PUEBLO, Colo. - The Colorado State University Pueblo Women's Basketball team prepares for a big week ahead, as the ThunderWolves are still in prime position to finish runner-up or even still win the league in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.

The Pack currently sit in fourth place (9-5), just half a game back of second place Western Colorado (10-4) and Black Hills State (10-4). Colorado Mesa continues to lead the league with a 12-2 conference record. 

The ThunderWolves currently own the tiebreaker with Western Colorado, but do not hold the tiebreaker with Black Hills State with six games remaining. 

THIS WEEK
CSU Pueblo plays an odd schedule this week. Rather than their usual Thursday/Saturday schedule, the ThunderWolves travel to the Denver Metro Area to take on Colorado Christian University tomorrow night and then will host the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs on Thursday night. 

The Pack on Monday afternoon were announced as the No. 9 team 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.

ABOUT THE PACK
The Pack are led by who else other than the most dominant player in the country in 2x All-American Alisha Little. Little continues to dominate the RMAC and all of NCAA Division II. On Monday afternoon, Little was announced the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week by the conference. This is the sixth time this year that Little has been given weekly conference honors. In addition, she has been named the WBCA National Player of the Week three times this year. She is coming off a week in which she averaged a ho hum 21.5 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game, 3.5 blocks, and three assists. Little lead the RMAC in scoring at 25.0 PPG and 11.6 RPG. She is second in the country in scoring, sixth in rebounding, and second in blocks (84). Last weekend, Little broke the all-time scoring record at CSU Pueblo, passing Nadia Fercha with 1,599 points. 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.

Tomia Johnson is argubly coming off her best performance of the year as the engine of the ThunderWolves had 18 points on 6-10 shooting from the field, propelling the Pack to a second half comeback on the road at Chadron State. Johnson, who is one of the best two-way guards in the league is averaging right at 10 points per game against RMAC teams and is usually defending the other team's best perimeter player. Johnson has accumulated 28 steals this season and is sixth in the league in assist/turnover ration at just 1.4.

One of the biggest strengths this season for the Pack is their ability to hold teams in check on the offensive end as they are fifth in the RMAC in scoring defense, allowing just 62.9 points per game. CSU Pueblo have held seven of their 22 opponents under 60 points, including just 42 points to Westminster just two weeks ago. Thhe Pack have held five of its last 17 opponents to less than 60 points. In addition to allowing 62.9 points per game, the Pack are second in the league in field goal percentage defense (36 percent) and fifth in the RMAC in 3-point field goal percentage defense (29 percent). 

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 79-79 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 COLORADO CHRISTIAN
The Cougars come into Tuesday's match-up with an 8-14 overall record and a 6-8 record in the RMAC. Despite the early season struggles and losing a top-five RMAC Player in Maggie Hutka, CCU has managed to get find a way, winning three straight games to make a push to get into the top eight in the league. Earlier in the season on jan. 9, CCU made the Pack sweat it out, only dropping the game by three points at 66-63 at Massari Arena. 

With Hutka leaving mid-season to transfer, the Cougars have had to call on Nicole Bowlin to pick up the scoring. Bowlin leads CCU at 13.0 points per game on 44 percent shooting from the field. The Edina, Minnesota native is lethal from deep as she is shooting 36 percent from deep. Bowlin is also a good rebounding guard, as the 5'6" guard averages 4.7 boards per game.

The Cougars have two others in double-figures, as Dasiya Jones ia averaging 12.2 points per game on 46 percent shooting, while Victoria Perez is at 11.2 points per game on 33 percent shooting. 

Colorado Christian is led by Interim Head Coach Carissa Ratliff, who took over the program in October of 2024. She previously served as the assistant coach for the Cougars from 2019-2021. She served five years within the athletic department after assisting the track & field squad during her first two years. 

ABOUT UCCS
UCCS comes into Thursday's match-up with a solid 8-6 record in league play. UCCS has won four out of their last six games, but recently dropped a nail-biter on the road last weekend at Black Hills State 72-68. Earlier in the season when these two teams met, CSU Pueblo was able to go into Colorado Springs and pick up a huge road win 74-66. In that game, Alisha Little broke the all-time school record for blocks in a game with 11. Little ended the game with a stat-line of 28-14-11 to pick up the triple-double.

The Mountain Lions are led by all-conference player Amyah Moore Allen. Moore Allen is arguably the best two-way player in the league as she can score at will and lock anybody down on the defensive end. Moore Allen is averaging 18.0 points per game on 45 percent shooting. In addition, the talented redshirt junior has recorded 45 steals and 16 blocks this season. 

Joining Moore Allen in double-figures is senior Maison White. White is averaging 12.7 points per game and averages 10.8 rebounds per game. 

UCCS is led by Misty Wilson who is in her second season leading the Mountain Lions. A member of the Tarleton State University Hall of Fame, Wilson joins the Mountain Lions after serving as Tarleton State's head coach for nine years.  She guided the Texans to an impressive 113-61 record in six seasons as a Division II program.  TSU, which is currently in the process of transitioning from Division II to Division I and is a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), has earned a 33-50 record as a Division I program, and 146-114 overall record under Wilson's leadership.