Colorado School of Mines vs. Biola University
Friday, December 29, 2006 - 4:00 pm
Volk Gym - Golden, Colo.

Colorado School of Mines vs.Kansas Wesleyan
Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 4:00 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. 7.6 3.1 1.7
15 Emily Dalton F 5-11 Fr. Golden, Colo. 10.1 4.8 0.4
23 Iva Tomova G 5-8 Sr. Varna, Bulgaria 14.3 3.7 1.8
33 Kelsey Crist F 5-11 So. Buena Vista, Colo. 3.9 2.3 0.6
55 Angela Pearson C 6-0 Sr. Arvada, Colo. 5.6 6.6 0.6

No. Off the Bench Pos Ht. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG APG
14 Elise Goggin G 5-4 So. Colorado Springs 1.3 0.1 0.0
20 Amanda Adams F 5-7 So. Evergreen, Colo. 1.6 2.0 1.1
22 Emily Przekwas G 5-5 Jr. Littleton, Colo. 3.7 1.7 0.2
24 Julie Marshall G 5-6 So. Billings, Mont. 3.2 0.9 1.0
25 Bailey Christenson G 5-5 RFR. Boulder, Colo. 0.2 0.3 0.1
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. 1.1 0.5 0.0
42 Brecca Gaffney C 6-1 Fr. Greeley, Colo. 3.5 5.0 1.7
44 Savannah Afoa C 6-1 Fr. Anchorage, Alaska 3.3 3.6 0.0

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 (11/17/06-11/18/06): The Colorado School of Mines women’s baskeball team beat both conference opponents New Mexico Highalnds and Western New Mexico this past weekend. Mines improved to 2-1 in RMAC play with the two wins. Mines defeated N.M. Highlands 58-45 while they defeated W. New Mexico 63-45

THREE GAME WINNING STREAK: Mines is currently on a three game winning streak, after beating Colorado College, New Mexico Highlands and Western New Mexico. The Orediggers have won three of their last three games at home and will return to action at home on the 29th and 30th, in hopes of keeping their winning streak alive.

ABOUT BIOLA: Biola comes into Mines with an overall record of 5-4. They are led by Megann Alberts who averages 16.3 points per game and 8.4 rebounds.

ABOUT Kansas Wesleyan: Kansas Wesleyan is part of the NAIA and currenlty holds a record of 4-9. They are paced by Ascendra Peters who averages 15.8 points per game.

OUT OF THIS COUNTRY: Senior guard Iva Tomova returns for her second season at Mines. A native of Varna, Bulgaria, Tomova transferred to Mines last season after playing two seasons at Northeastern Junior College. This season, Tomova is leading the team, averaging 14.3 points per game which ranks her fifth in the RMAC. She has scored in double figures in seven of nine games played.

BE LIKE EICK: Sophomore Sara Eickelman will continue as Mines’ starting point guard this season. As one of the toughest players on the team, Eickelman will be the backbone of the Orediggers this season. Eickelman has gotten the 2006-07 season started off with a bang, Eickelman is averaging 7.6 points per game, third on the team and leads the team with 18 steals and 17 assists.

“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 5.6 points per game and leads the team with a 6.6 rebounds per game average so far this season. Pearson had a break out game against Western New Mexico this past weekend ending with 15 points and seven rebounds

GOLDEN DALTON: A Golden, Colo. native, Emily Dalton has started her college career off smokin’, she has started the last seven games, and has showed why she deserves that roll. She is second on the team with an average of 10.1 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game. Dalton led Mines this past weekend against Western New Mexico with 16 points and seven rebounds.