Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
7-1
Northern Colorado
5-4
Women's Basketball Recap: Rams stifle Bears
12/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Athletics Communications
GREELEY, Colo. – The Colorado State Rams continued its dominant start to the season with a decisive start-to-finish victory over in-state rival Northern Colorado, as the Rams improved to 7-1 on the year. It was the fourth time this season that the Rams have led from start-to-finish in a game.
CSU avenged yet another loss from last year, this time a 62-46 win over the Bears. The Rams had already avenged losses vs. BYU and Colorado earlier this season to make them a perfect three-for-three this season in games against teams they lost to last year.
Senior Jamie Patrick led the Rams with 17 points as she exploded from beyond the arc, making five of her six attempts. Patrick also contributed with three assists while junior forward Elin Gustavsson continued her dominant play vs. CU with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting vs. UNC. Junior guard Ellen Nystrom rounded out CSU’s double-digit scorers with 10 points, four rebounds and six assists.
The game was billed as a matchup pitting strength against strength. CSU came into the contest with the nation’s No. 10 scoring defense, allowing just 50.7 points per game, while UNC averaged the fifth-most 3-pointers in the nation at 10.5 per game. In the battle of strengths, CSU came out superior, limiting the Bears to just 3-of-15 shooting from deep.
The Rams were particularly dominant in the second quarter, giving up just nine points as UNC made just one of its 10 field goal attempts in the quarter. It marked the 10th time this season that CSU held its opponent to single digits in a quarter.
Utilizing the tremendous first half, the Rams went into the locker room with a 32-20 lead at halftime. That lead only grew in the third quarter as the Rams jumped on the Bears with a 17-5 run to start the quarter. CSU led by as much as 24 points in the game, and never let the lead get closer than 13 points in the second half.
IN THEIR WORDS…
“That second quarter was big. I thought the start of the third quarter was also really big. We had a bunch of stops where we were really locked in, and I think we really took control of that game right at the start of the second half.” – Head Coach Ryun Williams
“We have all the trust in the world in Jamie Patrick. She’s been so good defensively; she might be our Defensive MVP up to this point. We just knew it was a matter of time before she was going to have a really nice offensive game. She’s a dynamite shooter, so it was nice to get her going early on in that first half.” – Head Coach Ryun Williams
“I think we did a nice job of not giving them (UNC) any momentum in that game. It was a very business-like, professional approach our kids took. They all did their jobs defensively, and offensively we were very solid inside-out.” – Head Coach Ryun Williams
“We played great defense today and didn’t allow them to get any easy shots.” – Junior guard Ellen Nystrom
“We strive to have one of the best defensive teams, and we like to have that transition into our offense. It was nice to have both of them (offense and defense) going tonight.” – Senior guard Jamie Patrick
STAT OF THE GAME…
• CSU led from start-to-finish for the fourth time this season. On the year, the Rams have led for 263:50 of the possible 330 minutes (79.9 percent).
NOTES…
• Jamie Patrick had her best shooting game of the season, making five of her six 3-point attempts for a team-high 17 points.
• Ellen Nystrom finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds, six assists and just one turnover. Over the past two games, she has 14 assists and only one turnover.
• The Rams held UNC to single digits in the second quarter, marking the 10th time this year that an opponent has been held to single digits in a quarter.
• The second quarter continues to be CSU’s best defensive quarter. On the year, the Rams have allowed just 68 points in eight games (8.5 per game).
• Additionally, CSU’s opponents have been held to single digits in the second quarter in five of the eight games this year.
• CSU had just nine turnovers at UNC, marking the second consecutive game that CSU has had single-digit turnovers. The Rams had eight turnovers vs. CU.
• CSU led from start-to-finish for the fourth time this season. On the year, the Rams have led for 263:50 of the possible 330 minutes (79.9 percent).
NEXT UP…
Colorado State returns home with a quick-turnaround, playing Montana on Thursday at Moby Arena. The game will tipoff at 7 p.m. MT and will be streamed on the Mountain West Network. Fans can also listen on the radio at 1410 KIIX and follow @CSUWomensBball and @CSURamsGameday for in-game updates throughout. Tickets can be purchased at the Fum McGraw ticket office as well as over the phone at 491-RAMS.
