The loss snaps the Grizzlies five-game winning streak, and drops the Grizzlies to 5-2 overall and 0-1 in RMAC play. CSU-Pueblo now moves to 3-1 this season and 1-0 in league play. The ThunderWolves have dominated the Grizzlies at Massari Arena, winning 10 straight since Jan. 8, 2000 when the school was known as the University of Southern Colorado.
Senior Kendra Coveal (Albuquerque, N.M.) scored the final two of her season-high 14 points on Friday with 3:36 to go, raising the Grizzlies lead to 58-48, but ASC would fail to hit another field goal.
CSU-Pueblo immediately embarked on a 10-0 run, assisted by five ASC turnovers in the final three minutes, and tied the game at 58-58 as Kendall Babler hit the first of two free throw shots.
Senior guard Vera Jo Bustos (Las Vegas, N.M.), who was held in check to the tune of seven points by the ThunderWolves, collected the rebound as Babler missed the second shot, and the possession resulted in a trip to the free throw line for junior Kelsie Kruger (Alamsoa, Colo.) with just 27 ticks to go.
Kruger missed the first but the made the second, giving the Grizzlies a 1-point advantage. But Espinoza, who scored a game-high 19 points, managed to find her way to the inside to hit the game-winning layup, as senior Crystal Loch's (Alamosa, Colo.) desperation heave could not find the bottom of the net.
The end of the first half had a similar feel, except it was the Grizzlies who erased the deficit heading into halftime. Down by eight with 3:32 to go before the break Adams State went on an 8-2 run, highlighted by six points from Loch who tied her career-high with 15 points in the game while adding three rebounds and three assists.
Using the momentum that they'd gained at the end of the first half, the Grizzlies started the second half on an 11-4 run, and never trailed again until 6.6 seconds remained.
The Grizzlies struggled to hold onto the ball and at the free throw line. Adams State committed 27 turnovers in the game, their most this season since giving the ball away 29 times in their season opening loss to Hawai'i Pacific. From the charity stripe, Adams State hit just 5-of-13 attempts and didn't get to the line once in the first half, while the ThunderWolves connected on 17-of-21.
Adams State was also kept in check from long-range, hitting just two 3-pointers in 13 attempts.
In a rematch from the first round of last year's RMAC Shootout, the ThunderWolves once again keyed on shutting down Bustos. But while Bustos was held 10 points below her season average, she equaled her season-high with six assists.
UC-Colorado Springs, off to a 1-4 start this season and coming off a 79-69 loss to No. 3-ranked Fort Lewis on Friday night, awaits the Grizzlies on Saturday.
The Grizzlies own a three-game winning streak over the Mountain Lions, and have not dropped a game in their series since Dec. 9, 2006, and scored a 66-57 victory on the road last season.
Fans unable to make it to Colorado Springs for Saturday's match-up can follow the action as the Grizzlies look to even their record in RMAC play via live stats, by listening live at www.kspk.com or by watching live on AmericaOne (formerly B2 TV). Information regarding single-game and season viewing passes can be found here.
Visit ascgrizzlies.com for the latest news and info on Adams State College Athletics.
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