ThunderWolves run into tough Western Washington squad

Western Washington 89, CSU-Pueblo 70

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - CSU-Pueblo couldn't keep up Western Washington's bigs Thursday as the Pack got out-rebounded 38-23 as they lost 89-70 to the 5-1 Vikings at the Great Western Shootout in Las Vegas.

Western Washington's post, Jessica Summers, went off on the ThunderWolves, scoring 28 points and taking down 17 rebounds.  But the Vikings' strong post play is not to detriment the play of the Pack's big, Caitlyn Jewell (Sr., Pagosa Springs, Colo.), who went for 19 points and nine rebounds en route to earning all-Great Western Shootout honors.  Western Washington, which boasts seven players at 6-foot or taller, simply towered over CSU-Pueblo, which features Jewell as the only true post on the roster.

Western Washington used the size advantage to jump out to a big first half lead, turning an early 6-6 tie to a 10-point lead after sinking 10 straight points on the Pack.  The Vikings would lead by as much as 12 in the first half before CSU-Pueblo ended the first frame with an 8-2 run, sinking two threes and a short bucket by Jewell, to go into the break trailing by six, 36-30.

In the second frame, CSU-Pueblo would get as close as five, 49-44, before Western Washington opened up an 11-1 run that effectively ended the Pack's chances at claiming the victory.

CSU-Pueblo, at 6-3, will take the rest of December off before returning to the hardwood Jan. 2 and 3 at the CSU-Pueblo Chuck Stephens Classic, when the Pack will host Central State (Ohio) and Abilene Christian (Tex.) at Massari Arena.