Box Score GUNNISON, Colo. (December 5, 2015) – A strong start and a double-double from Mariana Lambert (Sr., Jundlai, Brazil) carried the Colorado State University-Pueblo women's basketball team to a 68-48 victory over Western State College Saturday.
With this win in their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener, the Pack (6-1) has now emerged victorious in six consecutive games. CSU-Pueblo has won four of their last five games by 19 points or more.
The Pack dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Mountaineers (2-1) 56-38. Lambert and Lauren Heyn (Loomis, Calif.) each grabbed 10 boards in the win.
Lambert also contributed a season-best 14 points for her first career double-double. The Brazilian knocked down four of her seven shots from the field (57.1 percent). Lambert sank five of her seven shots from the free throw line.
Reigning RMAC Defensive Player of the Week, Tuileisu Anderson (So., Vancouver, Washington), swiped another four steals. Anderson also finished with 13 points and drained all four of her attempts from the charity stripe.
The Pack jumped on the Mountaineers in the first quarter. Ashley Piper (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa) scored seven of her nine points in the opening frame as CSU-Pueblo led 24-11 after one.
Lambert added seven points in the first. The Pack outrebounded the Mountaineers 17-6 in the opening quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Western closed the Pack lead to nine, However, the Mountaineers would never get any closer. Anderson and Lambert each scored five points in the second as the Pack held a 40-28 lead at halftime.
The third quarter belonged to Heyn as she added all eight of her points following halftime. Heyn also snagged four rebounds in the third. She finished with six of the Pack's 21 offensive rebounds. Heyn's third quarter barrage paced the Pack to a 53-36 lead entering the final 10 minutes.
In the fourth quarter, the Pack continued their team attack. Six ThunderWolves finished with eight or more points as the Pack used their unselfish ways to outscore Western State 15-12 in the final quarter of play and close out a 68-48 win.
Molly Rohrer (Fr., Greenwood Village, Colo.) led the Pack with three blocks. Rohrer entered the weekend as the RMAC's leader in total blocks with 11 rejections.
Dee Arrieta (Sr., Pueblo West, Colo.) contributed in all facets of the game. Arrieta delivered eight points, six rebounds and three steals.
Jim Turgeon's team made 80 percent (20-for-25) of its shots from the free throw line. CSU-Pueblo's defensive efforts limited Western State to just 28.6 percent shooting from the field.
The Pack will continue their RMAC road swing Dec.10-11, when they visit Western New Mexico University and New Mexico Highlands University. CSU-Pueblo women's basketball returns to Massari Arena Dec. 18-19 when they host Fort Lewis College and Adams State University.
Pack Athletics will be hosting a toy drive during these home games. Fans who bring a toy to Massari Arena Dec.18-19 will receive free admission to both men's and women's basketball games that day.
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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.
