Colorado State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Preview - Connecticut
12/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2006
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Game 11:
Colorado State (5-5) at 6/6 Connecticut (7-0)
Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006 • 7:30 p.m. ET
Storrs, Conn. • Harry A. Gampel Pavilion (10,167)
The Series
Overall Record 2-0
In Fort Collins 1-0
In Storrs, Conn. 1-0
At Neutral Sites 0-0
Warden vs Connecticut 0-0
Radio
Colorado State Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Brian Roth
Color Analyst: Corbu Stathes
Fort Collins: 600 AM KCOL
Denver: 560 AM KLZ
The Matchup
Colorado State travels to Storrs, Conn. for a matchup with the No. 6/6-ranked Connecticut Huskies at Gampel Pavilion on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Colorado Sate enters the contest riding a three-game winning streak in which the Rams defeated Northern Colorado (59-48), San Jose State (76-57) and Oklahoma Panhandle State (76-64) to even their record at 5-5.
The Huskies enter the game with an overall record of 7-0 on the season, 1-0 in the Big East Conference and are currently ranked sixth in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls.
Connecticut is led by head coach Geno Auriemma in his 21st year at the helm of the UConn women's program. During his time in Storrs, Auriemma has led the Huskies to five national championships, including three straight from 2002-2004.
All five of UConn's starters enter the matchup with Colorado State averaging double-figures in scoring, led by sophomore guard Renee Montgomery who is scoring at a clip of 14.3 points per game.
Freshman center Tina Charles leads the team in rebounding, averaging 8.0 boards per contest.
Junior forward Charde Houston (13.3 ppg., 7.0 rpg.), junior guard Mel Thomas (11.9 ppg., 2.1 rpg.) and sophomore guard Kalana Greene (10.7 ppg., 6.9 rpg.) round out the starting five for the Huskies, who shoot better than 50 percent from the floor as a team and have outscored opponents by an average margin of 82.6-49.0.
UConn Series
When the Rams meet the Huskies in Storrs, Conn. on Thursday, it will mark just the third meeting between the two programs, but the third meeting in five years. Connecticut holds the 2-0 advantage in the two previous meetings. The Rams fell to the Huskies, 89-44, in the two teams' first meeting, in the second round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament. Connecticut then battled the Rams at Moby Arena on Dec. 23, 2004. Connecticut defeated the Rams in that contest, 63-44.
Rams at Full Strength
Kelly Rae Finley made her Rams' debut against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sunday. The sophomore transfer from Northwestern, chipped in seven points, five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steel in 13 minutes of action off the Rams' bench. This marked the first time since arriving in Fort Collins that Head Coach Jen Warden had a full complement of players at her disposal.
Back-to-Back Double-Doubles
Colorado State senior center Marilyn Moulton notched her first-career double-double in Colorado State's 76-57 victory over San Jose State on Dec. 9, with 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the contest. The 6'4" native of Longmont, Colo. followed up that performance with 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Dec. 17.
Moulton's Rebounding
Senior center Marilyn Moulton, who ranks first in the Mountain West Conference and 17th nationally in rebounding, recorded her sixth double-digit rebounding game of the season and third in a row with a career-high 16 rebounds against Oklahoma Panhandle State.
Moulton's 16 rebounds is the largest single-game total by a Ram since Melissa Dennett pulled down 15 rebounds against UAB on Nov. 27, 2004.
Eight of Moulton's 16 rebounds against OPSU came on the offensive glass, tying for fourth most in a single-game in school history and the highest offensive rebounding total since Shannon Randles pulled down 9 o-boards vs. Wyoming on Feb. 6, 1997.
Hunting for 3's
Junior guard Sara Hunter moved into a tie for eighth on the career 3-point charts with 124. Hunter ties former Rams' standout Katie Borton (1993-03).
Nohr Closing in on 200 Assists
Entering Thursday's contest at Connecticut, senior guard Molly Nohr sits just two assist shy of 200 for her career.
Ram Rebounding
Colorado State's rebounding average (44.6 rpg.) game ranks fifth on the team single-season charts in school history and is the best average since 1979-80.
Three-Point Accuracy
Senior guard Molly Nohr and junior guard Sara Hunter rank sixth and eight, respectively on the Colorado State career 3-point percentage charts. Nohr has connected on 37.6 percent (35-for-93) over her career was a Ram while Hunter (124-333) has hit at a 37.2 percent clip.
The Turnover Story
Colorado State is 5-0 this season when giving away fewer turnovers than opponents. In the Rams five victories, the team is averaging 12.4 turnovers per game and opponent's are giving the ball up at a rate of 19.0 times per contest. In losses, however the roles are reversed as the Rams' average rockets to 19.2 turnovers per game, compared with 13.4 for opponents.
Head of the Class
Two Rams newcomers, Juanise Cornell and Kelly Jo Mullaney have emerged as leaders in the Mountain West Conference among both freshman and all classes. Cornell ranks first in the conference among freshman, pulling down an average of 7.1 rebounds per contest. This also ranks ninth among all players in the Mountain West Conference. Mullaney leads all freshman in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per contest. This ranks fifth among all players in the Mountain West.
Neal Leaving Mark
Freshman guard Emily Neal has made significant contributions for Colorado State in the Rams' last six contests. During her first four collegiate contests, Neal averaged just 1.0 point and 1.5 rebounds per contest in just under seven minutes per contest. In her last six appearances, Neal is averaging 7.3 points 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while playing more than 24 minutes per contest off the bench.
On Guard
The Rams backcourt continues to impress early in the 2006-07 season. The Rams starting three-guard set of Kelly Jo Mullaney (16.3 ppg.), Sara Hunter (11.7 ppg.) and Molly Nohr (14.1 ppg.) has accounted for 63.6 percent of the team's scoring through nine games.
A Little Help
For the second consecutive game, a Ram freshman benefitted from her teammates ability to spread the ball around. Guard Kelly Jo Mullaney led the Rams with 19 points on 7-for-16 shooting against Oklahoma Panhandle State. All seven of Mullaney's made field goals were assisted. Freshman Juanise Cornell scored a career-most 15 points thanks to some sensational ball movement by the Rams offense against San Jose State. Four of the Cornell's five made field goals were assisted, including three-straight from Molly Nohr, part of a 6-0 run that between the 14:05 mark and the 12:21 mark of the second half in which the Rams' lead expanded to 20 points over San Jose State.
A Tale of Two Halves
Senior guard Molly Nohr exploded for 16 points in the second half of the Rams victory over San Jose State. The 5-11 guard was 1-for-4 from the floor in the first half and headed into the locker room with just two points. However, in the second half, Nohr was 3-for-3 from the field and aggressively attacked the basket to shoot 7-for-8 from the free throw line, both career highs, and finish with 18 points in the contest. Nohr also recorded 3 assists in the second half, compared with one in the first half of the contest.
Nohr hits 500
Senior guard Molly Nohr eclipsed 500 career points at Colorado Sate in the Rams' 76-57 victory over San Jose State. Entering Thursday's matchup with UConn, she sits at 531 career points.
600 and Counting
Junior guard Sara Hunter recorded eight points in the Rams loss to Denver, reaching exactly 600 points for her career at Colorado State. Entering Thursday's game at Connecticut, Hunter has 620-career points, the most on the team and 250 points shy of the top-20 in school history.
Cornell has Career Night
Freshman forward Juanise Cornell enjoyed a career night against San Jose State. The 5-9 freshman from Azusa, Calif. notched career-bests for points (15), assists (3), free throw made (5) and free throws attempted (7). Cornell also recorded eight rebounds and two steals in the contest.
Top Assist-Field Goal Combos
Kelly Jo Mullaney was set up seven times by her teammates in the Rams victory over OPSU, and led the Rams with 19 points in the contest. The following is a list of the Rams' top assist-to-field goal combinations:
Hunter to Mullaney 14 Nohr to Mullaney 13 Nohr to Cornell 9 Mullaney to Hunter 7 Nohr to Hunter 7