Pueblo – The clock struck midnight Sunday for one Cinderella team, eighth-seeded Colorado Mines, but another, sixth-seeded Colorado State- Pueblo, won its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout to advance for the first time to the NCAA Division II women’s tournament.
With a rowdy crowd cheering them on at the Colorado State Fair Events Center, the Thunderwolves (19-11) rallied from a six-point deficit to take the lead with 5:28 remaining and pulled away for a 65-54 victory.
“We’re just elated,” CSU-Pueblo first-year coach Kip Drown said. “I’m proud of the way we responded to adversity. We got to the line like good teams do and we nailed our free throws.”
The Thunderwolves, who lead the RMAC in free throws attempted, sank 24-of-27; Mines (16-14) hit 11-of-14.
Another difference was from the 3-point line where Thunderwolves freshman Mary Rehfeld was 4-of-5, while the Orediggers made only 1-of-9.
Mines coach Paula Krueger said her team ran out of steam after upsets of top-seeded Regis and fourth-seeded Nebraska- Kearney.
“You can only run on adrenaline so long,” Krueger said.
Mines senior Ashley Gronewoller ended her career with 25 points and 12 rebounds.
“I’m so thankful for having the opportunity to play and having someone believe in me enough that I could be a go-to player,” she said of Krueger.
COLORADO MINES (16-14)
Jeffries 0-3 0-0 0, Crist 2-5 0-0 4, Gronewoller 9-15 7-8 25, Eickelman 0-3 4-4 4, Tomova 5-18 0-0 11, Orchard 0-0 0-0 0, Marshall 0-0 0-0 0, Pearson 5-14 0-2 10. Totals 21-58 11-14 54.
CSU-PUEBLO (19-11)
Lewis 1-3 3-4 5, Rehfeld 6-8 4-5 20, Westerman 5-17 7-8 18, Hansen 5-11 4-4 16, Heinl 0-2 2-2 2, Haywood 0-0 0-0 0, Miller 0-2 2-2 2, Jim 0-1 0-0 0, Wilson 0-1 2-2 2, Draper 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-45 24-27 65.
Halftime – CSU-Pueblo 34-33. 3-point goals – Colorado Mines 1-9 (Tomova 1-6, Jeffries 0-1, Crist 0-1, Eickelman 0-1), CSU-Pueblo 7-17 (Rehfeld 4-5, Hansen 2-4, Westerman 1-2, Miller 0-1, Jim 0-1, Lewis 0-2, Heinl 0-2). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – Colorado Mines 40 (Gronewoller 12), CSU-Pueblo 29 (Westerman 7). Assists – Colorado Mines 14 (Eickelman 4), CSU-Pueblo 11 (Lewis 5). Total fouls – Colorado Mines 18, CSU-Pueblo 12. A – 1,251.
Men
NEB.-KEARNEY 71, METRO ST. 68
The Lopers’ Chris Dean’s interior dominance, game highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds, was the difference, particularly in the second half, which featured 12 lead changes and eight ties.
No more than five points separated the longtime RMAC powers in the second half and the fourth-seeded Roadrunners had a chance to send it into overtime, but third-seeded Nebraska-Kearney was smothering on defense, limiting Greg Muth to a desperation 3-pointer.
METRO STATE (21-9)
Bahl 4-11 11-11 19, Williamson 1-5 2-3 5, Coulibaly 0-4 0-2 5, Carrington 1-5 0-0 2, Muth 4-12 0-0 11, Ballard 1-1 0-0 2, H. Smith 0-0 0-0 0, D. Smith 6-7 1-2 13, Price 0-2 2-4 2, Wagstaff 5-7 4-5 14. Totals 22-54 20-27 68.
NEBRASKA-KEARNEY (23-7)
Dean 8-8 11-13 27, Jura 6-10 3-5 15, Burger 3-9 0-0 9, Lane 2-4 2-2 7, Moore 0-2 0-0 0, Long 0-0 0-0 0, Morrell 4-9 2-2 11, Stephenson 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 23-45 20-24 71.
Halftime – Tied at 24. 3-point goals – Metro St. 4-14 (Muth 3-7, Williamson 1-2, Carrington 0-1, Bahl 0-4), Neb.-Kearney 5-16 (Burger 3-9, Morrell 1-1, Lane 1-3, Moore 0-1, Stephenson 0-2). Fouled out – Jura. Rebounds – Metro St. 27 (Bahl 9), Neb.-Kearney 33 (Dean 13). Assists – Metro St. 14 (Muth 3), Neb.-Kearney 14 (Jura, Morrell 4). Total fouls – Metro St. 19, Neb.-Kearney 21. A – 1,425.
