DENVER, COLO.— Colorado State-Pueblo (4-0) rallied from a seven-point first half deficit to hand the Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team (1-4) a 71-50 loss at the Metro State Thanksgiving Classic at the Auraria Events Center. The Zias were uncharacteristically outscored by a 33-17 margin after averaging 30.3 points in the second half through their first four games of the season.

A lay-up from freshman forward Til-Lois Fifer (Tulia, Texas/Tulia HS) staked ENMU to a 9-8 lead 3:38 into the contest as part of an 11-2 run capped by a three-pointer from junior guard Erika Cook (Portales, N.M./Portales HS) to give the Zias a 16-10 edge. The Thunderwolves rallied to within a single point twice, the second time coming with 8:01 remaining in the half on a lay-up from Jonnie Draper, but a 6-0 run by Eastern pushed a 23-22 lead to 29-22 with 6:29 left until halftime. CSU-Pueblo used a pair treys from Kami Dahlberg to fuel a 16-4 run to seize a 38-33 halftime lead.

Early in the second half, the Thunderwolves extended their advantage to 11 points, at 46-35. The Zias scored five straight points on a free throw from Tori Northcutt (Fr., G, Clovis, N.M./Clovis HS) and jump shots from Patricia Malouff (Fr., G, Aztec, N.M./Aztec HS) and Northcutt to pull within six points at 46-40. A Mary Rehfeld lay-up started a string of six straight points for CSU-Pueblo as the Thunderwolves pulled away for the win.

The Zias held a 45-39 advantage on the boards, including a decisive 20-11 edge on the offensive glass. The rebounding differential allowed Eastern to register a 19-8 advantage in second chance points. CSU-Pueblo held a 29-18 point advantage in points off turnovers.

Freshman forward Cat Clay (Deming, N.M./Deming HS) tied her season high with 11 points to go along with three steals and two assists. Malouff poured in nine points and grabbed six rebounds, while Kara Bible (Fr., F, Albuquerque, N.M./Cibola HS) narrowly missed the first double-double of her career with six points and a career-best 11 rebounds. Kaylon Miller and Rehfeld combined for 30 points for CSU-Pueblo.

The Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team will resume play on Saturday, December 1^st, when they host the defending Lone Star Conference champions, Texas A&M-Commerce. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. MST.