SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Colorado State University Pueblo women's basketball rallied from a 17-point third quarter deficit here Friday evening to post an impressive 72-66 victory over Westminster College in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at Behnken Field House.
The victory was the third consecutive for the ThunderWolves as they improved their record to 13-12 overall and 10-9 in the RMSAC, while Westminster had its five-game win streak snapped as they fell to 14-11 overall and 12-7 in the league. The win helped improved the Pack's postseason chances as they remained tied with Colorado Mesa for seventh in the league standings.
CSU Pueblo would outscore the Griffins, 48-29, in the second half to turn a 37-24 halftime deficit into a six-point victory. In the third quarter, the Pack outscored Westminster, 27-12, to hold a 51-49 lead heading into the final period. The 48 second half points tied a season high for the Pack.
The Pack's win was keyed by 14 made three-pointers and 20 forced turnovers that led to 18 points, including forcing 11 turnovers in the third quarter that led to 10 points. The Pack is now 11-2 this season when making 10 or more 3-pointers in a game.
Sophomore guard
Tomia Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Florida Gulf Coast) led the way offensively for the Pack with a career-high 19 points and tied career highs for both steals (6) and assists (6). In addition to Johnson, sophomore guard
Daeja Johnson (Queen Creek, Ariz./Casteel) added 15 points and sophomore guard
Landri Hudson (Aurora, Colo./University of Wyoming) tallied 14 points and tied a career high with four steals. Hudson and the two Johnson's combined for 32 of CSU Pueblo's 48 second-half points.
The third quarter proved to be the pivotal one in Friday's game as Westminster turned its 37-24 halftime lead into a 43-26 lead just 2:19 into the quarter. That 17-point lead was the largest of the game for either team.
CSU Pueblo would begin its comeback as graduate student guard
JaNaiya Davis (Hewitt, Texas/Midway) drilled a trey with 7:25 left in the quarter to pull the Pack within 43-29. Davis' trey ignited a 9-0 run for the Pack to pull within 43-35.
After Rae Falatea connected on a three-pointer with 5:21 left to push WC's lead to 46-35, the Pack would respond by scoring 11 straight points that was keyed by six points from Hudson to tie the game at 46-all with 2:47 left in the period.
The Griffins would retake the lead on its next trip down the court as Teuila Nawahine hit a trey with 2:29 left in the period to give WC a 49-46 lead. Hudson would retie the game 22 seconds later on a 3-pointer and the Pack would use two free throws by Davis with a 1:34 left in the period to take a 51-49 lead.
CSU Pueblo extend its lead to four points at 55-51 just two-plus minutes into the fourth quarter, before the Griffins used a 7-0 run capped by a driving lay-up from Ashley Greenwood to retake the lead at 58-55 with 5:58 left in the game. About 24 seconds later,
Tomia Johnson would drill a trey to retie the game at 58-all. The two teams would then take turns hitting 3-pointers to force a tie at 61 with 4:17 left in the game.
Daeja Johnson would give the Pack the lead for good on her 3-pointer with 3:08 left in the game. The Pack's lead eventually grew to 67-63 with 2:07 left in the game, before the Griffins used a trey from Greenwood to cut the Pack's lead to 67-66 with 1:43 remaining. The Pack extended its lead to 70-66 on a trey by senior guard
Morgan Dial (Denver City, Texas/Western Texas College) with 1:16 left and Davis would cap the scoring by making two of her final four free throws in the final 32 seconds.
Falatea paced Westminster with 19 points and added eight rebounds, while Greenwood chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds and Jaycee Lichtie added 10 points and seven rebounds.
CSU Pueblo led 9-6 just three-plus minutes into the game and held a 12-8 lead when the Griffins closed the first quarter on a 10-3 run to take an 18-15 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play.
In the second quarter, Westminster would outscore the Pack, 19-9, to hold its 37-24 lead at the half.
The Griffins would hold a 36-18 edge on the glass, including collecting 11 offensive rebounds, but that rebound advantage was negated by 20 turnovers that led to 18 points for the Pack. The Pack had 17 steals on the night as along with
Tomia Johnson's six and Hudson's four, senior guard
Amaya Lewis (Hobbs, N.M./New Mexico JC) had a career-high tying five steals and added seven points off the bench.
On the night, the Pack shot 50 percent from the field and a season-high 61 percent (14-for-23) from the 3-point line. Meanwhile, Westminster shot 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from the 3-point line.
While the Griffins had 20 turnovers, the Pack finished with 12 turnovers as they committed six turnovers in each half.
The Pack were also 10-for-15 (66.7 percent) from the free throw line, while Westminster made both of their two free throw attempts in the game.
CSU Pueblo will look to make it four straight wins as they conclude its regular season road schedule with a 5:30 p.m. game in Grand Junction, Colo., against Colorado Mesa. The Mavericks improved to 11-14 overall and 10-9 in the league following its 60-43 home win Friday against New Mexico Highlands.
