Colorado School of Mines vs. UC-Colorado Springs
Friday, February 2, 2007 - 6:00 pm
Volk Gym- Golden, Colo.

Colorado School of Mines vs. Regis University
Saturday, Ferbruary 3, 2007 - 6:00 pm
Volk Gym - Golden, Colo.

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THE HEAD COACH: Paula Krueger is in her fourth year as the head women’s basketball coach at Colorado School of Mines. Last year, Krueger led the Orediggers to a 16-14 overall mark, including an 8-11 record in the RMAC. However, she saved her best work for late in the season as CSM was the last team to qualify for the RMAC Tournament as the No. 8 seed. The eighth-seeded Orediggers travelled to top-seeded Regis and handed the Rangers a 71-57 setback. It marked the first time in the history of the RMAC Tournament that an eighth-seeded team defeated the top-seeded team. It was also the first win in program history in the RMAC Tournament. CSM then went on to defeat Nebraska-Kearney, 67-61, in the semfinals before falling to CSU-Pueblo, 65-54, in the championship game. 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. In addition, 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 State 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. Following 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.

No. Probable Starters Pos Ht. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG APG
5 Sara Eickelman G 5-8 So. Pueblo, Colo. 6.3 4.4 2.8
15 Emily Dalton F 5-11 Fr. Golden, Colo. 9.6 5.1 0.8
23 Iva Tomova G 5-8 Sr. Varna, Bulgaria 16.3 3.6 2.7
30 Blakelee Midyett F 6-0 Fr. Golden, Colo. 8.2 5.4 0.5
55 Angela Pearson C 6-0 Sr. Arvada, Colo. 5.8 6.2 0.6

No. Off the Bench Pos Ht. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG APG
14 Elise Goggin G 5-4 So. Colorado Springs 0.9 0.1 0.2
20 Amanda Adams F 5-7 So. Evergreen, Colo. 3.2 3.2 0.9
22 Emily Przekwas G 5-5 Jr. Littleton, Colo. 2.7 1.3 0.5
24 Julie Marshall G 5-6 So. Billings, Mont. 3.2 1.1 1.1
25 Bailey Christenson G 5-5 RFR. Boulder, Colo. 0.3 0.4 0.06
31 Liz Jeffries F 5-9 Jr. Castle Rock, Colo. 3.6 3.2 1.2
40 Shannon Griep F 5-10 Sr. Longmont, Colo. 0.9 0.7 0.0
42 Brecca Gaffney C 6-1 Fr. Greeley, Colo. 3.5 5.0 2.0
44 Savannah Afoa C 6-1 Fr. Anchorage, Alaska 4.9 3.7 0.2

CSM PICKED FIFTH IN RMAC PRESEASON POLL: The Colorado School of Mines women’s basketball team was picked fifth in the 2006-07 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball East Division Preseason Poll. The Orediggers received 55 total points to finish behind East Division favorite Regis University and runner-up Metro State. Regis received 10 first place votes and 18 total points, while Metro garnered two first place votes and 27 total points. Nebraska-Kearney finished third with 32 points and was followed by UC-Colorado Springs (54), MINES (55), Chadron State (74) and Colorado Christian (83).

LAST TIME OUT (1/26/07-1/27/07): The Colorado School of Mines women’s baskeball team came away with a huge win this past weekend against Nebraska-Kearney. Kearney came into volk gym one game ahead of the Orediggers in the RMAC. Mines shut them down, beating them by 27 points with a score 66-39. Mines also beat Chadron State Friday night 72-64. Mines is in a three way tie for second with an 8-3 RMAC record after the two wins.

NINE GAME HOME WINNING STREAK: Mines continued their home winning streak with two wins this past weekend. Mines return to action this weekend with two more home games. We’ll see if they can keep the streak alive as they take on the number one ranked team in the Conference, Regis University on Saturday.

COMING ON STRONG: After starting 0-6, Mines has gone out and won 11 of the last 13 games played.

ABOUT UCCS:The Mountain Lions come into Volk gym with a 6-5 RMAC record ranking them fifth behind Metro, Kearney and Mines who are all tied with an 8-3 record. UCCS is led by Tonya Tripp who averages 12.8 points per game and Emily Jenkins who averages 11.5 and leads the team with a 9.2 rebounds per game average.

ABOUT REGIS: Regis currently sits on top of the RMAC with a 10-1 record, losing only to Western New Mexico. Regis is led by the Lopez sisters, Diana averages 17.5 points per game while Denise leads the team with 9.3 boards per game.

OUT OF THIS COUNTRY: Senior guard Iva Tomova, continues her dominating play. This season, Tomova is leading the team, averaging 16.3 points per game which ranks her fourth in the RMAC. She has scored in double figures in 16 of 19 games played. Tomova also ranks sixth in the RMAC with a .841 free throw percentage. Tomova led Mines this past weekend with 23 points on Friday against Chadron and 20 against Kearney.

BE LIKE EICK: Sophomore Sara Eickelman continues to be the backbone of the Orediggers this season. Eickelman has gotten the 2006-07 season started off with a bang, starting all 19 games, Eickelman is averaging 6.3 points per game and leads the team with 35 steals and 53 assists. Her 53 assists in 19 games ranks her 9th in the conference with a 2.8 average.

GOLDEN DALTON: A Golden, Colo. native, Emily Dalton has started her college career off smokin’, she has started the last 17 games, and has showed why she deserves that roll. She is second on the team with an average of 9.6 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game. Dalton ranks fifth in the RMAC with a .535 filed goal percentage.

REDSHIRT COMES OFF FOR BLAKELEE: Ever since Midyett was unredshirted she has done nothing but help the Orediggers. The Golden, Colo. native is averaging 8.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. Midyett has also become a starter, she proves why with her solid performances. She was second on the team this past weeked with 11 points in the Chadron game and 10 against Kearney.

AFOA GETS ROLL AS STARTER: Afoa is the third true freshman for Mines who has earned the starting position. Afoa has come on strong the past couple of games for the Orediggers. Afoa was second on the team Saturday night against Kearney with 10 points. She currentley ranks ninth in the RMAC with 19 blocked shots.

“Piercing” Pearson: Angela Pearson has one of the toughest jobs this season, replacing standout Ashley Gronewoller. Mines expects big things from the 6-0 center in 2006-07. After being in Gronewoller’s shadow, Pearson now gets her chance to shine and show what she’s all about. Pearson is averaging 5.8 points per game and leads the team with a 6.2 rebounds per game average so far this season, ranking her 14th in the RMAC.