Box Score GOLDEN, Colo. (January 22, 2016)– Trailing by as many as 10 point in the third quarter, the Colorado State University-Pueblo women's basketball team rallied to defeat Colorado School of Mines, 59-50. The Pack improved to 15-3 thanks in part to a 15-point fourth quarter from Tuileisu Anderson (So. Vancouver, Wash.).
CSU-Pueblo now owns a 10-2 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Pack's win snapped the Orediggers' 13 game winning streak and handed Mines its first conference defeat.
Anderson finished with a game-high 21 points, all of which came in the second half. She finished 11-of-14 from the free-throw line. Anderson also matched her career-high with seven rebounds.
Freshman, Molly Rohrer ( Greenwood Village, Colo.) ignited the Pack's attack in the first three quarters with 17 points. Rohrer also added four blocks and went 5-5 from the charity stripe. She leads the RMAC in blocks with 2.2 rejections per game.
After the Pack got on the board with a Rohrer two-pointer, Mines responded with a 13-0 run that lasted until the 3:07 mark of the first. CSU-Pueblo got a traditional three-point play from Jaszymn Johnson (Sr., Denver, Colo.), but trailed 13-5 after one. The Pack shot just 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from the field in the first.
Mines would extend the lead to 17-7 early in the second. The Pack went on a 6-0 run to cut it the Mines lead to four. After Mines reopened the lead to seven the Pack trimmed it back to 24-20 with 1:05 left in the second. The Orediggers scored the final three of the quarter to hold a 27-20 lead into halftime.
CSU-Pueblo limited the Orediggers to 23.8 percent (10-of-42) shooting in the first. However, 12 Pack turnovers and 13 offensive rebounds allowed Mines to hold a seven-point lead at the break.
The Orediggers extended their lead to 10 early in the third, but the Pack responded with an eight-point run that cut the Mines advantage to 33-31. Rohrer had four points during this run and a key block.
Following a Mines bucket, a five-point stretch gave the Pack their first lead since the 7:48 mark of the first quarter. CSU-Pueblo took the lead with 42 seconds left in the third and carried this 36-35 lead into the final quarter.
The Pack outscored the Orediggers 16-8 in the third, seven of those points came from Rohrer. CSU-Pueblo made 6-of-14 (42.9 percent) in the third, while holding Mines to 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) from the field.
Anderson took over the game in the fourth as her driving ability forced Mines into foul trouble. The Pack saw 13 consecutive points come courtesy of Anderson as the ThunderWolves built the lead to 51-44 with 2:14 left in the game. Anderson's scoring streak started a 10-0 run that helped the Pack build a 54-44 lead. They would ride this run to their 15th win of the season, a 59-50 victory.
Dee Arrieta (Sr., Pueblo West, Colo.) matched her career-high with nine rebounds. Arrieta also scored nine points, hitting four free-throws down the stretch.
The Pack clamped down defensively from the opening tip holding The Orediggers 24.7 percent from the field for the game. Mines became the fifth team the Pack have held under 30 percent shooting this season.
This defensive showcase extended to downtown as the Pack limited Mines to 5-of-28 (17.9 percent) from deep. The Orediggers made just one of their 14 attempts from beyond the arc in the second half.
CSU-Pueblo outscored Mines 39-23 in the second half. They outrebounded the Orediggers 55-46. The Pack also made 21-of their-26 free throws (80.8 percent).
The ThunderWolves will continue their four-game road trip as they visit Colorado Christian Saturday Jan. 23. CSU-Pueblo's battle with Colorado CCU will tip at 5 p.m. The Pack will return home Feb. 5-6.
Denver Nuggets SuperMascot Rocky will be at the Pack's game Feb. 6 to entertain children. All fans 14 & under will receive free admission to this game.
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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.
