Rams return home to host San Diego State on Wednesday, New Mexico on Saturday

Colorado State Rams (12-7, 4-4 MW) vs. San Diego State Aztecs (9-9, 3-4 MW)
Wednesday, Jan. 23 | 7 p.m. MT
Moby Arena (8,745) | Fort Collins, Colo.
Live Video: CSURams.com/live (MW Network)
Live Audio: CSU Radio Network (KMAX 94.3 FM)
Live Stats: CSURams.com

Colorado State Rams (12-7, 4-4 MW) vs. New Mexico Lobos (16-5, 4-4 MW)
Saturday, Jan. 27 | 2 p.m. MT
Moby Arena (8,745) | Fort Collins, Colo.
Live Video: CSURams.com/live (MW Network)
Live Audio: CSU Radio Network (KARS 102.9 FM) | TuneIn
Live Stats: CSURams.com

Colorado State Women's Basketball: Tickets | Twitter | Weekly Release

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's basketball team is back at home this week for Mountain West matchups against the San Diego State Aztecs and the New Mexico Lobos.

Colorado State (12-7, 4-4 MW) tips off against San Diego State (9-9, 3-4 MW) at 7 p.m. MT from Moby Arena on Wednesday. The Aztecs have wins over Mountain West leader Wyoming, as well as New Mexico and San Jose State, but CSU won the first meeting between the two schools this season, 65-63. SDSU is 2-3 in road games in 2017-18.

The Rams will debut CSU's State Pride basketball uniforms this Saturday at 2 p.m. MT against New Mexico (16-5, 4-4 MW). The Lobos, which were receiving votes in each top 25 at one point this season, have MW wins over Boise State, Nevada, Fresno State and Air Force, but have dropped four of their last five contests. UNM is 3-4 on the road this season.

Tickets for all homes games are available, and may be purchased at CSURams.com/tickets or through a call to 800-491-RAMS (7267). Parking is available for all home games in the Moby Arena parking lot. A new clear bag system is now in effect for all CSU women's and men's basketball games in an effort to increase the safety of all fans in attendance, and information on that system can be found here.

Live video will be available for each game through CSURams.com/live (MW Network), while live audio will be available via the CSU Radio Network. Wednesday's radio broadcast will be carried by KMAX 94.3 FM, while Saturday's can be found on KARS 102.9 FM or on the TuneIn app. Matthew Wozniak will be on the call for each of the video and radio broadcasts. Live stats will also be made available for each game. Each can be found in the links above, or on the women's basketball schedule page on CSURams.com.

A Colorado State Win on Wednesday Would…
- Be Colorado State's 11th consecutive win against San Diego State.
- Be CSU's fifth straight home win against SDSU and seventh of the past eight games played against the Aztecs at Moby Arena.
- Be CSY's 14th straight win in home games played against Mountain West teams from the state of California.
- Be CSU's third win in its last four home games.

Record Watch
- Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams is currently at 127 wins in his tenure with the Rams, the second-most in program history. Williams trails only Tom Collen, whose 129 wins as CSU head coach are the most in program history. Williams needs two more wins to tie Collen, and three to pass him.
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen is shooting .479 (46-for-96) from three-point range to this point in the season. That mark is on pace to break the CSU single-season three-point field goal percentage record, which is held by Vanessa Espinoza (2003-04 - .455, 51-for-112).

Game Day Storylines
- Colorado State has been one of the nation's top defensive teams during sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams' tenure, and the Rams are once again this season. CSU ranks fourth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.340) this season, eighth nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense (.257) and ninth nationally in scoring defense (54.8 allowed per game). The Rams lead the conference in each of those categories.
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen ranks as one of the NCAA's elite sharpshooters so far this season. Her .479 three-point field goal percentage ranks sixth in the nation and tops among qualifiers in the Mountain West. Her 2.8 three-pointers per game in conference play rank fifth in the Mountain West.
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu is averaging 15 points per game in Mountain West play, the second-most in the conference among freshmen. Additionally, Colaivalu ranks sixth in the conference and second among freshmen in the league with a .541 field goal percentage in MW games.
- The only freshman Colaivalu trails in scoring has a field goal percentage that is .108 lower than Colaivalu's, while the only freshman with a better field goal percentage than Colaivalu averages five fewer points per game.
- Colaivalu also ranks seventh in the conference in steals per game (1.7) in MW play. Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy is ninth in that category (1.6) in conference games.
- Colaivalu's 12 made field goals and 29 points against San Diego State on Jan. 3 are the second-most and fifth-most, respectively, in a single game by any Mountain West player this season, while her 26 points against Boise State on Dec. 28, 2017 were the most in a conference opener this season.
- Colaivalu's 22 points per game over her first four conference games marks the best two-week start to Mountain West play in terms of scoring for any freshman in the Ryun Williams era.
- Senior forward Veronika Mirkovic has 0.9 blocks per game in conference play thus far, ranking seventh in the league.
- As a team, one of Colorado State's most favorable national statistical rankings is in the turnovers column. The Rams commit just 12.8 turnovers per game, which ranks 23rd in the nation. Additionally, CSU has the nation's 24th-lowest rate of personal fouls per game (14.6).
- Austgulen leads the conference in minutes played during Mountain West play, as she averages 38.4 per game. Tvrdy is fifth in that category with 35.9 per game.
- Freshman guard Lore Devos paced the Rams with 25 points in her collegiate debut against Idaho. No other CSU player has scored as many points in her debut in the now-six-year Ryun Williams era.

Scouting the San Diego State Aztecs
- The San Diego State Aztecs are 9-9 overall and 3-4 in the Mountain West this season. The Aztecs went 11-19 last season, including a 6-12 mark in conference play. Colorado State has won the past 10 meetings between the two schools, and is 28-27 all-time against SDSU.
- San Diego State opened Mountain West play with a win over conference leader Wyoming, the Cowgirls' only loss in league play to this point. The Aztecs also have conference wins over New Mexico and San Jose State. SDSU was projected to finish eighth in the conference in preseason voting.
- As a team, SDSU's highest national statistical ranking offensively is in three-point field goals made per game (7.2), a category that the Aztecs rank 80th in. SDSU's largest statistical advantages are in fewest turnovers and fouls, categories that the Aztecs nationally rank 63rd and 75th in, respectively.
- The Aztecs' top scorer this season is McKynzie Fort, who averages 17.8 points per game. Fort, who also leads the team in rebounds (5.8 per game) and field goal percentage (.504), was voted Preseason All-Mountain West prior to the season.

Scouting the New Mexico Lobos
- The New Mexico Lobos hold a 16-5 record this season and a 4-4 record in Mountain West play to this point. The Lobos were picked to finish fifth in the conference in preseason polling after finishing 15-15 with a 10-8 conference record last season.
- New Mexico opened conference play with wins over Air Force, Nevada and Boise State, but has dropped four of its last five MW games. The Lobos' lone MW win over that span came against Fresno State. UNM is 13-1 at home this season, but holds a 3-4 record on the road.
- New Mexico ranks favorably at a national level in multiple offensive categories, including scoring offense (11th – 84.1), scoring margin (55th - 10.8), assists per game (30th – 17.0), field goal percentage (64th - .433), free throw percentage (52nd - .746), three-point field goals made per game (10th – 9.6) and three-point field goal percentage (40th - .365).
- UNM's Cherise Beynon ranks seventh nationally with 7.4 assists per game, and is the Lobos' leading scorer at 17 points per game. Jaisa Nunn is the Lobos' No. 2 scorer at 15.2 points per game and has the nation's No. 15 field goal percentage (.611). Nunn also ranks 26th nationally in rebounds per game (10.0), while Beynon ranks 60th nationally in steals per game (2.6).

Colaivalu Lights Up Scoreboards in First Two Weeks of Mountain West Play
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu has made the most of her first opportunities at Mountain West action. In her first four career conference games, Colaivalu scored 80 points for an average of 22 points per game.
- Colaivalu's 22 points per game were not just the most on the team – they were the most of any player in the Mountain West through two weeks.
- No freshman during the now-six-season Ryun Williams era has scored more points in her first four career Mountain West games. See below for a breakdown.

Most Points by CSU Freshmen in First Four MW Games Under Ryun Williams
80 (22.0 points per game) – Grace Colaivalu, 2017-18
54 (13.5 points per game) – Caitlin Duffy, 2012-13
40 (10.0 points per game) – Elin Gustavsson, 2013-14

Rams Set Tradition of Strong Defensive Play
- Since taking over the program prior to the 2012-13 season, head coach Ryun Williams has made strong defense a cornerstone of his vision for the program's success. Over the past four years, the Rams' defense has ranked among the nation's elite.
- Over the past four seasons, Colorado State has ranked no lower than 15th in the nation in field goal percentage defense. The Rams have ranked as high as second in the nation, and have placed within the nation's top six twice.
- See below for a breakdown of the Rams' national field goal percentage defense ranks over the past four years of Williams' tenure.

Notable National Field Goal Percentage Defense Ranks Under Ryun Williams
2017-18 – Fourth (.340)
2016-17 – Sixth (.339)
2015-16 – Second (.330)
2014-15 – 15th (.354)

Rams Match Second-Best 10-Game Start of Ryun Williams Era
- With its win over Prairie View A&M on Monday, Dec. 18, the Colorado State women's basketball team moved to 7-3 for the 2017-18 season, matching its second-best 10-game start under sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams.
- Only one Williams-led CSU team compiled a better record through 10 games. The 2015-16 Rams went 9-1 through their first 10 contests before finishing with a 31-2 mark and a program record for win percentage (.939).
- Under Williams, every team to win at least six of its first 10 games has gone on to win the Mountain West regular-season title and win at least 23 games.

Colorado State Under Ryun Williams in First 10 Games (Sorted by Best Start)
2015-16 – 9-1
2017-18 – 7-3
2014-15 – 7-3
2013-14 – 7-3
2016-17 – 6-4
2012-13 – 3-7

Annie Brady Named Mountain West Women's Basketball Player of the Week
- After recording double-doubles against each of Prairie View A&M and Morgan State, Colorado State junior forward Annie Brady has been named the Mountain West Women's Basketball Player of the Week. The conference announced Brady's honor on Tuesday, Dec. 26.
- Over those two games, the junior averaged 18.5 points per game on .581 (18-for-31) shooting and corralled 15.5 rebounds per game.
- Her first double-double of the week came in a 19-point, 14-rebound (seven offensive) effort in the Rams' 71-59 win over PVAMU. She followed that with an 18-point, 17-rebound performance to lead CSU to a 60-44 win over Morgan State in the Rams' nonconference finale. Brady shot 9-for-13 (.692) from the floor in that game.
- This marks the first weekly conference honor for Brady since she joined the Rams prior to this season. The Salt Lake City, Utah native is also the first Ram to receive one of the league's weekly honors this season.

Devos Makes Historic Debut for Rams
- Freshman guard Lore Devos made her first official appearance for Colorado State on Friday, Nov. 10 in the Rams' season-opener against Idaho. The Kortrijk, Belgium native opened her CSU career with 25 points, the most by any CSU freshman in a season opener in head coach Ryun Williams' six-year tenure.
- Devos was the Rams' leading scorer against Idaho, scoring her 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the floor and 5-for-5 shooting from the free throw line.
- The only other player to score at least 20 points in her debut for Williams was two-time Mountain West Player of the Year Ellen Nystrom. The former CSU standout from Sweden scored 20 points in her first career game for CSU, a win over UCCS on Nov. 8, 2013.

Most Points Scored by a CSU Freshman in a Season Opener Under Ryun Williams
Lore Devos (2017-18 season) – 25 points
Ellen Nystrom (2013-14 season) – 20 points
Taylor Varsho (2012-13 season) – 19 points
Callie Kaiser (2015-16 season) – 13 points
Elin Gustavsson (2013-14 season) – 10 points

Early Season Storylines
- The Colorado State women's basketball team is off to a 7-3 start this season, matching its second-best 10-game start of the now-six-year Ryun Williams era. Each CSU team with at least seven wins in its first 10 games has gone on to win the Mountain West regular season title and at least 23 games.
- Colorado State is fresh off its fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West title, distinguishing the program as one of 12 teams in the nation – women's and men's basketball – to have an active streak at least that long.
- No other basketball team in Mountain West history – women's or men's – has won as many regular-season conference titles consecutively. In addition, the Rams have won all four of those outright. Of teams to win consecutive MW regular-season titles, no other team has won more than two outright.
- Colorado State was picked to finish third in the conference this season by league coaches and select media. The Rams received six first-place votes en route to 211 points and that third place projection. The Rams rank behind only Boise State (seven FPV, 221 points) and Wyoming (six FPV, 216 points).
- The Rams return three of five starters and seven letterwinners from last year's team. Hannah Tvrdy is the Rams' returning leader in each of points (8.3), rebounds (4.6) and assists (2.4) per game.
- CSU also looks to be solid from beyond the three-point arc this season. The Rams return 80 percent of their three-point production from last season, as 203 of 255 threes made last year were made by returning players.
- Mixing with that veteran core returning for Colorado State is a group of eight underclassmen, as sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams grooms one of the youngest CSU rosters over his tenure. In terms of what percentage of the roster is made up of freshmen and sophomores (53.3 percent), CSU ranks as the nation's 18th-youngest team.
- Although the Rams' roster is largely composed of youth, the Mountain West also looks to be one of the nation's youngest conferences. The Rams are the fifth-youngest team in the conference when measured by the same criteria above.

Rams' Four Consecutive Regular-Season Conference Titles Ranks Among Nation's Elite
- The Colorado State women's basketball team made history this past season by winning its fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West championship. That feat had never been previously accomplished by any women's or men's basketball team in conference history.
- That active streak of four consecutive regular-season conference titles ranks the Rams among the nation's elite. Between both women's and men's NCAA Division I basketball, only 11 other programs in the nation have a current streak that is as long or better.
- On the women's side, the programs are Baylor, Chattanooga, Connecticut, DePaul, Green Bay, Notre Dame and defending national champion South Carolina.
- Only four men's teams have a streak at least as long at the CSU women: Gonzaga, Kansas, Villanova and Wichita State.

Regular-Season Conference Titles Won – Best Active Division I Streaks (Women's and Men's Basketball)
Kansas (men's) – 13 (Big 12)
Green Bay (women's) – 11 (Horizon)
Baylor (women's) – Seven (Big 12)
Chattanooga (women's) – Five (Southern)
Gonzaga (men's) – Five (West Coast)
Wichita State (men's) – Five (Missouri Valley)
Colorado State (women's) – Four (Mountain West)
Connecticut (women's) – Four (American)
DePaul (women's) – Four (Big East)
South Carolina (women's) – Four (SEC)
Villanova (men's) – Four (Big East)

Rams Enter 2017-18 as One of Nation's Youngest Teams
- While the Rams' 2017-18 roster is largely made of a veteran group of seven upperclassmen, the bulk of the Rams' roster this season comes from the ranks of underclassmen. A combined eight freshmen and sophomores make up 53.3 percent (eight of 15) of the roster, while the six freshmen make up 40 percent.
- In terms of what percentage of the roster is comprised of underclassmen, Colorado State ranks as the nation's 18th-youngest team. If measured by percentage of freshman relative to the overall roster, CSU's 40 percent is the 10th-highest in the nation.
- However, the Mountain West also shapes up to be a very young conference this season. Each of San Jose State (80 percent), Utah State (76.9 percent), Air Force (76.5 percent) and Fresno State (69 percent) are younger than Colorado State by underclassmen on the roster.

Youngest Division I Teams by Percentage of Underclassmen
1. UNCG – 87.7 percent
2. FIU – 80 percent
2. San Jose State – 80 percent
4. Utah State – 76.9 percent
5. Air Force – 76.5 percent
12. Fresno State – 69 percent
18. Colorado State – 53.3 percent

Youngest Division I Teams by Percentage of Freshmen
1. Savannah State – 64.3 percent
1. Fordham – 64.3 percent
3. Air Force – 58.8 percent
4. San Jose State – 53 percent
5. FIU – 50 percent
5. Elon – 50 percent
10. Colorado State – 40 percent

Rams Projected to Finish Third in the Mountain West in 2017-18
- The Colorado State women's basketball team has been voted by league coaches and select media to finish third in the Mountain West in 2017-18, as announced by the conference on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
- Colorado State, which is coming off an unprecedented fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West title, earned 211 points and six first-place votes en route to its third-place projection. The only team to earn more first-place votes was Boise State, which received a league-best 221 points and was picked to win the conference by seven voters. Wyoming (216 points, six first-place votes) narrowly edged CSU for second in the voting.
- New Mexico and UNLV, which were picked fourth and fifth respectively, were the only other schools to receive first-place votes. The Lobos received four first-place votes and 186 points, while the Lady Rebels received 185 points were picked No. 1 by two voters.
- The Rams had been picked to win the Mountain West in each of the past three preseason Mountain West polls and four times overall. Behind only those three first-place projections, this is the Rams' fourth-highest projection under sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams. The Rams were picked seventh before winning the conference in 2013-14 and fifth before Williams first season at CSU (2012-13).

2017-18 Mountain West Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Rank/Team (First-Place Votes) - Points
1. Boise State (7 FPV) - 221 points
2. Wyoming (6) - 216
3. Colorado State (6) - 211
4. New Mexico (4) - 186
5. UNLV (2) - 185
6. Utah State - 136
7. Fresno State - 117
8. San Diego State - 102
9. San José State - 61
10. Nevada - 60
11. Air Force - 29

Rams Look to be Strong from Three-Point Range
- Although the Rams lost substantial production in many categories with the departure of last year's senior class, one area the team did not lose much in is three-point shooting. As a team, the Rams return 80 percent of their three-point field goals made from last season.
- 203 of the 255 threes made by the Rams last year were made by returning players. Stine Austgulen led the Rams last season with 53 three-point field goals made.
- Austgulen and Hannah Tvrdy return as two of the top three-point shooters in the Mountain West, ranking No. 14 and No. 7 in three-point field goal percentage last season, respectively.
- Notably, junior Myanne Hamm ranked fifth in MW in three-point field goal percentage during conference play (.400), while junior Sofie Tryggedsson ranked 14th in the MW with 1.5 three-point field goals per game during conference play.

Williams Chasing CSU All-Time Wins Record
- Sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams entered the 2016-17 with a record of 115-46 in his tenure thus far at Colorado State. That wins total ranks only behind Tom Collen (129 wins) for most all-time as CSU head coach.
- With the Rams' 70-67 overtime over San Jose State on Jan. 4, 2017, Williams earned his 100th win as CSU head coach, becoming third coach in program history to reach that milestone. Besides Ryun Williams and Tom Collen, the only other coach in school history to reach that mark was Greg Williams (108 wins).
- Ryun Williams already owns the most conference wins in program history, as his teams have gone 70-18 in Mountain West play over his tenure. The previous record was held by Collen, who won 56 games as CSU head coach from 1997-02.

Dropping Knowledge
- Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams has been selected as one of 32 voters for the USA TODAY Sports Women's Basketball Coaches Poll. The panel, which is chosen by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), votes weekly throughout the regular season.
- The voters are chosen based upon the 32 conferences that receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Each conference has one representative, and the names of the voters are published along with each week's poll.

The 2016-17 Season at a Glance
- Colorado State accomplished many feats in 2016-17, but none was greater than winning its historic fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West championship. No other basketball team in Mountain West history – women's or men's – has won the conference in four consecutive seasons other than the CSU women.
- CSU reached the postseason for the fourth straight season under now-sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams with an automatic berth to the Postseason WNIT. The Rams defeated Saint Mary's at Moby Arena in the first round of the tournament, marking the Rams' first postseason win since 2003.
- On Dec. 18, 2016, CSU defeated Seattle, 66-62, to record the team's 22nd consecutive win at Moby Arena. That broke the previous record for consecutive wins at home, which was previously 21 straight from 1998-99.
- The Rams also set two different records for consecutive conference wins between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The Rams had won 22 straight games against conference foes when including postseason games, and 25 games against conference opponents in regular-season contests.
- Overall, the CSU's 25 wins tie for the fourth-most in program history, while the Rams' 15 conference wins tie for the second-most in program history.
- Ryun Williams posted his fourth consecutive season with 15 Mountain West wins or more, bringing his career MW record to 70-18. His current MW win percentage of .795 ranks as the best of any coach in Mountain West history.
- Williams also became the third coach in program history to reach 100 wins at CSU, and has the second-most wins at CSU (115) in school history. Tom Collen owns the all-time record with 129 wins at CSU.
- Williams' 70 Mountain West wins also rank as by far the most conference wins in CSU history.
- Ellen Nystrom, who graduated after the 2016-17 season, repeated as Mountain West Player of the Year after earning that honor in 2015-16. The Rams have had the conference player of the year in three consecutive seasons, as Gritt Ryder earned honor as a senior in 2014-15.
- Nystrom and fellow 2016-17 senior Elin Gustavsson departed CSU as the winningest players in conference play in Mountain West history. The senior duo from Sweden won 63 MW games over their careers at CSU, which is by far the most of any athlete – women's or men's basketball – in conference history.

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