COLORADO MINES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Game Notes - Week #12
at Chadron State, 2/20/03 - Chadron, Neb., 6:00 pm
at Metro State, 2/22/03 - Denver, Colo., 5:00 pm

PROBABLE STARTERS
No. Name Pos. PPG RPG APG FG%
20 Kristen Horkey G 7.1 1.7 1.4 .463
23 Karen Martin F 2.4 3.0 1.3 .301
30 Heather Hoops G 5.4 2.0 1.7 .308
32 Heather Angel F 9.0 6.0 1.8 .431
55 Ashley Gronewoller C 10.9 7.2 1.0 .583

OFF THE BENCH
No. Name Pos. PPG RPG APG FG%
15 Jessica Neumiller G 4.5 1.4 0.5 .375
22 Kim Kilmer G/F 3.0 1.9 0.9 .282
24 Katie Gaudutis G 7.4 0.9 1.6 .344
25 Bara Zhanasova C 3.3 2.6 0.4 .375
42 Gina Cornelio F 1.8 0.9 0.6 .333
45 Katie Cunio C 5.2 5.1 0.9 .469

THE HEAD COACH
Vic Doperalski is in his tenth season as the women’s basketball coach at Colorado School of Mines, and his 26th year overall as a basketball coach. During his nine years at the helm for the Orediggers, Doperalski has accumulated a 90-175 record, guiding the team to the five winningest seasons in CSM history. In 2001-02, Doperalski led CSM to an overall record of 16-11, including a 10-9 mark in the RMAC. In addition, he led Mines to 13 wins in 1999-2000 and 11 victories in 1998-99, 1994-95 and 1993-94.

LAST TIME OUT (2/15/03): The Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team won for the 16th straight time in a 61-53 triumph over Colorado Mines in Rocky Mountain Athetic Conference action in Volk Gymnasium. The Orediggers hung tough with Kearney, ranked second in the North Central Region this week, throughout the first half and claimed a 28-24 lead at the break. However, UNK opened up its largest lead of the game (51-40) with 7:45 to play. Mines was able to cut its deficit to as little as five points with 2:12 left, but the Lopers hung on for the win. Mines was led by freshman center Ashley Gronewoller who tallied 18 points, seven boards and four blocked shots, while freshman forward Heather Angel added 13 points and five rebounds, while senior forward Karen Martin (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview) tallied two points, four rebounds and four assists in her final home game as an Oredigger.

MOANS AND GROANS: The groans you hear at CSM women’s basketball games could be coming from opposing coaches when they realize that freshman center Ashley Gronewoller will have three years of eligibility left after this season. The 6-foot-3 Gronewoller leads the team in in several statistical categories, including scoring (10.9 ppg), rebounding (7.2 rpg), blocked shots (1.6 bpg, also 1st in the RMAC) and field goal percentage (.583). Last weekend, Gronewoller averaged 20.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game. She scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed a career-high tying 14 boards in Friday’s loss to Fort Hays State. She has four double doubles this season which is tied for fourth in the RMAC.

AN ANGEL ON THE COURT: Gronewoller’s classmate, forward Heather Angel, has also been outstanding during her freshman year. She is second on the team in both scoring (9.0 ppg) and rebounding (6.0 rpg) and also leads the team in assists (1.8 apg). Angel has produced four double-doubles this season which ranks tied for fourth in the RMAC.

K-MART: Forward Karen Martin, the lone senior on this year’s squad, played in the final home game of her career on Saturday night against Nebraska-Kearney. She totaled two points, four rebounds and four assists and is averaging 2.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game as she has started all 23 games this season and 50 straight.

HORK OFF THE HOOK: After playing just 39 minutes in eight games all of last season, sophomore guard Kristin Horkey has been a bright spot for Mines this season. A starter in 10-of-17 games, she is fourth on the team in scoring (7.1 ppg) and has led Mines in scoring on four occasions this season. Horkey has missed the last six games after sustaining an injury in a win over Colorado College on Jan. 25.

HOOP IT UP: Sophomore guard Heather Hoops has provided the team with solid all-around play from her point guard position this season. A starter in 21-of-23 games this season, Hoops is second on team lead with 38 assists and is averaging 5.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. In a victory over Colorado Christian on Jan. 21, Hoops scored 13 points, one off her career-high, and also grabbed four rebounds. Over her last six games, Hoops is averaging 9.0 points, 3.3 boards and 1.1assists.

FOR STARTERS: Sophomore guard Kim Kilmer has been a bright spot for CSM as she has started the last four games. The team’s top returning scorer from last year, Kilmer has averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in those game. She grabbed a career-high seven boards in Saturday’s loss to Kearney and dished out a career best five assists in a loss to Chadron State on Feb. 7

LET’S GET 70: The number 70 appears to be the good luck charm for the women’s basketball team. Since the 2000-01 season, Mines is 15-1 when it scores at least 70 points, including three victories this season. The last time CSM lost when it scored at least 70 points was on Feb. 21, 2001, a 92-76 setback at Fort Hays State. In three of its four wins this season, CSM has topped the 70-point barrier.

SCOUTING THIS WEEKS COMPETITION:
Chadron State enters play this week at 11-12 overall and 8-7 in the conference. The Eagles split a pair of home games last week, losing to Regis (74-59) and defeating Metro (69-62). Janet Raymer tallied 24 points and six boards in the two games. In the first meeting between Mines and Chadron this season, Eagle forward Kim Petty his a running scoop shot in the lane with one second left to give her team a 61-59 victory in Volk Gymnasium. For the season, Petty leads the team in scoring (9.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg). Marie Worsham tallies 8.2 points and 2.7 boards per game, while Lindsey Erwin posts 6.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per night. The Eagles shoot 38 percent from the field and 67 percent from the charity stripe. As a team, Chadron scores 61.7 points per game and gives up 65.2 per night.

Metro State enters play this week at 11-12 overall and 8-7 in the RMAC. Last week, the Roadrunners lost road games at Regis (96-79) and Chadron State (69-62). Rachel Grove registed 28 points and seven boards in the two games. For the season, Metro is led by Malene Lindholm who posts 11.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while Grove chips in with 10.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per night. As a team, the Roadrunners shoot 42 percent from the field and 72 percent from the charity stripe. Metro averages and surrenders 65.0 points per game.