Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
4-1
Portland
2-4
Rams Fly By Pilots 70-58
12/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2005
Colorado St. started fast and never looked back as they came away with a 12-point victory over Portland University Sunday afternoon at Moby Arena.
Leading the Ram scoring charge were three seniors led by Vanessa Espinoza's game-high 19 points, Lindsay Thomas chipped in 14, while Melissa Dennett was the only other Ram in double-figures with 13.
The Rams jumped to a 14-point lead before the Pilots finally got in the scoring column.
Senior Lindsay Thomas commented on the Ram's fast start, "We came out really well. We needed to maintain our energy and get through the first half and I think we did that."
The Rams maintained their fast start throughout the first half holding a 37-27 lead at the half. CSU shot a solid 55 percent from the field in the first half, though they were only 2-for-8 from behind the arc, while the CSU defense held the Pilots to 35 percent shooting in the first half.
The Ram's bench was non-existent in the first half, being outscored 9-0 by the Pilots. Though CSU held a 12-6 advantage in points in the paint, while building it's lead to 18 in the first half, the largest lead the Rams would enjoy all day.
CSU cooled down in the second half shooting just 32 percent from the floor, while going just 2-for-12 from three point range. The Rams finished the game just 4-for-20 from long range.
The cold shooting allowed the Pilots to hang around and cut the Ram lead to seven at the 7:19 mark, 52-45. CSU then went on a nine-point run of their own, pushing the lead to 61-45, capped off by two free throws by Melissa Dennett. Dennett finished the game with a team high 11 boards, along with her 13 points, giving her a third double-double of the year and the 12th of her career.
The Pilots zone defense seemed to give the Rams a few problems throughout the game, contributing to the cold long range shooting.
"They did a really good job in their zone defense. We had to make some adjustments, said Lindsay Thomas, who was a sizzling 7-9 from the field to finish with 14 points.
The Rams finished shooting 44 percent from the field, while the Pilots shot at a 35 percent clip. Both teams struggled from the outside, with CSU shooting a season low 20 percent, while the Pilots managed to connect on just 5-for-19, for 26 percent.
The Rams move to 4-1 on the young season, while Portland drops to 2-4. The Rams will take to the road for a December 7 tilt against Denver.
