PUEBLO, Colo. (December 18, 2015) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo women's basketball team toppled Fort Lewis College 68-54 Saturday at Massari Arena in its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference home opener.  

With the win, the Pack (9-1, 4-0 RMAC) have claimed victory nine consecutive games, their longest winning streak since 1975-75.  Fort Lewis fell to 6-3 (2-2 RMAC).

After earning RMAC Offensive Player of the Week Honors Monday, Tuileisu Anderson (So., Vancouver, Wash.) tallied 21 points. She knocked down four 3-pointers on six attempts. Anderson entered the weekend fifth in the RMAC scoring race with 14.6 ppg.

Ashley Piper (Sr., Cedar rapids, Iowa) made an impact with a season-best 16 points. She finished with eight rebounds and two steals. Piper also swatted a Skyhawk shot and sank two 3-pointers of her own. The senior drilled five of her nine attempts from the field.

Lauren Heyn  (Fr., Loomis, Calif.) hustled her way to 16 points, shooting 7-for-11 from the field. The freshman also grabbed six rebounds and added a rejection of her own.

The two teams traded runs early in the first quarter. A pair of threes allowed the Skyhawks to jump in front by six. Anderson (So., Vancover, Wash.) sparked the Pack with two clutch shots from beyond the arc. Anderson nailed a huge 3-pointer with less than two ticks on the clock to bring the Pack back within two, 15-13,  at the end of one.

Down six in the second, the Pack roared back with a nine-point run to take a 25-22 lead. Fort Lewis responded four points which included knocking down a buzzer beater of its own to take a 26-25 lead at halftime.

Heyn scored 10 points in the first half, draining 4-of -6 from the field. The freshman also tickled the twine with her first collegiate 3-pointer in the opening 20 minutes.

CSU-Pueblo rushed out of the break, as Anderson potted another duo of 3-pointers to help the Pack surge to a 43-40 lead after three.  The sophomore swished four of her six shots from downtown in the win and delivered another steal. She began the weekend fifth in the nation in total steals with 31 robberies.

Piper contributed in a big way in the third a she scored seven points. The senior forced a pair of turnovers in the third as well.

In the fourth quarter, the Pack pulled away. Piper put up another eight points in the final frame. The ThunderWolves outscored the Skyhawks 25-14 in the fourth quarter as they closed out a 68-54 win.

Piper splashed two of her three pointers and made four of her five attempts from the line.  She also had two steals

The Pack will continue their first RMAC homestand Saturday when they host Adams State University at 5:30 p.m. at Massari Arena.

Pack Athletics' Toy Drive will continue Saturday. Fans who bring a toy to Massari Arena Dec.19 will receive free admission to both men's and women's basketball games that day. These toys will be donated to Pueblo area foster children.

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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.