Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
6-1
Colorado
3-3
Women's Basketball Recap: Nystrom delivers rivalry win
12/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Athletics Communications
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - There are certain games that will always stick with the players, the coaches, the fans. Wednesday night's rivalry game between Colorado State (6-1) and Colorado (3-3) was just that as the Rams came away with a thrilling 64-63 win over their in-state rival in a game that featured three potential game-winning shots in the final 13.6 seconds.
With the Rams trailing by one with just over 30 seconds left and CU with the ball, CSU desperately needed its nationally-ranked defense to step up with one more stop. As called upon, the defense delivered with a stop, prompting junior guard Ellen Nystrom to race the ball up the court. Nystrom saw a gap down the right side of the lane and knocked in a contested layup over to CU defenders to put the Rams in the lead by one with 13.6 seconds left.
The lead didn't last long though, as freshman guard Kennedy Leonard, who finished with 21 points, matched Nystrom's layup effort with her own scoop shot off the glass with 3.6 seconds left to put the Buffs back up. The Rams didn't panic though, having been in this position before. After a timeout to advance the ball, Nystrom got the inbounds pass and immediately turned over her left shoulder towards the baseline for a fadeaway jump shot that hit nothing but net to give the Rams the 64-63 victory. After struggling from the field for much of the day, Nystrom made three of her last four shots and finished the game with 14 points and eight assists with no turnovers.
While Nystrom struggled with her shot for most of the day, it was her fellow Swede that carried the offensive load throughout the game for the Rams. Gustavsson showcased her versatility inside and outside, making 8-of-13, including two three-pointers, for a team high 22 points and seven rebounds. It marked the third game in three tries vs. CU that Gustavsson has eclipsed the 20-point mark vs. CU. For her career, Gustavsson is averaging 23.7 points per game against the in-state rival.
The entire contest played much like the last 20 seconds did, with high drama and players from both sides making big plays. The game featured 12 lead changes and four ties and was within a couple of possessions for most of the game. CSU took a 33-31 lead into the halftime break, and came out firing in the second half to open up a 10-point lead with 1:25 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Buffs showed their toughness and led by their freshman leader, Leonard, would not let the game get away from them. Slowly but surely CU chipped away at CSU's lead and eventually regained the lead with 1:27 left in the game. Just enough time to set up the late-game theatrics at Moby Arena in front of 2,049 fans.
IN THEIR WORDS…
"This makes up for the last two years. We knew that it was going to be a tight game, because it's always been a tight game, so we just kept playing. I missed a lot, but the ball went in. I wanted it to go in so badly. I was just trying to be aggressive and keep being aggressive even though I missed, because that's what Coach said he wanted me to do." -- Junior guard Ellen Nystrom
"It just felt like we were fighting the whole game. I didn't feel like it was the last shot that gave us the win, it was the whole game, the whole team. We were just fighting for each other, and we wanted this win so badly, so we went and took it from them." -- Junior guard Ellen Nystrom
"That was a good win. I'll start with this; it was a really entertaining basketball game. I'm proud of our girls and I'm proud of Colorado. The execution down the stretch by both teams was outstanding. With three game-winning shots, you saw two teams who gave all their might and didn't want to lose." -- Head Coach Ryun Williams
"I'm really proud of Ellen (Nystrom). We're asking her to be a scorer and assert herself more offensively; that's not always easy to do and to do it in this type of game, it shows how Ellen grew up tonight." -- Head Coach Ryun Williams
STAT OF THE GAME…
• Ellen Nystrom started the game 1-of-9 shooting, but it was her name that got the call late in the game. Nystrom made three of her last four shots, including two shots in the last 13.6 seconds to give CSU the win.
NOTES…
• Wednesday night's win over CU marks the first win for CSU over its rival since 2009. The Rams came into the contest having lost five consecutive games to CU, with last year's game being a double-overtime thriller.
• Junior forward Elin Gustavsson poured in a game-high 22 points, marking the third time in three games vs. CU that she has scored at least 20 points. Gustavsson is averaging 23.7 points per game in her career vs. CU.
• Colorado State won the turnover battle with just eight turnovers compared to 14 for CU. The Rams also had 16 assists compared to 12 for the Buffs.
• Junior guard Ellen Nystrom finished with a season-high eight assists and didn't commit a single turnover in the game. She also was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
• Senior guard Jamie Patrick had her best game of the season with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. Patrick went 4-of-8 from the field, and made two three-pointers.
• The Rams improved to 6-1 for the first time since 2001-02. CSU is also a perfect 4-0 at Moby Arena this year.
NEXT UP…
The Rams have some time off before another in-state showdown in Greeley as the Rams travel to take on Northern Colorado on Dec. 8. The game will tipoff at 7 p.m. MT and fans can listen at 1410 KIIX and follow along on twitter @CSUWomensBball and @CSURamsGameday.
