GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's basketball team defeated top-seeded Colorado Mesa University 66-57 in the first round of the 2024 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.

With the win, the Pack improve to 17-14 on the season, while Colorado Mesa falls to 24-6 on the season. CSU Pueblo keeps their season alive and moves on to the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament and will take on the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs on Friday in Denver, Colo.

The Pack had four out of their five starters in double-figures. CSU Pueblo dominated from start to finish and used stifling defense to pick up the win.

The Pack were led by their All-American Alisha Little (Aurora, Colo.) as she recorded her NCAA leading 23rd double-double. Little scored 20 points, pulled down 19 rebounds, and blocked eight shots.

Tomia Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Florida Gulf Coast) and Romola Dominguez (Denver, Colo./Central Arkansas) gave Head Coach Tommie Johnson the backcourt play and defensive effort that the team needed. Johnson finished with the highest plus/minus out of any player on the court with a plus 16. She also scored 10 points and had two steals. Dominguez hits clutch shot after clutch shot in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 16 points.

Both players let their defensive presence known in the game.

Autumn Watts (Centennial, Colo./McNeese State) was an absolute workhorse tonight on both ends of the courts. Watts finished with 10 points and five rebounds. She also played the second most minutes out of any member of the Pack.



HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams flexed their defensive muscles early in the game as the score was 6-5 with 3:49 left to go in the first quarter. The Pack's first buckets of the game were a three from Dominguez and a high-low bucket from Watts. Sophie Hadad and Mason Rowland both hit shots for Colorado Mesa and Little made a bucket to end the quarter and it was just an 11-7 lead for Colorado Mesa heading into the second.

CSU Pueblo put their foot on the gas in quarter number two.

Little opened the quarter on a second chance layup and Watts scored on another high-low bucket from Little and the score was 11-11 very quickly. Rowland scored a quick three points to answer. Some back and forth between the two squads had the score at 17-15 in favor of the Mavericks. The Pack were able to take their first lead of the game when Landri Hudson (Aurora, Colo./Wyoming) hit a three-pointer to put the Pack up 18-17. CSU Pueblo continued the run when Little scored on a fast break layup. Little continued her second quarter dominance as she was able to get an and-one layup and convert the free throw to put the Pack up 23-18.

The Pack finished the last 2:37 on an 8-1 run and led by 11 at 31-20 going into the break.

CSU Pueblo extended their lead to start the second half with a three-point play from Hudson to put the ThunderWolves up 34-20.

Over the next four minutes, the Mavericks made their run as Colorado Mesa cut the lead to just four points at 37-33. Johnson made a huge contested layup to silence the crowd just under four minutes. Colorado Mesa got themselves back in the game going into the fourth quarter and trailed just 43-40 going into the final frame.

Rowland opened the fourth quarter with a layup and the Mavericks, along with the crowd were now in the game. However, the Pack kept their composure and answered with a huge 9-0 run with shots from Dominguez, Johnson, and Watts to put the Pack up 10 with six minutes to play.

Leading by five with 1:38 left to go, the Pack were able to stave off a run from the Mavericks the last few minutes with clutch shots and big-time free throws. Dominguez was huge in the fourth quarter as she scored 13 points and went a perfect 8-8 in the fourth.

Five points is as close as Colorado Mesa was able to get the game and the Pack closed out the Mavericks with a 66-57 victory.

WORDS FROM COACH JOHNSON
"This is one of the biggest wins since I have been here. This being in a hostile environment and to come up here and beat a team who won the league, and to give them their first loss at home in a playoff environment, you really cannot ask for more than that."

Johnson also said, "Our girls were mentally tough, I am grateful to get to coach these girls."

UP NEXT FOR THE PACK
CSU Pueblo continues their Cinderella Run this Friday as they will travel to Denver, Colo. and play UCCS on the campus of Regis University.