COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY NOTES #3

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Colorado Mines vs. Northern Colorado
Friday, November 28, 2003
5:00 pm • Lakewood, Colorado

Colorado Mines vs. Westmont
Saturday, November 29, 2003
5:00 pm • Lakewood, Colorado

THE HEAD COACH: Paula Krueger was named the head women’s basketball coach at Colorado Mines on July 7 after serving a six-year stint at Northern State as an assistant coach.
A graduate of Northern State, Krueger was a standout on the basketball court as she earned national tournament MVP honors as a senior during Northern’s national championship campaign in 1993-94. Krueger was also a team captain and all-district performer on NSU’s softball team. She earned NSU’s prestigious Hildred Wolfe Student Athlete of the Year award as a senior.
Following her successful athletic career, Krueger served as a graduate assistant at Northern from 1995-96 for women’s basketball and softball while finishing up her studies. She received her bachelor’s in education from Northern in 1995 and her master’s in teaching in 1996.
After graduation, Krueger moved to Nevada where she taught and coached at Pahrump Valley High School for one year before returning to Northern State in 1997 to serve as the assistant women’s basketball coach and head softball coach. During her six years as an assistant at NSU, Krueger helped guide the squad to a 114-59 mark.

MINES PICKED SIXTH IN PRESEASON RMAC POLL: The Colorado School of Mines women’s basketball team was picked sixth out of seven teams in the Preseason RMAC East Division Poll. Nebraska-Kearney was picked to win the division as it received 13 first place votes and 13 points. Fort Hays State was picked second with 34 points, while Regis was third with one first place vote and 36 points. Metro State (45 points), Chadron State (59), Mines (71) and Colorado Christian (85) rounded out the poll.

UP NEXT: CSM will have a week off before returning to action Dec. 12-13 at Western State and CU-Colorado Springs. Tipoff is 6:00 pm for both games.

LAST TIME OUT (11/22/03): Colorado School of Mines sophomore forward Heather Angel and sophomore center Ashley Gronewoller combined for 44 points and 19 rebounds to help lead the Orediggers to a 67-57 win over Bethany in nonconference women’s basketball action in Volk Gymnasium. The win gives Head Coach Paula Krueger her first career coaching victory. CSM trailed 33-22 at the half, and by nine points (44-35) with 12:26 to play. However, the Orediggers would go on an 11-1 run to take the lead for good at 46-45 with 7:30 to play on a three-pointer from junior forward Gina Cornelio. Angel finished with game highs in points (23) and rebounds (10), while Gronewoller produced 19 points, nine boards and three blocked shots.

ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO: The Bears enter play this week after splitting a pair of games at CSU-Pueblo. UNC lost its opener to Regis, 78-59, and rebounded to knock off the host school, 84-64. Amber Elliott led the way as she averaged 24.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Kayla Flavin added 15.5 points in the two contests, while Heather Barbour posted 5.0 points and led the team with 7.0 rebounds per game.

ABOUT WESTMONT: Westmont comes into the week at 2-3 overall after losing two games at the Grand Canyon Tournament last weekend. Westmont lost to Fort Lewis and the host team in the consolation round. The team boasts four players who are averaging double figures in points, led by Katie Hardemon who tallies 14.0 markers per game. She also leads the team with 7.0 boards per game.

SUPER SOPH: CSM sophomore center Ashley Gronewoller is off to a great start as she builds upon her successful first season. A Preseason All-RMAC East Division selection, Gronewoller leads the team with 9.3 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocked shots per game and is second at 16.7 points per contest. She is also shooting 60 percent from the floor.

AN ANGEL AMONG US: Sophomore forward Heather Angel is also building upon her outstanding first season. Angel leads the team in scoring (17.0 ppg) and is second in rebounding at 6.3 per game. She has also produced seven assists and is shooting 61 percent from the floor (19-31) and 58 percent from three-point range (7-12). Angel tied her career-high with 23 points in Saturday’s win over Bethany.

HOOPER DUPER: Junior guard Heather Hoops is also back after earning Honorable Mention All-RMAC East Division honors last season when she posted 5.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and led the team with 51 assists and 35 steals.

NEW FACES: Three freshman will join the team this season, guard Lindsay Orchard and forwards Shannon Griep and Angela Pearson.

IMPROVED CHARITY: After going just 19-of-43 from the free throw line in its first two games (both losses), the Orediggers regrouped to shoot 16-of-21 from the charity stripe in Saturday’s 10-point win over Bethany.

OFF THE BENCH: Senior guard Jessica Neumiller has given CSM a spark off the bench as she is averaging 6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 14 minutes per game. In addition, she is shooting 46 percent from three-point range (5-11).

PHOENIX PHENOM: Junior guard Gina Cornelio,a Phoenix, Ariz., native, has been solid in her role this season. Cornelio has posted 4.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game and also hit a huge three-pointer that gave CSM the lead for good in Saturday’s win over Bethany.

AT THE HALF: Through three games this season, the Orediggers have posted halftime leads in two games, against Mesa State and Holy Names. However, CSM dropped both games. In Saturday’s win over Bethany, the Orediggers found themselves trailing, 33-22, at halftime, but rallied for a 10 point win.

SPREAD THE MINUTES: Of the nine returning players from last season, eight averaged at least 10 minutes of action per game last season, while the ninth averaged 9.4 minutes per night.

ROAD WOES: CSM will be looking for its first road win since defeating Colorado Christian, 67-48, in Lakewood, Colo., on Feb. 16, 2002. Since that game, the Orediggers are 0-12 on the road, including 0-10 in 2002-03.

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 15-2 when it scores at least 70 points, including three victories last season. The last time CSM lost when it scored at least 70 points was Mar. 1, 2003, a 76-71 ovetime loss at Regis. In three of its four wins last season, CSM topped the 70-point barrier.