LAKEWOOD, CO- The Cougars briefly returned home to play host to CSU Pueblo on Tuesday evening. In a close game throughout that was tied at halftime, the visiting Thunderwolves pulled away in the fourth quarter in a hard fought battle to claim a 75-66 victory. 

The Pack jumped ahead 6-0 early, but Nicole Bowlin got the offense going with a layup and jumper. Dasiya Jones connected on a pair of jumpers of her own to keep her team close. Elise Grosdidier banked home an improbable three-pointer from nearly half court at the first quarter buzzer to trim the CCU deficit to 19-16 heading to the second. 

Hayley Luther began to catch fire in the second frame with back-to-back layups, and a three from Mia Guest had the hosts down just 24-22. Elise made a jumper and Jones drained another jumper to tie the game at 26-26 with 4:41 till the half. A Bowlin layup and three-pointer from Jenna Kendall gave CCU their first lead of the game at 35-33, and a pair of late Thunderwolves free throws sent the teams to the break tied at 35 apiece. 

A back and forth third quarter ensued as the two teams traded blows. Thunderwolves star Alisha Little came out and scored the first 11 points of the half for her team, but a Luther layup and Bowlin three helped CCU keep pace and snag a 50-44 lead after another connection from downtown by Bowlin.  CSU Pueblo fought their way back and took a 54-52 lead into the final quarter. 

CSU Pueblo began to create some separation in the fourth with nine straight points to start the fourth, but Elise cut into the deficit with a three-pointer. Luther put in a layup to trim the lead to 7 at 69-2, but that was as close as CCU would manage to get as a strong Thunderwolves fourth quarter saw them claim a 75-66 victory. 

CCU saw four players hit double digit points, led by Bowlin with 19 and 9 rebounds. Grosdidier chipped in 14 points, followed by Luther with 12 and Jones with 11. 

The Cougars will now have the rest of the week to prepare for their matchup at UCCS on February 15 at 1 p.m. MST.