Rams cruise past Eastern New Mexico, 75-35

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's basketball team defeated the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds, 75-35, leading nearly throughout the Thursday night matchup from Moby Arena.

Colorado State (2-1) took a 4-2 lead on a Sofie Tryggedsson three-pointer in the third minute of play and never looked back, leading for 37:40 on Thursday. CSU went on a 12-1 run from that 4-2 advantage, building its lead to double digits at the end of the first quarter and to as large as 27 with a 40-13 advantage at halftime. That lead grew to 29 points at the end of the third quarter before the final 40-point margin of victory.

The Rams combined that first-half offense with stellar defense, as Eastern New Mexico managed its 13 points over that stretch on only 10 percent (2-of-20) shooting from the floor and 0-for-7 three-point shooting. For the game, the Rams held ENMU to 5.6 percent (1-of-18) shooting from beyond the arc and 20.4 percent (11-of-54) shooting overall. Only three Greyhounds made multiple shots on Thursday, and no ENMU player scored more than seven points.

Colorado State's bench controlled the game down the stretch, as those seven players off the bench combined to score 49 points. Leading that group off the bench was junior guard Callie Kaiser, who scored an efficient 14 points on 5-of-5 field goal shooting (one three-point field goal) to go along with seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Nathalie Linden scored seven points and led all players with 27 minutes off the bench. Freshman centers Liah Davis and Lena Svanholm each scored eight points on identical 4-of-7 shooting (57.1 percent).

CSU won nearly every statistical battle on Thursday, including a 43-31 edge in rebounding and a 14-3 assists advantage. Veronika Mirkovic was the Rams' top rebounder (eight), while Annie Brady matched Kaiser with seven rebounds. Grace Colaivalu led the Rams in assists (six) along with four points on 2-of-2 shooting.

IN THEIR WORDS
Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams
Opening statement:
"It was an opportunity tonight to get better as a basketball team, and I think our kids did a good job at taking advantage of the opportunity to compete. We got everybody in the game and I thought everybody played with great energy. We had really solid production throughout the whole roster. This was a really fun team victory and I think our kids did a great job of getting better as a basketball team."

On the team's approach to the game:
"I thought the energy was from the get-go really solid, and when we went to the bench it even increased more. The effort which we played with was where we needed to be. Also, I thought our kids were really locked into the plan. This is a team (Eastern New Mexico) that scored 66 on New Mexico and made a bunch of threes. That was a big part of the plan tonight – to run them off the three-point line and to shut down their ball-screen game."

On the team's growth:
"We're challenging our kids to be more consistent with their mental approach as well as their physical approach. The last two games we've really concentrated well. The mistakes that we've been making in those first two games…we aren't making nearly as many. So there was some growth there tonight."

On Callie Kaiser's performance:
"I thought Callie Kaiser was really good all night. She had the best motor on the floor. Callie didn't play much in the game before (tonight). That just shows the maturity of this young lady. She was going to make the most of her opportunity tonight."

On the upcoming game against Oklahoma:
"It's another opportunity to challenge ourselves and grow in this really young season. We'll need everybody there Tuesday night."

Junior guard Callie Kaiser
On her mindset coming into this game:
"I just wanted to take advantage of my opportunity. I never know how many minutes I'm going to play, but I just need to take advantage of it and do what I do."

Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy
On how the team was able to get off to a fast start:
"I think coming out and knowing what we wanted to do (was the key). We know we wanted to be more aggressive offensively and not settle for three-point shots. I think just coming out and having that attacking mindset and getting to the hoop was key. This is just something we need to continue to do."

STAT OF THE GAME
Colorado State held Eastern New Mexico to a .204 field goal percentage, the second-lowest by one of CSU's opponents in head coach Ryun Williams' tenure. The Rams held Air Force to a .156 field goal percentage (7-of-45) in an 88-28 CSU win on Feb. 8, 2014. Additionally, the Rams have only held one other opponent to a lower three-point field goal percentage than ENMU's .056 on Thursday under Williams (.053 by UNLV on Feb. 7, 2015).

NOTES
- Colorado State's win was its first over Eastern New Mexico. The two teams had never previously met.
- CSU is now 70-14 at Moby Arena under head coach Ryun Williams.
- Freshman center Liah Davis' eight points on Thursday were the first of her collegiate career.
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu set a new season high in assists with six against Eastern New Mexico.
- Colaivalu's six assists are also the most by a CSU player in a single game this season.
- Freshman center Lena Svanholm's eight points and three rebounds are each new season highs.
- Sophomore guard Nathalie Linden's seven points and two rebounds each mark new season bests.

UP NEXT
The Colorado State women's basketball team returns to Moby Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 21 for a matchup against the 21st-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m. MT.

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