PUEBLO, Colo. (February 22, 2019) – For the 17th consecutive season, Colorado State University-Pueblo Women's Basketball is post-season bound. The Pack clinched a spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament with a 74-70 win over Chadron State College Saturday at Massari Arena.
The ThunderWolves improved to 13-7 in RMAC play. They are 15-11 overall. CSU-Pueblo sits in a three-way tie for third place in the RMAC standings.
JaNaiya Davis (Fr., Hewitt, Texas) scored a career-high 23 points. Davis made of 8-of-18 from the field. She narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds. She added three steals and a block.
Lauren Heyn (Sr., Penryn, Calif.) earned her first double-double of the season. Heyn hauled in 10 rebounds. She scored 11 points before fouling out. Heyn swatted three Eagles shots. Those three blocks give Heyn 105 blocks in her career, moving her into fifth all-time at CSU-Pueblo.
Jennah Knafelc (Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) netted 19 points. Knafelc made 8-of-9 at the free throw line. The senior shined defensively with two blocks and five steals. Her five steals were a career-high.
Khiya Adams (Jr., Falcon, Colo.) collected 16 points on 7-of-17 shooting. Adams also came away with five rebounds, two steals, and a block.
In her first career start,
Nicole Smith (Jr., Long Beach, Calif.) hauled in seven rebounds. Smith set a career-high with three steals.
The Pack finished the first quarter on a 12-3 run. This run boosted the Pack to a 21-14 lead.
Early in the second quarter, the Pack built their lead to 11 points. Chadron State scored the last five points of the first half to cut the Pack's lead to 33-29.
Midway through the third quarter, the Eagles tied the game at 39. They went ahead 41-39. The Pack scored the next four points and jumped in front 48-47 after three.
CSU-Pueblo started the final frame on a 7-2 run that put them up six. The Eagles fought back within one twice, but never reclaimed the lead as the ThunderWolves pulled away with a 74-70 win.
Knafelc scored 14 of her 19 points in the second half. The Pack finished with nine blocks, one-shy of their season-high.
The Pack will face Metro State University Denver Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Masssari Arena. Both the ThunderWolves and Roadrunners share third place in the RMAC standings.
Saturday's game will be Military Appreciation Night. All active-duty military personnel and veterans will receive free admission for themselves and up to four guests with a military ID.
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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
