Eric R. Flores
The Paw Print
The Adams State Grizzlies are having one of their best seasons in their NCAA D-II Era (1992-present) as they won their thirteenth game of the 2009-2010 season on Saturday by defeating the Western New Mexico Mustangs, 78-48. With the win, the Grizzlies also improved to 7-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
The Grizzlies are one game from tying up their season record in the D-II Era of fourteen. They won fourteen games last year and still have eleven games to play before the RMAC Shootout in March.
In Saturday’s game, three players had fantastic performances, scoring 16 points apiece. Those three included Vera Jo Bustos, Chloe Cable and Kendra Coveal.
The Grizzlies, who never trailed during the game, shot a season best 56 percent from the field and connected in 22 of 26 free throws. They committed 28 turnovers and were called for 22 personal fouls; however, the Mustangs were called for 20 personal fouls and committed 24 turnovers. Both team benches were called for a technical foul.
Adams State didn’t hit a single three-pointer but used strong runs to make the gap impressive. One of the bigger runs of the first half was a 10-0 run to increase the lead to 21-7 midway through.
In the second half, the Grizzlies used an 18-6 run over seven minutes to build a 63-37 lead and then went on to get their biggest lead of 31.
An impressive 60.9 percent shooting effort in the second half helped the Grizzlies outscored the Mustangs 39-21.
Marissa Peterson had seven points and seven rebounds.
The Grizzlies have been having such an impressive season that they have even received votes in the USA TODAY ESPN Division II Top 25 women’s basketball coaches’ poll. They were listed in the “others receiving votes” category of the WBCA poll for the seventh straight week and had 12 total points, good enough to be tied for 30th.
This, however, came before they played the No. 10 ranked Fort Lewis Skyhawks on January 19.
Adams State traveled to Durango and dropped the game to Fort Lewis by a score of 82-50.
Cable led the way for Adams State as she scored 11 points while Vera Jo Bustos was held to single digits for the first time this season with just seven points.
The Grizzlies return home to play New Mexico Highlands on Friday at 6 p.m. to try and tie their record of fourteen wins. The game is a televised game that will be carried by KSPK-TV.
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