Colorado School of Mines vs. Regis University
Friday, February 16, 2007 - 5:00 pm
Regis Fieldhouse - Denver, Colo.

Colorado School of Mines vs. UC-Colorado Springs
Saturday, Ferbruary 17, 2007 - 6:00 pm
The Lions Den - Colorado Springs, 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 4.3 2.5
15 Emily Dalton F 5-11 Fr. Golden, Colo. 9.4 5.1 1.0
23 Iva Tomova G 5-8 Sr. Varna, Bulgaria 16.9 3.8 2.7
30 Blakelee Midyett F 6-0 Fr. Golden, Colo. 7.5 5.3 0.5
44 Savannah Afoa C 6-1 Fr. Anchorage, Alaska 5.0 4.3 0.5

No. Off the Bench Pos Ht. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG APG
14 Elise Goggin G 5-4 So. Colorado Springs 0.8 0.1 0.2
20 Amanda Adams F 5-7 So. Evergreen, Colo. 3.4 3.4 0.8
22 Emily Przekwas G 5-5 Jr. Littleton, Colo. 2.6 1.1 0.6
24 Julie Marshall G 5-6 So. Billings, Mont. 2.7 0.9 1.1
25 Bailey Christenson G 5-5 RFR. Boulder, Colo. 0.2 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. 0.7 0.6 0.0
42 Brecca Gaffney C 6-1 Fr. Greeley, Colo. 3.5 5.0 2.0
55 Angela Pearson C 6-0 Sr. Arvada, Colo. 6.2 6.2 0.6

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 (2/2/07-2/3/07): The Colorado School of Mines women’s baskeball team split a pair of home games this past weekend. Mines came away with a 60-46 win over UCCS Friday night and turned around to face Regis on Saturday. Regis is the number one team in the RMAC with an 11-1 record. Mines gave the Rangers a run for their money but fell short, as they lost 54-45.

TEN GAME HOME WINNING STREAK COMES TO AN END: Regis put a stop to Mines’ home winning streak on Saturday night. The Orediggers went on a ten game win streak with not a single loss since their setback to South Dakota on November 22nd. Regis took that streak away as they beat the Orediggers 54-45.

COMING ON STRONG: After starting 0-6, Mines has gone out and won 13 of the last 17 games played.

ABOUT REGIS:Regis beat the Orediggers just two weeks ago, putting Mines home winning streak to a hault. Mines will go into their house in hopes of beating them, infront of thier home crowd. Regis is led by the Lopez sisters who both average more than 15 points per game.

ABOUT UCCS: Mines beat the Mountain Lions two weeks ago 60-46 at Volk Gymnasium. The Mountain Lions currently sit behind Mines in the East Division standings. Mines will go into the Lions Den in search of a much needed win. UCCS is led by Tonya Tripp who averages 12.6 points per game.

OUT OF THIS COUNTRY: Senior guard Iva Tomova, continues her dominating play. This season, Tomova is leading the team, averaging 16.9 points per game which ranks her fourth in the RMAC. She has scored in double figures in 20 of 23 games played. Tomova also ranks seventh in the RMAC with a .830 free throw percentage. Tomova led Minest his weekend with 22 points in their win over Chadron State.

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 23 games, Eickelman is averaging 6.3 points per game and is second on the team with 39 steals and 58 assists. Her 58 assists in 23 games ranks her 13th in the conference with a 2.5 average.

GOLDEN DALTON: A Golden, Colo. native, Emily Dalton has started her college career off smokin’, she has started the last 21 games, and has showed why she deserves that roll. She is second on the team with an average of 9.4 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game. Dalton ranks sixth in the RMAC with a .526 field goal percentage. Dalton had a good game against Chadron this weekend, ending with 17 points and seven boards.

REDSHIRT COMES OFF FOR BLAKELEE: Ever since Midyett was unredshirted she has done nothing but help the Orediggers. The Golden, Colo. native is averaging 7.5 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game, second on the team. Midyett has also become a starter, she proves why with her solid performances. Midyett led the team with 10 rebounds against Chadron on Saturday.

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 led the team with 10 rebounds Friday against Kearney. She currentley ranks eighth in the RMAC with 23 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 6.2 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.