GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Colorado State University Pueblo faced one of the toughest road tests in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference on Thursday night, dropping a 71–46 decision to No. 7 ranked Colorado Mesa University at Brownson Arena in Grand Junction.
The ThunderWolves opened the night with strong defensive energy and composure, limiting the Mavericks to just nine points in the first quarter and jumping out to a 13–9 lead after 10 minutes of play. CSU Pueblo forced Colorado Mesa into difficult shots early and capitalized on turnovers, using balanced scoring and interior touches to establish early momentum.
That momentum shifted dramatically in the second quarter as Colorado Mesa found its rhythm offensively. The Mavericks erupted for 30 points in the period, shooting efficiently from the floor while pushing the tempo in transition. A flurry of baskets midway through the quarter allowed Mesa to create separation, and by halftime the Mavericks had turned a four-point deficit into a 39–23 advantage.
The Pack showed resilience coming out of the locker room, trading baskets with the nationally ranked Mavericks in the third quarter and working to chip away at the deficit. Seneya Martinez provided an offensive spark, attacking the rim and knocking down shots from the perimeter, while Ruby Sweeney-Spitzeck added timely baskets to steady the ThunderWolves. CSU Pueblo matched Mesa's scoring pace for much of the period, but the Mavericks maintained control and carried a 55–36 lead into the fourth quarter.
Colorado Mesa continued to apply pressure in the final quarter with its depth and balanced attack, extending the margin behind strong play in the paint and second-chance opportunities. Olivia Reed recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Mavericks, while Mason Rowland added 23 points as Mesa finished the night shooting over 50 percent from the field.
For CSU Pueblo, Martinez led the way with 12 points, while Sweeney-Spitzeck finished with eight and Dasani Nesbit chipped in five. Destiny Smith gave the ThunderWolves a lift off the bench with seven points, and CSU Pueblo continued to battle defensively despite the growing margin.
The ThunderWolves were held to 30.8 percent shooting from the field and just three made three-pointers on the night. CSU Pueblo did find success inside, scoring 26 points in the paint, but struggled to generate consistent offense against Colorado Mesa's defensive pressure and transition game.
With the loss, CSU Pueblo drops to 9–10 overall and 5–6 in RMAC play, sitting just half a game back of eighth place in the conference standings as the race for the RMAC Tournament tightens. Colorado Mesa improves to 21–1 on the season and remains unbeaten in conference action.
CSU Pueblo will have little time to dwell on the result, as the ThunderWolves return to the court Saturday afternoon for a critical conference matchup against Westminster University in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m., with the Pack looking to bounce back, even their RMAC record, and continue their push toward a postseason berth.
