Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
7-10, 1-5MWC
Wyoming
13-4, 3-3MWC
Women's Basketball Loses Heartbreaker In Laramie
1/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2006
The Colorado State women's basketball team, playing in its first overtime contest of the season, fell 87-80 to the University of Wyoming Cowgirls in front of a record crowd of 3,777. The Rams fall to 7-10 on the year and 1-5 in Mountain West Conference play while the Cowgirls improve to 13-4 overall and 3-3 in league action.
Senior forward Melissa Dennett recorded her eighth double-double of the year, scoring a team-best 25 points and pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds for the Rams before fouling out in the overtime period. Junior guard Molly Nohr recorded career-highs in both scoring and rebounding, scoring 18 and tallying nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Sara Hunter and freshman forward Casie Shepherd were also in double figures in scoring with 11 and 10, respectively.
"We found some things inside this team tonight that had been hiding," said CSU head coach Jen Warden. "It was a tremendous night of finding some things inside us and we stayed in the moment no matter happened in the game. We took great risks and I couldn't be more proud of our players. No matter who we tapped on the shoulder they were ready to do whatever was needed."
Wyoming was led by Jodi Bolerjack with 25 points, including four three-pointers and a perfect 7-for-7 night from the free throw line. Senior guard Erin Hicks scored 21, while sophomore forward Hanna Zavecz and sophomore guard Dominique Sisk chipped in 18 and 12, respectively.
Colorado State trailed by as many as 14 points with just over 14 minutes remaining in the game, but continued to chip away at the lead. The Rams took its first lead of the game, 56-55, with just over three minutes remaining off two free throws by Dennett. The score was tied at 12-12 in the first half and again at 54-54 in the second half. The lead lasted only 33 seconds, and CSU regained the lead at 60-58 with 1:36 left.
Dennett and Nohr combined to score the last 27 points of the second half for CSU. Wyoming tied the score at 66-66 after sinking a three-pointer with 9.1 seconds left and then Hicks stole the inbounds pass for a layup with 7.2 remaining to send the game into overtime. Senior guard Vanessa Espinoza left the game after playing just one minute in the second-half. She took an elbow to the temple and required stitches over one eye.
"It takes a village... we have a very intimate offense, so what that (Dennett and Nohr scoring the final 27 of the half) says to me was the whole team stepped up, realized who was hot and got them the ball. Every move we made as a team, we made it together."
The Rams went into the locker room down four points at halftime, 34-30. The guards had just four points, while the forwards and centers combined for 26, including 22 points in the paint. Dennett led all scorers with 10, the seventh time this season she has scored double figures in the first stanza. The Rams also did not attempt a three-pointer in the first 20 minutes, though Nohr hit an outside shot with her foot on the arc.
Colorado State travels to Provo, Utah to take on the undefeated BYU Cougars. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and will air on BYU-TV.
