Pack women find touch, knock off Highlands

CSU-Pueblo 80, New Mexico Highlands 66

By JEFF LETOFSKY
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

LAS VEGAS, N.M. - Kristi Arness (Jr., Chico, Calif.) earned herself more playing time.

The Colorado State University-Pueblo 5-foot-6 junior came off the bench to toss in a career-high 12 points as the Pack avoided a New Mexico Highlands University upset bid with a 80-66 victory.

The win in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's basketball at the John A. Wilson complex pushed the ThunderWolves to 13-7 overall and 7-5 in the conference. They knocked off the Cowgirls for the eighth consecutive time in Las Vegas.

Highlands lost for the ninth consecutive time and 12th in a row in RMAC play, falling to 2-18 overall and 0-12 in the conference. Arness led a scoring barrage from the Pack bench, which contributed a season-high 29 points. The 80 points were the most scored by CSU-Pueblo in nearly two months.

Four starters finished in double figures as Michelle Ambuul (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) tossed in 14, Mary Rehfeld (Sr., Juneau, Alaska) 11 and Jonnie Draper (Sr., Littleton, Colo.) and Rachel Espinoza (So., Pueblo, Colo.) 10 apiece.

The Pack had trouble disposing of the only winless team in the conference despite rolling to a 37-27 halftime advantage and leading by as many as 16 points in the second half.

To Highlands' credit, it didn't fold.

The Cowgirls chopped the deficit to five points at 65-60 with four minutes remaining before a 15-6 run by CSU-Pueblo finally did them in.

"I thought Kristi gave us a really big lift," CSU-Pueblo coach Kip Drown said of Arness. "That's the second game in a row she's done that so we have to find a way to get her more playing time.

"This was a tough game to play. At the same time we weren't quite at the level we have been at. Plus, we turned the ball over (19 times) way too much. We shot it well."

The Pack finished at 47.5 percent (28-59), its best performance since before Christmas.

Much of that had to do with the bench, which was a collective 10-for-20.

"I just try and do what I can when I get into the game," said Arness, who hit three 3-pointers. "I'm trying to find my spot with this team. I got good looks and good passes."

Highlands, one of the worst shooting teams in the country at 31 percent, kept pace with CSU-Pueblo through the first 13 minutes of the opening half. But the T-Wolves turned up their defensive intensity and used a 14-4 spurt to regain control.

With the game tied at 23-23, Ambuul tossed in a pair of running layups and Rehfeld knocked down a runner and a 3-pointer. And Draper added a pair of free throws for a 35-25 advantage. Kami Dahlberg's (Jr., Peyton, Colo.) buzzer-beater ended the half with CSU-Pueblo holding a 37-27 cushion.

"You never know with a team that plays with so much emotion. If you let them get a couple of plays, a couple steals, they can become dangerous," said Draper, who hit two 3-pointers and added two steals. "Our bench was huge. They've been really coming in and making shots. It's great because our starters need some rest and there's been no drop off when they come into the game."

CSU-Pueblo won three categories that have led to victories this season. It is now 11-0 when leading at the half and is now 9-0 when outshooting its opponents. In addition, the Wolves are 6-0 when shooting 40 percent or better.

Jessica Armijo had 16 points and Veronica Lerma 15 for Highlands, which shot 38.1 percent (24-63) from the field.

PACK POINTERS: CSU-Pueblo leads the all-time series with the Cowgirls 32-29. . . . Ten of the 11 players on the Pack roster scored.