Quarter Finals RMAC Championships
Colorado School of Mines vs. Metro State
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 5:00 pm
Auraria Event Center - Denver, 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. 6.5 4.2 2.5
15 Emily Dalton F 5-11 Fr. Golden, Colo. 9.6 5.0 1.1
23 Iva Tomova G 5-8 Sr. Varna, Bulgaria 16.7 4.1 2.7
30 Blakelee Midyett F 6-0 Fr. Golden, Colo. 7.1 4.6 0.6
44 Savannah Afoa C 6-1 Fr. Anchorage, Alaska 5.3 4.2 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 3.1 0.8
22 Emily Przekwas G 5-5 Jr. Littleton, Colo. 2.4 1.0 0.6
24 Julie Marshall G 5-6 So. Billings, Mont. 2.8 0.9 1.0
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. 0.6 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. 6.7 6.1 0.5

CSM FINISHES FOURTH IN EAST DIVISION: After finishing regular season play, Mines finished with a 15-12 overall record and 12-7 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. With their 12-7 RMAC record, the Orediggers finished fourth in the East Division and sixth overall (East and West). Regis University finished first in the East, followed by Metro, Kearney, Mines, CU-Colorado Springs, Colorado Christian and Chadron State.

LAST TIME OUT (2/16/07-2/17/07): The Colorado School of Mines women’s baskeball team wrapped up regular season play this past weekend 1-1. Mines dominated Colorado Christian Friday night with 86-68 win. Saturday night Mines lost a heartbreaker to Metro State 66-63.

OREDIGGERS ADVANCE TO RMAC TOURNAMENT: With their 12-7 RMAC record, Mines advances to the quarterfinals of the RMAC Championships. They are the sixth seed and are set to take on the number three seed, Metro State on Wednesday night.

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MINES LOOKS FOR REVENGE: After losing to Metro Saturday, Mines will get their chance at revenge sooner rather than later. Mines will face the Roadrunners tomorrow night in the first round of the RMAC Championships. There is no room for mistakes, as loser goes home and the winner will advance to the semifinals which will be played in Pueblo, Colo. at the RMAC Shootout. Mines upset number one Regis last year in the quarterfinals and advanced all the way to the Championship game against CSU-Pueblo. Mines will look to do the same this year, only this time, winning the whole thing.

OUT OF THIS COUNTRY: Senior guard Iva Tomova, continues her dominating play. This season, Tomova is leading the team, averaging 16.7 points per game which ranks her fourth in the RMAC. She has scored in double figures in 24 of 27 games played. Tomova also ranks sixth in the RMAC with a .811 free throw percentage. Tomova led Mines his weekend with 19 points in their win over Colorado Christian. MInes will look to Tomava tomorrow to lead the Orediggers over Metro.

BE LIKE EICK: Sophomore Sara Eickelman continues to be the backbone of the Orediggers this season. Eickelman has started all 27 games, Eickelman is averaging 6.5 points per game and is second on the team with 45 steals and 68 assists.

GOLDEN DALTON: A Golden, Colo. native, Emily Dalton has started her college career off smokin’, she has started the last 25 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 5.0 rebounds per game. Dalton ranks seventh in the RMAC with a .520 field 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 7.1 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game, third on the team. Midyett has also become a starter, she proves why with her solid performances. Midyett scored 14 points in Mines’ win over Colorado Christian.

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 had 11 points Friday against CC. She currentley ranks fourth in the RMAC with 24 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 6.7 points per game and leads the team with a 6.2 rebounds per game average so far this season, ranking her 17th in the RMAC. She is also ranked 11th with 15 blocked shots. Pearson had two games this past weekend where she scored in double digits.