PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's basketball will look to add to its win streak here this weekend as the ThunderWolves host South Dakota School of Mines and Black Hills State for back-to-back Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contests at Massari Arena.
CSU Pueblo opens the weekend with a 5:30 p.m. contest on Friday, Jan. 20 against South Dakota School of Mines and then concludes its three-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. against Black Hills State.
The Pack comes into the weekend sporting a 9-8 overall record and are in sixth place in the RMAC with a 6-5 record after snapping a season-high four game losing skid with a 61-56 win last Saturday against Western Colorado.
In last Saturday's game against Western Colorado, the Pack made 10 three-pointers and rallied from a three-point deficit with 2:42 left in game as they outscored the Mountaineers, 9-1, over the final two minutes of the game to seal its first win of the 2023 calendar year. In the win, sophomore guard
Tomia Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Florida Gulf Coast) and graduate student guard/forward
Charisse Fairley (Colorado Springs, Colo./Fresno State) each scored 14 points, while graduate student guard
JaNaiya Davis (Hewitt, Texas/Midway) added 12 points, five rebounds and four steals.
This weekend's two home games will mark the 10th and 11th home games this season for CSU Pueblo as the Pack are 7-2 at home this season, including a 4-1 mark at home in RMAC games. CSU Pueblo has won five of its last six home games with the lone loss being a 64-56 loss on New Year's Eve against Westminster.
ABOUT CSU PUEBLO
CSU Pueblo has just one player averaging in double figures on the season as Fairley leads the way in scoring and is second in rebounding as she is averaging 12.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 42 percent from the field, 37 percent from the 3-point line and 77 percent from the free throw line. Fairley has scored in double figures in 13 games and has posted two double-doubles on the year. She is coming off a 14 point effort last time out against Western Colorado.
Three other ThunderWolves' are averaging over seven points per game on the season – sophomore guard
Landri Hudson (Aurora, Colo./Wyoming), Davis and sophomore guard
Daeja Johnson (Queen Creek, Ariz./Casteele).
Hudson is averaging 9.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game and is shooting 42 percent from the field, 39 percent from the 3-point line and 71 percent from the free throw line. She has tallied double figures in six games, while Davis is averaging 8.2 points, a team-best 6.1 rebounds and a team-best 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game and is shooting 38 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line. Davis is the school's all-time leader in steals and is approaching the school record for both games played and assists and is just 30 points shy of becoming just the fifth player in school history to score 1,400 career points. Johnson is averaging 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game and is shooting 36 percent from the field and has reached double figures in four games.
As a team, CSU Pueblo continues to be one of the top three-point field goal defensive teams in the league as they are second in opponents three-point field goal percentage as their foes are shooting 28.3 percent from long distance. In addition, the Pack is second in free throw shooting as they are shooting 71.6 percent from the line and is third in 3-point field goal percentage at 33.9 percent. CSU Pueblo also leads the RMAC and is eighth nationally in Division II in three-pointers made per game as they are averaging 9.6 treys per game.
On offense, the Pack is averaging 63.1 points per game, but has been held under 60 points in four of its last five games. The Pack is also shooting 38 percent from the field, while defensively, the Pack is allowing 64.9 points per game and their foes are shooting 40 percent from the field and are getting outrebounded by 10.1 boards per game. In RMAC play, CSU Pueblo is averaging 62.5 points per game and is allowing 65.5 points per game.
CSU Pueblo is coached by
Tommie Johnson, who is in his fourth season as the Pack's women's basketball coach. In his three-plus season directing the Pack women's program, Johnson, who spent 10 seasons as an assistant men's basketball coach from 2008-16, has compiled a 43-49 overall record and is 33-38 in RMAC games.
ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES
South Dakota Mines, who is playing the Pack for the second time this season, comes into this weekend's action sporting a 3-14 overall record and is 3-8 in the league standings. The Hardrockers, though, have won two of its last three games with the lone loss being a 68-61 setback last Saturday at home to Colorado Mesa. Prior to the loss to Mesa, South Dakota Mines had picked up wins at Western Colorado (54-52) and at home against Westminster (70-69). The other win for the Hardrockers this season is an 80-72 home win over UCCS.
The Hardrockers have struggled away from home this season they are sporting a 1-6 record on the road and is 1-4 away from home in league play.
South Dakota Mines are one of the top teams at defending the 3-point line in the league as they are holding their opponents to 28.9 shooting from long distance, which is fourth-best in the RMAC. In addition, South Dakota Mines is fifth in the league in offensive rebounds are they are averaging 12.8 offensive boards per game.
On offense, South Dakota Mines is averaging 60.5 points per game and is shooting 36 percent from the field, 30 percent from the 3-point line and 67 percent at the free throw line. Defensively, the Hardrockers are allowing 71.4 points per game and their opponents are shooting 43 percent from the field and 69 percent at the free throw line and are outrebounding its foes by less than a board per game and have a -3.8-turnover margin.
Leading the way offensively for the Hardrockers is sophomore guard Piper Bauer, who is averaging 13.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 33 percent from the field, 32 percent from the 3-point line and 78 percent from the free throw line. Bauer has scored in double figures in 11 games, including four games of scoring 20 or more points.
Sophomore guard Madelyn Heiser is averaging 8.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and is shooting 35 percent from the field and 30 percent from the 3-point line and leads the team in both assists (47) and steals (21).
South Dakota Mines is coached by Jeri Jacobson Owsley, who is in her fourth season at the helm of the Hardrockers program. She has posted a 37-54 overall record and has led the team to two RMAC Tournament appearances.
Friday's game will mark the second meeting this season between the two schools as CSU Pueblo holds an 8-4 lead in the series. The Pack has won two straight games in the series, including picking up a 77-75 double overtime win earlier this season in Rapid City, S.D. The Pack hold a 5-2 record in the series at Massari Arena and leads 3-2 at South Dakota Mines.
ABOUT BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY
Black Hills State, who plays at New Mexico Highlands on Friday before traveling up I-25 to play in Pueblo, comes into this weekend's play sporting a 12-3 overall record and are third in the RMAC standings with a 7-2 record. The Yellow Jackets have reeled off three straight wins and four of its last five overall game with the lone loss being an 82-52 loss at Adams State on Dec. 30. The current win streak started with a 55-52 win at Western Colorado, before picking up a back-to-back wins last weekend at home to Colorado Mesa (59-45) and Westminster (58-54).
After opening the season by splitting its first two games, BHSU went on a tear as they won seven straight games, including opening RMAC play by winning its first four games. The Jackets have been strong at home this season as they are 8-1 at home and are just 4-2 away from home.
The Jackets are one of the top defensive teams in the league as they lead the RMAC in scoring defense as they allow 57.3 points per game and have held their last three foes under 55 points. In addition to leading the league in scoring defense, Black Hills State is also strong at shooting the 3-pointer and defending the 3-point shot as the Jackets lead the RMAC in 3-point field goal shooting at 35.9 percent and are also first in the league in 3-point field goal defense (27.9 percent). The Jackets are fifth in the league in shooting the ball as they are making 40 percent of its shots and are second in the league in made 3-pointers per game as they average 7.5 made treys per game.
Leading the way offensively for Black Hills State is senior guard Danica Kocer, who is averaging 13.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game and leads the team in steals with 23 and is shooting 43 percent from the field, 39 percent from the 3-point line and 85 percent at the free throw line. Kocer has scored in double figures in nine games, including a high game of 23 points against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
In addition to Kocer, senior guard Niki Van Wyk is averaging 10.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 38 percent from the field, 34 percent from the 3-point line and has made 27 treys in 15 games.
Black Hills State is coached by Mark Nore, who is in his 21st season at his alma mater. In his 21 seasons with the Jackets, Nore has posted a 362-225 overall record and is 139-87 in RMAC games. He has led the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances since 2017-18.
Saturday's game will mark the 24th meeting all-time in the series with CSU Pueblo holding a 17-6 edge advantage in the series. The Pack have won two straight games in the series, including a 59-52 win last season in Pueblo in the first round of the RMAC Tournament. CSU Pueblo holds a 10-5 lead at home and a 7-1 record in Spearfish, S.D.
