PUEBLO, Colo. - The Colorado State University Pueblo Women's Basketball squad return to the road in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play tomorrow night in Golden, taking on Colorado School of Mines at 5:30 pm, and on Saturday in Denver, taking on Regis University at 3:00 pm. 

The ThunderWolves head into the weekend the hottest team in the league, as the Pack have won nine straight games, improving their record to 11-3 overall, and 6-0 in conference play. Yesterday, CSU Pueblo was awarded the No. 4 spot in this weeks' D2CSC South Central Regional Rankings, the highest ranking of any RMAC team in the polls. Black Hills State is right behind the Pack in the No. 5 spot, as the Yellow Jackets are also 6-0 in conference play. 

The South Central Region is composed of RMAC and Lone Star Conference teams, with the top eight in the region advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

Along with winning nine straight games, which is the longest winning streak for the Pack since reeling off eight consecutive wins during the 2021-22 season, including opening RMAC play by winning its first four league games, the Pack are also a perfect 8-0 at home this season and has gone 43-10 at home since the beginning of the 2021-22 season.

The 6-0 start for the ThunderWolves is the best start since 2017-18, where CSU Pueblo started off 9-0. The 11-3 start is the best in school history since 2016-17, when the Pack started off 24-0.

The Pack have defeated Westminster, Western Colorado, Chadron State, South Dakota Mines, Colorado Christian, and UCCS to start off 6-0 in conference play. CSU Pueblo has played two RMAC teams in "Non-Conference" play, falling to Colorado Mesa on Nov. 20, and most recently defeating the reigning RMAC Tournament Champions; the Regis Rangers 80-72 on Jan. 3. 

ABOUT THE PACK
2x All-American Alisha Little (Aurora, Colo./Northern Colorado) continues to dominate not just the RMAC, but all of NCAA Division II, as the redshirt senior has been on an absolute tear this season. Little, who won the scoring title last year in the league, once again leads the RMAC at 24.1 points per game. Little is third nationally in scoring, and leads the nation in blocks (57) and blocks per game (4.1). Additionally, her 11 double-doubles are tied atop all Division II players, and with one more double-double, Little will be the school record holder in that category. She is eighth in active scorers in the NCAA, and third in active players in career double-doubles. Little is only one of five in all divisions of the NCAA with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Little and Ayoka Lee (Kansas State) are the only active players with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 300 blocks.

Some career milestones to keep an eye out for Little this season and the next few games include her needing just 10 more points to move into 5th in CSU Pueblo scoring history, looking to pass Sherry Vallejos at 1.426 points. Little, who played at Northern Colorado prior to CSU Pueblo, most recently moved into second place in the all-time scoring list in Colorado Women's Basketball history, only trailing Becky Hammon of Colorado State. Little is just 161 points shy of tying Nadia Fercha for the school record in points, and is just 76 rebounds shy of the State of Colorado record. 

Little is coming off the National Player of the Week from the WBCA and College Sports Communicators for the second time this season. In addition, Little was named the RMAC Player of the Week (Offensive and Defensive) for the third time this season.

Little has been complimented fantastically by senior point guard Tomia Johnson Colorado Springs, Colo./FGCU). Johnson has really upped her scoring as of late, scoring in double figures in four out of her last seven games. Johnson is averaging 10.8 points per game against RMAC opponents, and is in full control of the offense. Johnson, who is one of the best two-way players in the conference is fifth in the league at 4.0 assists per game, and 22nd in steals per game at 1.5 per contest. Johnson is sixth all-time in CSU Pueblo history in assists at 297, and sixth all-time in steals at 179. 

The Pack are one of the top teams in the RMAC at collecting steals as they are second in the league at 11.2 per game, and have collected 157 steals in the first 14 games this season. The ThunderWolves have recorded double-digit steals in eight of their last 10 games, including a season-high 19 against Colorado Christian last Thursday. Little leads the team with 41 steals, as she is second in the conference at 2.9 per game. Senior guard Tosjanae Bonds (Denver, Colo./MSU Denver) is second on the team in steals with 28, averaging 2.0 per game, which is sixth-best in the league.

The Pack are also one of the top shot blocking teams in the country as they lead the RMAC and are third nationally in blocked shots per game as they are averaging 5.9 blocked shots per game, and they are second in the RMAC in steals per game as they average 11.2 per game and have collected 157 steals in 14 games.

The Pack are led by Head Coach Tommie Johnson, who is in his sixth season leading the ThunderWolves and knows the league well, playing at UCCS during his college days. Johnson had put together a 76-74 career record. Johnson, who is one of the most well-respected coaches in the nation, looks to get the ThunderWolves back in the RMAC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. 

ABOUT THE COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS
It has been a little bit of a rough go this season so far for the squad from Golden, Colo., as the Orediggers come into Thursday's match-up with a 4-10 overall record, and a 2-4 conference record. This is a Mines squad who is coming off a solid 2023-24 season, which saw them go 21-9 overall, and 16-6 in RMAC play.

Do not let their record fool you, this is a much better squad than their record may indicate. Mines has played an extremely tough schedule this season, playing four schools ranked nationally in the top 12. Mines has fallen to No. 6 MSU Billings, No. 1 Texas Woman's, and No. 12 Fort Hays State. Mines defeated the defending National Champions, No. 9 Minnesota State on Nov. 29, 92-88 on their home court.

In addition, Mines has won two out of their last three RMAC games. Mines fell in a heart-breaker in their last contest last Saturday, on the road at South Dakota Mines 63-62. Mines is fighting to get back in the top eight in the RMAC (Top 8 qualify for the RMAC Tournament), sitting in a tie for ninth, only one game back.

Leading the way for the Orediggers on the offensive end is Parker, Colorado native Jenna Siebert. The redshirt junior is averaging 17.6 points per game this season on 39 percent shooting. Siebert has upped her scoring from last season more than seven points per game, and has upped her rebounding total from 3.4 to 5.0. Siebert has scored over 25 points in a game this season four times, and is coming off a 31 point performance in her last game.

The engine for the Orediggers is Josephine Howery, as the redshirt senior point guard does a little bit of everything. Howery is averaging 11.5 points per game on 38 percent shooting, upping her scoring from 6.3 last year, and leads the team in rebounding at 5.7 per game, despite being a guard. Howery is a solid shooter from deep, and is automatic from the free throw line at 83 percent. The workhorse for the Orediggers is averaging 35 minutes a night, leading the Mines squad.

Josephine is also the older sister of CSU Pueblo's Point Guard Sam Howery.

Colorado School of Mines is lead by Head Coach Brittany Simpson, who is the winningest coach in the history of Mines Women's Basketball. The 2024-25 season is Simpson's 13th season at the helm for the Orediggers.

ABOUT THE REGIS RANGERS
This will not be the first time these two teams have met this season, as CSU Pueblo defeated the defending RMAC Champions 80-72 on Jan. 3 at Massari Arena. This match-up was not an official RMAC Conference game.

When the two squads met on the Third of January, Little dominated on both ends, accumulating 30 points, 13 boards, five blocks, and four steals. Three others joined Little in double figures, as Johnson had 12 points and eight assists, Brynae Stewart (Colorado Springs, Colo./Pine Creek) had 10 points on four of six shooting, and Genesis Sweetwine (Aurora, Colo./Northeastern) had 10 points as well.

One of the league's best scorers in Erin Fry did not have her most efficient night, scoring 16 points on 5-16 shooting to lead the Rangers. Fiona Snashall had 15 points, while Taylin Serlen also had 15 points.

CSU Pueblo was down five points at the half to Regis, but outscored the Rangers 28-18 in the third quarter to set the tone for the second half, eventually winning by eight points.

Regis comes into Saturday's match-up at 6-7 overall, and 4-2 in conference play. Fry is the leading scorer for the Rangers at 19.9 points per game, which is third in the league. Athena Saragoza is a nice complement to Fry, as Saragoza is averaging 15.8 points per game.

The Rangers are led by Head Coach Molly Marrin, who is in her 10th season leading Regis. Marrin has a career record of 162-107.