Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
5-8
South Dakota
11-3
CSU wins nail-biter over South Dakota, 56-55
1/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2009
By Danny Mattie
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Britney Minor tallied 12 points, and fellow senior Amaka Uzomah added nine rebounds to lead the Colorado State women’s basketball team to a 56-55 victory over the University of South Dakota on Saturday afternoon at Moby Arena.
With the win, the Rams improved to 5-8 on the season, one more victory than all of last year, and won their second consecutive game – and third in a row at home.
South Dakota fell to 11-3 on the season, despite a double-double effort of 18 points and 16 rebounds from senior forward Bridget Yoerger, and double-digit scoring performances from freshman Annie Roche (12 points) and senior Maggie Youngberg (11 points).
Colorado State stormed back from a 10-point second-half deficit, as Uzomah punctuated the Rams’ comeback effort with an offensive rebound and putback with 17 seconds remaining to cap a wild final 5 minutes that saw six lead changes and two ties.
With the Rams trailing by one, 55-54, and less than 30 seconds left in the game, sophomore Bonnie Barbee missed a potential go-ahead jump shot, but Uzomah outrebounded a host of Coyotes, missed the ensuing layup, but converted after her second offensive rebound to score the game-winning basket.
Uzomah finished the game with six points to go along with her team-high nine rebounds, four of which came on the offensive glass.
South Dakota opened up its biggest lead of the game, 42-32, thanks to a 16-6 run over the opening 6 minutes, 12 seconds of the second half. The Rams answered with a 10-0 run of their own to knot the game at 42. Minor added four of her team-high 12 during that span and freshman Meghan Heimstra sparked the run with two quick baskets at the 13:30 and 12:42 marks.
Senior guard Kandy Beemer added nine points for the Rams, converting on 3-of-5 attempts from three-point range, including a clutch trey at the 6:47 mark that nearly rattled in and out before dropping for a 49-47 Rams lead.
Overall, Colorado State connected on 38.6 percent from the field, just below USD’s 42.2 percent, but the Rams outrebounded the Coyotes 37-29 and held a 10-0 advantage in second-chance points, as well as a 29-0 advantage in bench scoring.
With the win, the Rams improved to 12-4 since the formation of the Mountain West Conference (1999-2000) against non-conference opponents in the month of January. Saturday’s victory marked the final non-conference test for the Rams, who open league play on Wednesday, hosting MWC power TCU at 7 p.m. at Moby Arena. For tickets, call 1-800/491-RAMS, or visit CSURams.com.
