Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Metro State (Exh.)
Women's basketball opens exhibition play
10/31/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 31, 2007
FORT COLLINS, Colo -- Despite a great defensive effort from a new-look Colorado State team, the CSU women's basketball team lost its exhibition opener, 55-42, to Metro State College of Denver on Wednesday night at Moby Arena in front of 1,163 fans.
"I'm very pleased that we could hold this tough, tough Metro State team to 55 points," said Head Coach Jen Warden.
The Rams held the Roadrunners to just 36.8 percent shooting from the floor. However, Colorado State's offense could not find a rhythm late in the game. Fending off a 6-2 Rams' run that cut the deficit to three points, 43-40, with 6:15 remaining in the contest, Metro State closed the contest on a 12-2 to secure the 13-point victory.
"I'm very surprised that we didn't score more," added Warden. "We've got a lot to build on defensively. Shooting was up-and-down, but we did a lot of good things defensively."
The Rams forced 17 Metro State turnovers as five different players recorded a steal in the contest, led by two each from freshmen Britney Minor and Lauren Young. Minor also pitched in five points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes. Young recorded four points and three rebounds in 15 minutes of action.
"Lauren Young had a really productive first half," said Warden. "I was also pleased with Britney Minor's performance. Five points, seven rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes is pretty good production."
Senior guard Sara Hunter led the Rams' in scoring, tallying 12 points to go along with two rebounds in 38 minutes. Sophomore guard Emily Neal posted nine points and two rebounds to go along with a steal in the game.
Fellow sophomore, forward Juanise Cornell, opened the contest with a fury, notching five points and six rebounds in the game's opening stanza. Cornell finished with seven points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Freshman Elle Queen earned a start for the Rams' and accounted for four points, six rebounds, one block and one steal in 33 minutes.
It was not enough, however, as a balanced scoring attack by Metro State downed the Rams. Allysa Benson and Cassondra Bratton led the way for Metro State with 13 points each. Ashley Mickens added 12 and Stephanie Sauter tallied 10 points. Metro State also out-rebounded the Rams by a 40-35 margin. Mickens pulled down seven rebounds to pace the Roadrunners.
The Rams will have one more exhibition game, Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason-favorite, CSU-Pueblo. Colorado State opens the regular season at Northern Iowa, Nov. 9 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
