Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
3-8
Western Carolina
7-4
Women's basketball recap: Post play leads Rams past Catamounts
12/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2010
By Danielle Marshall
Athletic Media Relations
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Smart and aggressive post play from forwards Sam Martin and Chatilla van Grinsven helped Colorado State (7-4) seal the win at the line Tuesday at Western Carolina (3-8). The Rams came away with the victory, 69-53.
van Grinsven played a stellar game for the Rams with 16 points and six rebounds coming off the bench. The junior was unable to attend the team's two practices earlier in the week due to the inclement weather in Philadelphia, Penn., that kept her stuck in the airport after the holiday break.
Martin was the point-leader for CSU, scoring a team-high 20 points, eight of which came from the charity stripe
"I think there were some things we did at the end that I thought our kids just gutted it out," commented Head Coach Kristen Holt. "We executed at the end and we got some stops. Chatilla looked good and Sam, once again, we just can't get her enough shots. I think that's why we had 20 turnovers, we were trying to force the ball inside to her."
Junior Kim Mestdagh got off to a slow start from the field, missing her first six attempts. She was finally able to change her luck at the 6-minute mark in the first hitting three shots from beyond the arc to finish the half. She ended the game with 18 points, extending her double-figures streak to all 11 games this season.
Senior Sara Hemmings scored a season-high six points in the contest, all of which came in the Rams first 16 points of the game.
Freshman Hayley Thompson and junior Kelly Hartig were among the culprits as the Rams were in foul trouble early in the game, forcing them to sit out for most of the first half playing only 8 minutes each. The Catamounts were already in the double bonus with 11:40 left to play in the first. Fortunately for the Rams, Western Carolina hit only 50.0 percent of its free throws on the night.
Hartig made her first CSU start this evening in only her second appearance this season. She finished the game with two rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal before fouling out late in the game. As a sophomore at Virginia, the transfer started 32 of 34 games for the Cavaliers in the 2008-09 season.
"We've got to get better at executing things, we have to learn to adjust," said Holt. "I absolutely love coaching this group. Kelly will do things for us. Kelly's aggressive and loves to be physical, she'll have to make those adjustments when she's not getting the calls."
The Rams continue their road trip on Thursday in Rock Hill, S.C., at Winthrop. Tipoff vs. the Eagles will be at 5 p.m. MT.
