COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 3, 2015) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo women's basketball team rallied from a 15-point deficit late in the second half to force overtime, but No. 25-ranked University of Colorado Colorado Springs outlasted the ThunderWolves in the extra period, 69-66, Saturday at Gallogly Events Center.
The ThunderWolves drop their second game in a row to fall to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contests. UCCS improves to 11-2 overall on the year and remains in first place in the RMAC with a 6-1 league mark.
The Mountain Lions outshot CSU-Pueblo, posting a 42.9 (24-of-56) field-goal percentage compared to a 36.8 (25-of-68) field-goal mark for the Pack. UCCS owned the advantage from the free-throw line making 13-of-16 attempts, while CSU-Pueblo converted on just 9-of-16 opportunities.
Despite being outshot in the contest, the ThunderWolves' defense kept the game close by forcing 19 UCCS turnovers. CSU-Pueblo turned those miscues into a 21-7 advantage in points-off-turnovers.
Four players scored in double figures for the Pack with Ashley Piper (Jr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa) leading the way with a game-high 18 points. Katie Nehf (Sr., Broomfield, Colo.) recorded a double-double, tallying 12 points and 12 rebounds as well as three steals. Dee Arrieta (Jr., Pueblo West, Colo.) notched 14 points, while Ana Gurau (Jr., Longmont, Colo.) chipped in with 10 points.
Abby Kirchoff led a quartet of Mountain Lions in double figures, pouring in 16 points, while adding a game-high four steals. Brittany Hernandez registered 13 points and a game-high four assists.
UCCS jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on a three-point play by Kirchoff and a layup by Tori Fisher. The ThunderWolves bounced back, ripping off an 11-4 run to move ahead, 11-9, with 4:56 elapsed in the opening period. Nehf scored seven points during the spurt, including a three-point play to put CSU-Pueblo in the lead.
A 14-7 scoring run by the Mountain Lions moved the home team back in front, at 23-18, with 7:21 remaining until halftime.
The ThunderWolves knotted the score at 23-23 on a Piper jumper and a right-wing 3-pointer by Arrieta. Arrieta's deep three forced a UCCS timeout with 4:40 showing on the game clock.
The Mountain Lions outscored CSU-Pueblo 9-5 over the remaining 4:40 of the opening period to take a 32-28 advantage into the locker room.
The Pack came out of the break strong, tallying 10 of the first 12 points of the second half. Nehf capped the 10-2 run with a jump shot, giving CSU-Pueblo a 38-34 advantage with 2:50 expired in the stanza.
The ThunderWolves' offense went cold over the next 10:19 as the Mountain Lions reeled off a 19-0 scoring run to take a 53-38 advantage with 6:51 left in regulation.
Piper halted the UCCS scoring run with a jumper at the 6:30 mark of the second half. From that point on the ThunderWolves offense caught fire as a layup by Gurau and 3-pointers by Arrieta and Piper pulled CSU-Pueblo to within five, at 55-50, with 4:17 remaining in the game.
A three-point play by Nehf at the 2:26 mark trimmed the Pack deficit to just two, at 56-54. On the following possession, Gabby Ramirez buried a 3-pointer for the Mountain Lions to push the lead back to five, at 59-54, with 2:12 remaining in regulation.
CSU-Pueblo scored the final five points of the game, all of which came from Piper, including the game-tying driving layup with 23 ticks left on the game clock. Kirchoff's game-winning layup attempt was off the mark as the game remained tied at 59-59 at the end of 40 minutes of play.
The ThunderWolves fell behind early in the overtime period, 62-59, but a 3-pointer and layup by Gurau put the visitors in the lead, 64-62, with 2:21 elapsed in the stanza.
After a 3-pointer by Kirchoff gave the Mountain Lions a one-point advantage, at 65-64, Nehf banged home a jump shot to regain the lead for the Pack, at 66-65, with 47 seconds left in overtime.
On the following possession, Jessika Kienitz knocked in her only shot of the game, nailing a 3-pointer to give UCCS a lead it would not relinquish.
Trailing 69-66, the ThunderWolves had one last chance to tie the game, but Arrieta's long 3-point attempt bounded off the rim and the Mountain Lions held on for the win.
The ThunderWolves return home Friday Jan. 9 versus Colorado Mesa at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Jan. 10 matchup with Western State also at 5:30 p.m.
- 30 -
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
