PUEBLO, Colo. - The Colorado State University Pueblo Women's Basketball Squad won their eighth straight game on Thursday evening, defeating Colorado Christian University 66-63 at Massari Arena.

With the win, the ThunderWolves remain in first place with Black Hills State in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, remaining perfect in conference play at 5-0, and 10-3 overall on the season. 

With the loss, the Cougars of Colorado Christian fall to 3-11 overall on the season, and 1-5 in conference play.

Nicole Bowlin led the way for CCU on the offensive end, scoring 22 points on 5-13 shooting from the field. Bowlin went 4-7 from behind the arc, and a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line.

Alisha Little (Aurora, Colo./Northern Colorado) recorded her eight straight double-double, and 10th on the year with 28 points and 15 rebounds. Little flirted with a triple-double as she also recorded eight steals, five assists, and had three blocks. 

She continues to lead the conference in scoring at 23.8 points per game, ranks second in rebounds at 10.5 per game, and leads the league by a wide margin in blocks at 3.5 per game. 

With 27 seconds left to go in the first half, Little made history as she moved into second all-time in Colorado Women's scoring history with a couple of free throws, reaching her career total to 2,187 only trailing Becky Hammon of Colorado State (1995-99). With Little's 28 points, she now has 2,208 and is 532 points shy of Hammon's record.

Bryane Stewart (Colorado Springs, Colo./Pine Creek) put together another nice performance on the offensive end, scoring 11 points on 5-9 shooting from the field. 

Tosjanae Bonds (Denver, Colo./MSU Denver) continued to be a menace on the defensive end. Bonds ended the night with the highest plus/minus of any player on the court, scoring four points, pulling down five rebounds, dishing out two assists, and recording three steals.

ABOUT THE WIN

CCU started the game out hot behind Bowlin's shooting from deep, opening up an early double-digit lead over the ThunderWolves at 17-6. The Pack struggled in the first quarter, only shooting 38 percent from the field and going 0-3 from three, but were able to mount a run to end the quarter. The Pack cut the lead on 8-4 run sparked by Jolene Ramiro's (Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest) energy off the bench, to end the quarter trailing just 21-14. 

Little and Stewart handled the bulk of the scoring in the first, scoring 12 of the Pack's 14 points.

The ThunderWolves started off the second quarter hot, cutting the lead down to one at 23-22 with buckets from Little and Landri Hudson (Aurora, Colo./Wyoming). The Pack took their first lead of the game at 24-23 when Shamahra Henderson (Denver, Colo./Cowley County) made a nice backdoor layup. The Cougars continued to be persistent, retaking the lead on a mini 6-2 run from Maggie Phipps, giving CCU a four point lead at 30-26.

Phipps continued to be a problem for the ThunderWolves defense, going on another 5-0 run to extend the lead to 35-28. Little was able to get a bucket right before the half ended, and the Cougars took a 35-30 lead going into the break.

CSU Pueblo came firing out the gates in the third, cutting the lead down to one at 39-38, and were able to finally regain the lead at 44-43 when Bonds hit a three. Stewart extended the lead to three on a fast break layup to put the Pack up 46-43. Both teams traded buckets back and forth to end the quarter and the ThunderWolves took a 51-50 lead heading to the final frame.

The Cougars retook the lead right off the bat in the fourth quarter when Hayley Luther hit a three right out the gates. Henderson answered for the Pack with a driving layup and one. Little made a free throw, but Luther responded once again, knocking down a three to put the Cougars back up 56-55. 

Both teams did not back down from the challenge, continuing to hit clutch shots in the fourth. Hudson drilled a three for the Pack to give them a 58-56 advantage. Tomia Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./FGCU) hit a huge three to extend the Pack lead to five at 63-58. CCU continued to be relentless, clawing their way back when Bowlin nailed a three to cut tie the game at 63-63.

With 1:28 left to go in the game, Little drove to the basket, getting fouled and went down grabbing her leg due to cramping. Bonds had to replace Little to shoot the free throws, going 1-2 to give the Pack a 64-63 lead. Bonds picked up a huge steal on the next defensive possesion, and with 33 seconds left, Little, back in the game hit a huge driving layup to put the Pack up 66-63. 

Phipps had a chance to tie the game with four seconds left in the game, but the Pack clamped down on the defensive end, avoiding the upset from Colorado Christian.