Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
2-2
Idaho
1-2
Guard Trio Advances Rams To CRMI Championship
11/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2006
Senior Molly Nohr recorded career-highs with 10 rebounds and 21 points - finishing as one of three Rams to eclipse the 20-point mark - to lead the Rams to an 88-68 victory over the University of Idaho in the first round of the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational, Friday night at Moby Arena. The victory evens the Rams record to 2-2 on the young season, while Idaho falls to 1-2.
Fresh off of a road swing in which the Rams shot just 35 percent as a team, the Colorado State responded in front of the crowd of 1,432, hitting its first eight field goals of the game and putting together a 51.5 percent shooting performance against the Vandals, while holding Idaho to just 35.9 percent from the floor.
The Rams' starting trio of guards took the bulk of the shots. Sara Hunter (10-for-20 FGs), Kelly Jo Mullaney (7-for-13 FGs) and Nohr (8-for-16 FGs) each eclipsed 20 points for the game, with Nohr recording her first-career double-double, to go along with a game-high six assists. Hunter scored a game-high 24 points, while Mullaney checked in with 21 points in the contest, the third 20-point game in four-career starts for the freshman guard from Minneapolis, Minn.
"Sara (Hunter), Kelly Jo (Mullaney) and I have a good chemistry out there," commented Nohr following the game. "I can feel it on the court."
The Rams also received strong play in the front court. Senior center Marilyn Moulton finished just one point shy of her first-career double-double. She notched 13 rebounds for the Rams - her third consecutive game with double-digit rebounds - and added nine points.
"Marilyn (Moulton) did a great job tonight, especially on the offensive boards, giving us a second possession," said head coach Jen Warden.
However, it was on the defensive end of the floor where Moulton and freshman center Nya Mason made their presence felt. Moulton rejected a career-high six blocks in the contest, second most in a single game in school history, and Mason added three more swats to the Rams' total. Freshmen Juanise Cornell and Ashley McFarland each recorded one block in the game, tying the school record with 11 team blocks in a game.
The Rams also protected the ball in the contest. After beginning with four turnovers in the game's first four minutes, the Rams turned the ball over just seven times for the remainder of the game.
Three Vandals finished in double-figures, led by junior Sara Dennehy who netted 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Freshman Katie Madison recorded a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds (10 offensive rebounds), while senior Karly Felton added 12 points.
The Rams move into the championship game of the 13th Annual Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational where they will face the Western Carolina Lady Catamounts for the tournament crown. Western Carolina defeated Weber State in overtime in the first game of the tournament, behind 18 points and eight rebounds from junior guard Monique Dawson. The Lady Catamounts are now 2-3 on the season, while Weber State (3-1) suffered its first loss of the year.
Weber State and Idaho tip-off in the consolation game Saturday at 6 p.m. MT and the Rams will face the Lady Catamounts at approximately 8 p.m. MT for the championship.
