta (Jr., Pueblo West, Colo.) led the way for CSU-Pueblo offensively, matching her career high with 16 points. The junior also tied her career high with five 3-pointers. Katie Nehf (Sr., Broomfield, Colo.) had a near double-double after tallying 12 points and hauling in nine rebounds, while also adding a pair of blocks.
The Cougars were led by Kate Louthan's 16 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Louthan and Christina Whitelaw tied for the team-lead in rebounds with eight apiece. Whitelaw also added game highs in both assists (4) and steals (3).
Colorado Christian led for the entirety of the first half, opening up a lead of as many as 14 points, at 27-13, with 6:27 remaining until halftime.
The ThunderWolves closed the first stanza strong, finishing it on a 16-6 scoring run. Arrieta capped the opening period with her fourth 3-pointer of the half to pull CSU-Pueblo within four, at 33-29, at the intermission.
The Pack carried their momentum from the closing minutes of the first half into the second period. Nehf put the visitors in front, at 34-33, on a layup with 1:39 elapsed in the second half.
A layup by Ana Gurau (Jr., Longmont, Colo.) at the 7:52 mark gave the ThunderWolves their largest lead of the game, 45-40.
CSU-Pueblo was unable to hold on to the lead as the Cougars closed the contest on a 13-4 spurt to pull out the 53-49 victory.
The ThunderWolves return to the hardwood Saturday at 5 p.m. on the road versus Colorado Mines.
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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.
