PUEBLO, Colo. - The Colorado State University Pueblo Women's Basketball squad returns to action this weekend to host Adams State University and New Mexico Highlands at Massari Arena, looking to get back in the win column after a hot start to conference play.

The Pack head into the weekend at 6-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, sitting in second place behind Black Hills State who is at 7-1. CSU Pueblo started off 6-0 in RMAC play and have led the league for most of the season, but have dropped their last two games to Colorado School of Mines and Regis University to fall down a spot in the standings.

CSU Pueblo is still in good standing at 11-5 overall and control their own destiny to win the league. The Pack sit in ninth place in the most recent South Central Regional Standings. 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.

The ThunderWolves had a nine-game winning streak going into last week, before dropping their two games on the road. The nine-game winning streak was 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 was 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 24.4 points per game. Little is second nationally in scoring, second in the nation in blocks (65) and second in blocks per game (4.06). Additionally, her 12 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.

Little has been named the WBCA National Player of the Week two times this season. In addition, Little has been named both the RMAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week three times this season in the same week.

Tomia Johnson has been a solid complement to Little, as the two-time All-RMAC player is averaging 10.0 points per game against RMAC teams, while in full control of the offense. Johnson, who is on of the best two-way players in the league is sixth in assists at 3.7 per game, while having an outstanding assist/turnover ratio at just 1.5. Johnson, who is really active on the defensive end is averaging 1.5 steals per contest, and usually is tasked with guarding the best ball-handler. 

The Pack are one of the top teams in the RMAC at collecting steals as they are second in the league at 11.38 per game, and have collected 182 steals in the first 16 games this season. The ThunderWolves have recorded double-digit steals in nine of their last 12 games, including a season-high 19 against Colorado Christian on Jan. 19. Little leads the team with 48 steals, as she is second in the conference at 3.0 per game. Senior guard Tosjanae Bonds (Denver, Colo./MSU Denver) is second on the team in steals with 32, averaging 2.1 per game, which is eighth-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 fourth 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 11.4 per game and have collected 182 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 76-76 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 ADAMS STATE GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies are putting together another nice season under Head Coach Mario Caetano. Adams State comes into Thursday's match-up with a 10-7 overall record, and a 5-3 record in RMAC play. One season ago, Caetano led the Grizzlies to a share of the regular season RMAC Title. The two teams meet on Thursday evening at 5:30 PM at Massari Arena for the first meeting of the season.

Adams State swept the Pack last season, winning both games by a small margin.

Adams State is riding a two-game winning streak, soundly defeating Chadron State 82-59 last week in Alamosa. On Jan. 18, the Grizz defeated South Dakota Mines 88-70. 

The Grizzlies have balanced scoring, having three in double-digit scoring. Kiiyani Anitielu leads the way with 14.8 ppg on 41 percent shooting. Taejhuan Hill is averaging 11.8 ppg, also on 41 percent shooting, while Angelline Nageak is averaging 11.3 ppg on 39 percent shooting.

Caetano is in his fourth season at the helm for the Grizzlies, putting together a solid 68-40 overall record. Caetano is a graduate of Northern New Mexico (2013).

ABOUT THE NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS COWGIRLS
The Cowgirls are a much improved squad from one season ago which saw Highlands finish at 5-17 in RMAC play and 6-22 overall. This season, the Cowgirls are much improved and sit at 7-7 overall and 4-4 in league play.

New Mexico Highlands is riding a two-game winning streak, defeating Black Hills State last Thursday at home 77-63 to give the Yellow Jackets their first loss in conference play. The Cowgirls defeated Chadron State last Saturday at home 95-76.

Leading the way offensively for the Cowgirls are Juliana Aragon and Kapiolani Anitelu, both whom are solid scoring threats. Aragon, who comes off the bench is the team's leading scorer at 16.6 points per game. Anitelu is right behind Aragon in scoring at 15.7 points per game. Both are respectively seventh and eighth in the RMAC in points per game.

The Cowgirls are led by Lindsey Fearing, who is in her third season leading New Mexico Highlands. Her collegiate playing career began at Casper College where she helped her team to back to back Region IX Championships.  She then played a year at the University of Arizona before playing her final year at Black Hills State. Fearing earned her Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Coaching from Black Hills State University and a Masters in Athletic Administration from Concordia University-Nebraska.