ThunderWolves race past Mustangs

PUEBLO, Colo. -- Amanda Bartlett (So., Kiowa, Colo.) opened and closed for the ThunderWolves on Friday night.  She scored the Pack’s first seven points en route to 19 points overall, and splashed in a 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining in the game to finish off a convincing 74-55 win over the University of the Southwest Mustangs.  The win raised the ThunderWolves record to 5-1.

Bartlett’s 19 points led the ThunderWolves, but she also brought down six rebounds and shot 3-for-3 from 3-point range.  She had lots of help offensively, as well, in the form of 16-point nights from both Rachel Espinoza (So., Pueblo, Colo.) and Caitlyn Jewell (Jr., Pagosa Springs, Colo.).

The ThunderWolves’ offensive production in the first half made the final result predictable, but the Pack’s scoring prowess was a welcome sight for the Massari Arena faithful.  The ThunderWolves exhibited none of the offensive sluggishness that plagued them during the Al Kaly Classic.  On the contrary, Friday’s performance was marked by sharp basket cuts, timely passing and 16 assists.

Thanks to Bartlett’s initial spurt and 12 first half points from Espinoza, the Pack took a 39-27 advantage into the locker room at halftime.  It was the second half, however, when the Pack really blew the game open.

An 11-0 run about halfway through the period put the game out of reach.  Bartlett started things off with a score, and Mary Rehfeld (Sr., Juneau, Alaska) followed with a 3-pointer moments later.  Jewell scored off a powerful low post move at 7:55, and then Jonnie Draper (Sr., Littleton, Colo.) scored on a short jumper.  Jewell backed down a smaller defender on the next possession to complete the run and put the ThunderWolves way out in front.

The Mustangs were able to lessen the deficit somewhat thanks to 19 points from Sirena Medrano, but Espinoza scored on consecutive possessions around the 5 minute mark to underline the Pack’s dominance and send the game into garbage time.