PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's basketball team continues its 2023-24 season this weekend as the ThunderWolves travel to Lakewood, Colo., to play games as part of the South Central Region Crossover hosted by Colorado Christian University at the CCU Event Center.
CSU Pueblo opens the two-day event by facing eighth-ranked UT Tyler in a 1 p.m. game on Nov. 10, before meeting Lubbock Christian in a 1 p.m. game on Nov. 11.
The Pack comes into this weekend's action sporting an 0-2 record after opening the 2023-24 season with two games at Lubbock Christian as part of the D2CCA Women's Basketball Tip-Off Classic. The Pack opened with a 66-53 setback to 12th-ranked Azusa Pacific and then fell 108-70 to No. 17 Union University. It is the second straight season that the Pack has started the season 0-2.
ABOUT THE PACK
Leading the way offensively for the ThunderWolves through the first two games of the season is redshirt junior forward
Alisha Little (Aurora, Colo./University of Northern Colorado), who is averaging 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and tallied a season-high 20 points in the loss to Union, while freshman forward
Leilani Love (Albuquerque, N.M./Albuquerque) is averaging 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and scored 13 points in 14 minutes off the bench against Union.
Two other Pack players are averaging over seven points per game as junior guard
Landri Hudson (Aurora, Colo./University of Wyoming) is averaging 8.0 points per game, while junior guard
Tomia Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Florida Gulf Coast) is averaging 7.5 points and 3.5 assists per game and is shooting 50 percent from the 3-point line.
As a team, the Pack enters the weekend averaging 61.5 points per game and is allowing 87.0 points per game and is shooting 35 percent from the field, 29 percent from the 3-point line and 78 percent from the free throw line. The Pack are averaging 39.5 boards per game but are averaging 31.0 turnovers per game and has a -13.5-turnover margin.
ABOUT UT TYLER
UT Tyler, who is ranked eighth in the Preseason WBCA Division II Coaches' Poll and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight after capturing the South Central Regional title last season, enters the weekend sporting a 2-1 overall record after opening its 2023-24 season last weekend at the Canadian Tip-Off Classic hosted by Simon Fraser. At the event, the Patriots opened the season with a 64-50 win over Simon Fraser, before picking up a 75-43 win over Alaska Fairbanks and concluding the event with a 64-61 loss to Central Washington.
Leading the way offensively for UT Tyler is junior guard Tina Machalova, who is averaging 17.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game and is shooting 55 percent from the field, 43 percent from the 3-point line and 93 percent at the free throw line.
In addition to Machalova, junior forward Ella Bradley is averaging 9.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game and is shooting 50 percent from both the field and 3-point line, while sophomore forward/center Gabby Elliott is averaging 9.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and is shooting 46 percent from the field and 88 percent from the free throw line.
As a team, UT Tyler is averaging 67 points per game and is shooting 42 percent from the field, 29 percent from the 3-point line and 77 percent at the free throw line and is averaging 9.0 steals and 3.0 blocked shots per game. Defensively, UT Tyler is allowing 52.3 points per game and are limiting teams to 32 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent shooting from the 3-point line and are getting outrebounded by 2.4 boards per game.
In the Preseason Lone Star Conference Coaches' Poll, UT Tyler was tabbed to finish third as they earned 627 points and nine first place votes. Sophomore guard Meagan Mendazona was named to the LSC Preseason Player of the Watch List after being named the South Central Regional Tourament MVP a season ago.
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN
Lubbock Christian, who advanced to the South Central Regional final the past two seasons, comes into this weekend's action sporting a 1-1 record after splitting its first two games of the season at last weekend's D2CCA Tip-Off Classic hosted by the Lady Chaparrals. At the season opening event, LCU lost 87-78 to No. 17 Union and then earned a 69-65 win over Adams State.
Leading the way offensively for the Lady Chaps is All-American forward Grace Foster, who is averaging 22.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and is shooting 50 percent from the field, 38 percent from the 3-point line and 83 percent at the free throw line. Foster was named the Co-LSC Preseason Player of the Year after averaging 16.4 points per game and pulled down a single-season school record 311 rebounds.
Senior guard Maci Maddox, who is a returning All-LSC selection from last season, is averaging 15.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 64 percent from the field, while senior guard Shaylee Stovall and senior guard Audrey Robertson are each averaging 9.0 points per game.
As a team, the Lady Chaps are averaging 73.5 points and are shooting 47 percent from the field, 36 percent from the 3-point line and 82 percent at the free throw line. Defensively, LCU is allowing 76 points per game and getting outrebounded by 5.5 boards per game and are forcing 19.0 turnovers per game.
In the Preseason LSC Coaches' Poll, LCU was tabbed to finish fourth as they earned 606 points and three first place votes.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday's game with UT Tyler marks the second meeting all-time between the two schools as UT Tyler picked up a 63-48 win over the Pack at last year's South Central Regional Crossover that was hosted by Lubbock Christian.
The Pack and Lubbock Christian will be meeting for the ninth time on the hardwood this coming Saturday as LCU holds a 6-2 all-time lead in the series, including earning a 76-58 win last season at the South Central Regional Crossover event hosted by the Lady Chaps.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL CROSSOVER HISTORY
The Pack will be playing in the South Central Regional Crossover event for the third consecutive season as they are 1-3 overall in the event as they went 1-1 in 2021 and 0-2 at last year's event. In 2021, the Pack opened with a 74-68 loss to Texas A&M-Commerce and then collected a 64-56 win over Lubbock Christian and then last season they fell 63-48 to UT Tyler and 76-58 to Lubbock Christian.
This year's event was scheduled to be hosted at Massari Arena, but was moved to CCU due to the Pack home both a home football and volleyball matches this weekend in Pueblo.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's two games at CCU, the Pack will open the home portion of its 2023-24 schedule next week as they host its annual Al Kaly Shrine Classic in Massari Arena. The Pack will open the event on Nov. 17 with a 5 p.m. game against New Mexico Highlands, before hosting Langston on Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. The event will open with Colorado Christian facing Langston on Nov. 17 at 3 p.m.
