Here we go again -- Pack going to title game

RMAC Shootout Semifinal: CSU-Pueblo 66, Colorado Christian 63

PUEBLO, Colo. - In the RMAC Shootout, all CSU-Pueblo does is win. 

Colorado Christian found that out firsthand Friday night.

Despite playing arguably a better game than the ThunderWolves, the Cougars were no match for CSU-Pueblo's Shootout experience as a Pack surge in the final minutes willed the ThunderWolves to 66-63 win.

The victory sends CSU-Pueblo to the RMAC title game against a familiar foe, fourth-ranked Fort Lewis, which won their semifinal match against Metro State Friday, as well.

CSU-Pueblo, playing without its starting point guard in Rachel Espinoza (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.), who was lost for the season with a knee injury in the RMAC quarterfinal game Tuesday, took some time to find its rhythm.  Colorado Christian jumped out a 16-8 lead at one point, and was dominant in the second half, forcing 10 turnovers and blocking three ThunderWolf shots, headlined by a 12-point first frame by post Juanise Cornell.

Despite all that, CSU-Pueblo was only trailing 29-28 at the break after admittedly not playing its best basketball.

The second-half turned into a dogfight as each team scratched and clawed for momentum. The game would come down to whichever player made a big play down the stretch, and that play came from Katrina Selsor (Fr., Glenwood Springs, Colo.). 

With the game tied at 63 with 2:10 remaining, Selsor went up for a layup, making the bucket and drawing the foul.  She completed the back-end of the three-point play to give CSU-Pueblo a 66-63 lead going into the final two minutes of the game.

Selsor again stepped up inside of one minute, stopping the Cougars on their final possession with a big shot block of Cornell at the 22-second mark. 

All told, Selsor, the newly-crowned RMAC West Division Freshman of the Year, put the ThunderWolves on her back and played nothing like a freshman, netting 19 points along with a career-high 15 rebounds.

Also playing strong for the ThunderWolves was Caitlyn Jewell (Sr., Pagosa Springs, Colo.).  Playing against Christian's two-headed monster at the post in Cornell and Abby Rosenthal, Jewell overcome a poor start to finish with 15 points and seven boards, undoing her six turnovers with a career-high six steals. 

The Pack's latest playoff showdown with Fort Lewis, for the first time in an RMAC Championship game, will tip off at 7:30 p.m. at the Colorado State Fair Events Center in Pueblo.