Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
17-10, 8-6
New Mexico
20-7, 12-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado St. | 28 | 24 | 52 |
| New Mexico | 17 | 42 | 59 |
Women's Basketball Falls Short At New Mexico
3/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Colorado State women?s basketball team dropped its final game of the regular season this afternoon, 59-52 at New Mexico. With the win, the Lobos will be the number one seed in the Mountain West Conference Tournament as they improve to 20-7 overall and 12-2 in league action. The Rams fall to 17-10 overall and 8-6 in league play. The Rams have lost five straight games at The Pit, dating back to a 1998 victory for CSU.
Senior Jasai Ferrucho broke the Mountain West Conference record for assists in a conference season. She ends the league season with 53 assists, breaking the record held by Erin Thorn from BYU last season of 52. Sophomore forward Melissa Dennett led the Rams with 17 points, senior forward Joy Jenkins added 14 -- 13 coming in the first half -- and sophomore guard Vanessa Espinoza chipped in 11 in the loss. Sophomore center Lindsay Thomas led the team with seven rebounds and Espinoza had a team-high six assists.
Senior forward Melissa Forest led the Lobos with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while sophomore guard Abbie Letz scored 14 and both juniors Lindsey Arndt and Mandi Moore chipped in 10. Forest also had six blocks in the contest and connected on four-of-five three-pointers, hitting her first four. The Lobos connected on their last eight free throws in the final 1:34 of the
?I?m really proud of the kids for the way they played,? said Head Coach Chris Denker. ?The atmosphere here was amazing with 17,000 fans and we controlled that atmosphere the entire game. Our defense was really solid all game long. We only broke down defensively three times, Letz? two three-pointers and a Forest lay-in. Freshmen stepped up and played really good. We out-rebounded this team by 10 and I?m really pleased with how our team is playing right now.?
New Mexico jumped out to the early 5-0 lead after the Rams missed their first six shots of the game. Colorado State rebounded to score 10 of the next 12 points and take its first lead of the contest. The teams traded baskets until New Mexico had the 15-14 lead off a three-pointer by Forest. Jenkins then led an 11-0 run for the Rams, scoring 10 straight after a free throw by Dennett to take the 25-17 lead. Jenkins then nailed her third three-pointer of the day with 3.5 seconds remaining to give CSU the 28-17 lead at the break.
The Lobos came out on fire in the second-half, scoring the first nine points in 2:34 but the Rams responded with a 7-0 run of their own for the 37-26 advantage. After holding the Lobos scoreless for 5:26, the Rams gave up an 8-0 run, when Espinoza hit a jumper with 9:30 left to snap the drought. The teams traded baskets and with 5:36 left, after a Marilyn Moulton layup the Rams held a 47-41 lead. Letz hit back-to-back long-range three-pointers to knot the score for the fifth time at 47-47. The Lobos scored the next four points to take the 51-47 lead for the first time since 15-14 with 9:19 remaining in the first half.
Colorado State will be the fourth-seed in the Mountain West Conference Tournament and will face either BYU or Wyoming in the first round on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. The winner of that contest will face the winner of the New Mexico - Air Force game on Friday at noon.
