Colorado State University Athletics

Photo by: Tomas Redondo
Rams face Fresno State in Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championship quarterfinals
3/5/2018 2:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball
No. 4 seed Rams open tournament play against No. 5 seed Fresno State at 3:30 p.m. MT (2:30 p.m. PT) at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday
No. 5 seed Colorado State Rams (19-10, 11-7 MW) vs. No. 4 seed Fresno State Bulldogs (16-13, 11-7 MW)
Tuesday, March 6 | 3:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. PT
Thomas & Mack Center | Las Vegas
Live Video: CSURams.com/live (MW Network)
Live Audio: CSU Radio Network (KARS 102.9 FM) | TuneIn App
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Colorado State Women's Basketball: Twitter | MW Championship Supplement
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's basketball team is set to open tournament play at the 2018 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship this Tuesday with an afternoon contest against the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Opening tip between the No. 5-seeded Rams (19-10, 11-7 MW) and the No. 4-seeded Bulldogs (16-13, 11-7 MW) is slated for 3:30 p.m. MT (2:30 p.m. PT) from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Should CSU advance, the Rams will face the victor from the game involving the No. 1 seed and the No. 8 or No. 9 seed. Potential opponents for that game, which is slated for 7:30 p.m. MT (6:30 p.m. PT) at the same location on Wednesday, are top-seeded Boise State, No. 8-seeded Air Force and No. 9-seeded Utah State.
Live video will be available through CSURams.com/live (MW Network). Live audio will also be available via the CSU Radio Network, and can be found on KARS 102.9 FM and on the TuneIn app on Saturday with play-by-play from Matthew Wozniak. In addition, live stats will be made available by the Mountain West. Each can be found in the links above, or on the women's basketball schedule page on CSURams.com.
A Colorado State Win on Tuesday Would…
- Advance CSU to a Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship semifinal matchup against either Boise State, Air Force or Utah State on 7:30 p.m. MT (6:30 p.m. PT) on Wednesday.
- Advance Colorado State to the semifinals of the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship for the third consecutive season and the fourth time overall in head coach Ryun Williams' six-year tenure.
- Be the first time since 2009 that Colorado State has a game at the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship as the lower seed. The Rams last did so as the No. 8 seed against No. 5-seeded Wyoming in the first round in 2009.
- Mark the first time that Colorado State has won as the No. 5 seed at the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship.
The Path Through the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship
- The Colorado State women's basketball team enters as the No. 5 seed in the MW Women's Basketball Championship. The No. 6 through No. 11 seeds play on Monday, while the Rams, as well as the No. 1 through No. 4 seeds, will have a first-round bye.
- Colorado State's quarterfinals opponent on Tuesday will be the No. 4-seeded Fresno State Bulldogs. Opening tip is slated for 3:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. PT from the Thomas & Mack Center. Fresno State won bother meetings between the two schools this season.
- Should CSU advance past the Bulldogs, it will face the winner of Tuesday's 12 p.m. PT/1 p.m. MT matchup between the top-seeded Boise State Broncos and No. 8 seed Air Force Falcons/No. 9 seed Utah State Aggies. That potential semifinals contest will take place on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. PT.
- A victory in the semifinals would set the Rams up to play for the Mountain Women's Basketball Championship at 1 p.m. MT/12 p.m. PT on Friday. Possible opponents from the other side of the bracket include No. 2 seed UNLV, No. 3 seed Wyoming, No. 6 seed New Mexico, No. 7 seed Nevada, No. 10 seed San Diego State and No. 11 seed San Jose State. Wyoming and UNLV each have first-round byes earning one of the conference's top-five seeds.
Colorado State's Potential 2018 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship Schedule
- Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. PT - No. 5 seed Colorado State vs. No. 4 seed Fresno State
- Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. PT - No. 5 seed Colorado State vs. No. 1 seed Boise State/No. 8 seed Air Force/No. 9 seed Utah State
- Friday, 1 p.m. MT/12 p.m. PT - No. 5 seed Colorado State vs. No. 2 seed UNLV/No. 3 seed Wyoming/No. 6 seed New Mexico/No. 7 seed Nevada/No. 10 seed San Diego State/No. 11 seed San Jose State
Record Watch
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen is shooting .449 (61-for-136) from three-point range to this point in the season. That mark is on pace to finish second on the CSU single-season three-point field goal percentage list behind only the record held by Vanessa Espinoza (2003-04 - .455, 51-for-112).
- Austgulen's career three-point field goal percentage is currently .392 (142-for-362), which ranks fourth on CSU's all-time list. The senior ranks only behind Brenda Brunner (.415), Vanessa Espinoza (.414) Becky Hammon (.411).
- Austgulen is also currently ranked in CSU's all-time top 10 in career three-point field goals made with 142. She sits in ninth behind Jamie Patrick (eighth – 143).
- As a team, Colorado State is holding opponents to 56.3 points per game, which is on pace to rank fourth in program history. The program record is 49.1 points per game, set in 1974-75. The Rams will finish in the all-time top 10 if they go on to allow 61.1 points per game or fewer.
- Colorado State's three-point field goal percentage defense of .269 currently ranks third in program history. The record was set by the 2015-16 Rams, which held opponents to a combined .257 (141-for-549) three-point field goal percentage. The Rams will finish in the program's all-time top 10 by holding opponents to a .306 mark or better from three-point range.
- Additionally, the Rams' current field goal percentage defense of .342 ranks fifth on the program's all-time single-season list. The 1974-75 Rams set the current program record of .303 (344-for-1,136). The Rams will finish in the top 10 if they finish with a field goal percentage defense of .383 or better.
- Colorado State has made 185 three-point field goals this season, tying for ninth by a single team in CSU's all-time top 10. The 2009-10 Rams rank 10th with 183, while the 2015-16 Rams rank eighth with 207.
- Colorado State has 109 blocks this season to tie for sixth in a single season in program history. This year's team ranks behind only the 2012-13 Rams (first – 140), the 2013-14 team (second – 120), the 2016-17 club as well as the 2011-12 and 1999-00 squads (tied for fourth – 111 each).
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 fifth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.342) this season, eighth nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense (.269) and 26th nationally in scoring defense (56.3 allowed per game).
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen ranks as one of the NCAA's elite sharpshooters so far this season, as her .449 three-point field goal percentage ranks 14th in the nation. Her 2.2 three-pointers per game in conference play rank sixth in the Mountain West.
- As a team, one of Colorado State's most favorable national statistical rankings is in the turnovers column. The Rams commit just 12.7 turnovers per game, which ranks 31st in the nation. Additionally, CSU has the nation's 30th-lowest rate of personal fouls per game (14.7).
- Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy leads the team in scoring in Mountain West play, ranking 14th in the conference with 13.2 points per game in league play. She is also 10th in the league in rebounding in MW play, corralling 6.7 boards per conference game. Additionally, the senior ranks 11th in three-point field goal percentage (.384) in conference play.
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu ranks 13th in the conference and third among freshmen in the league with a .464 field goal percentage in MW games. Her 12 made field goals against San Diego State on Jan. 3 are the third-most in a single game by any Mountain West player this season, as are Tvrdy's 12 against the Aztecs at home on Jan. 24. In addition, Colaivalu's 26 points against Boise State on Dec. 28, 2017 were the most by any player in a conference opener this season.
- Senior forward Veronika Mirkovic averages 0.9 blocks per game to this point in conference play, good for 10th in the league.
- Austgulen ranks first in the conference in minutes played during Mountain West play, as she averages 38.1 per conference game. Tvrdy is third in that category with 37.2 per game.
- 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.
- 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 Fresno State Bulldogs
- Fresno State earned the No. 4 seed in the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship after finishing 2017-18 with an 11-7 conference record and 16-13 mark overall. Fresno State finished the 2016-17 season with an 18-15 record (8-10 MW), including three wins in the Mountain West tournament before falling to Boise State in the final.
- Fresno State won each of the two meetings against Colorado State during the regular season. Fresno State won the first meeting against the Rams, 56-45, in Fresno, Calif., on Jan. 6, and won in Moby Arena, 75-64, on Feb. 17.
- Among the strengths for Fresno State this season is in three-point shooting, as the Bulldogs hold foes to the nation's 10th-lowest three-point field goal percentage (.270) and rank 68th in the nation with a .347 three-point field goal percentage. The Bulldogs also rank 35th nationally in free throw percentage (.755).
- Junior guard Candice White continues to rank as one of the nation's top free throw shooters, checking in at fourth in the nation with a .940 free throw percentage. White ranks within the nation's top 100 at a team-best 17.7 points per game.
Hannah Tvrdy, Grace Colaivalu Earn Mountain West Honors for 2017-18 Regular Season
- Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy and freshman guard Grace Coalivalu of the Colorado State women's basketball team have received yearly honors from the Mountain West for their play during the 2017-18 regular season. The conference announced its accolades on Monday, March 5. Tvrdy earned All-Mountain West and Mountain West All-Defensive honors, while Colaivalu was selected to the Mountain West All-Freshman team.
- Tvrdy is the third Ram to be chosen All-Defensive since the accolade was first awarded in 2008-09 (Ellen Nystrom, Meghan Heimstra). Colaivalu is the first Mountain West All-Freshman selection from CSU since Elin Gustavsson and Ellen Nystrom in 2013-14.
- Tvrdy finished the season as the Rams' leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in conference play. The Seward, Neb., native ranked ninth in the Mountain West in scoring in conference play, as well as ninth in rebounding, 10th in three-point field goal percentage (.384), fourth in defensive rebounding (5.3/game) and second in minutes played (35.4/game) in league games.
- Colaivalu finished the regular season as CSU's No. 3 scorer (7.8 points per game during conference play), and ranked 13th in the Mountain West and third among conference freshmen in field goal percentage (.464). The freshman from Sacramento, Calif., averaged 22 points per game over the Rams' first four Mountain West games this season, marking the highest average in any player's first four conference games in the Ryun Williams era.
Rams Earn No. 5 Seed in 2018 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship
- The Colorado State women's basketball team finished the 2017-18 regular season with a 19-10 overall record and 11-7 conference mark. With those results, Colorado State earned the No. 5 seed in the 2017 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship.
- With its No. 5 seed this year, Colorado State has earned a first-round bye in tournament play. The Rams have had a first-round bye in each of the five most recent conference tournaments.
- Colorado State has never previously been the No. 5 seed at the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship. The Rams have only played as the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 8 or No. 9 seed in prior seasons.
- The last time a No. 5 seed won the MW Women's Basketball Championship was in 2011, when No. 5 -seeded Utah came out on top in tournament play.
Is 71 a Magic Number for the Rams?
- Under sixth-year coach Ryun Williams, the Colorado State women's basketball team has scored 71 points or more in a single game 56 times. When scoring at least 71 points in Williams' tenure, Colorado State is 55-1, with no losses in regulation.
- When scoring at least 71 points in a game in 2017-18, Colorado State is 6-0.
- The only loss ever suffered by CSU with a 71-point-plus offensive performance under Williams was on Nov. 29, 2014, an 87-81 double-overtime defeat at Colorado.
Finding the Right Combination
- The Colorado State women's basketball team has shuffled its lineup throughout the season, using 11 different starting lineup combinations between the 29 games it has played.
- While the Rams have used many different combinations, the makeup of most of those have been consistent. Each of Stine Austgulen, Veronika Mirkovic, Sofie Tryggedsson and Hannah Tvrdy have started at least 20 games this season.
- Colorado State has used three different lineups over the past six games, but the majority of those lineups has remained the same. Austgulen, Jordyn Edwards, Tryggedsson and Tvrdy have been in each of those lineups, with the only position changing at forward (Annie Brady, Liah Davis or Mirkovic).
Ryun Williams Becomes CSU's All-Time Wins Leader
- With the Rams' over Wyoming on Jan. 31, sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams became the winningest coach in program history. That win was his 130th at Colorado State, passing former CSU coaching great Tom Collen for the program's all-time wins lead (129 for Collen from 1997-2002).
- Ryun Williams is also one of only three coaches in program history to win at least 100 games with the Rams, earning his 100th with the Rams' 70-67 overtime over San Jose State on Jan. 4, 2017.He joined Tom Collen and Greg Williams (108 wins).
- Ryun Williams already owns the most conference wins in program history, entering the season with a program-best 70 in Mountain West play. The previous record was held by Collen, who won 56 conference games as CSU head coach from 1997-02.
Hannah Tvrdy Named Mountain West Player of the Week on Jan. 29
- After averaging 22.0 points per game on .631 shooting (19-for-31) and 9.5 rebounds per game between wins over San Diego State and New Mexico, Hannah Tvrdy was named Mountain West Player of the Week. Her honor was announced on Monday, Jan. 29.
- Colorado State led SDSU by six at halftime in their win over the Aztecs, but it was a Tvrdy offensive outburst in the third quarter that put the game on ice. In that quarter, Tvrdy went 8-for-10 from the floor, pouring in 18 points to give the Rams a 65-38 lead heading to the fourth. CSU went on to win 72-43 as Tvrdy finished with 28 points on 12-for-18 shooting along with 10 rebounds.
- Tvrdy led CSU offensively once against in the Rams' 74-71 overtime win over New Mexico, scoring 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting with nine boards and a trio of assists. Her late-game heroics lifted the team once again, as she buried the go-ahead three-pointer with less than a minute remaining in extra time to give the Rams the win.
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 88 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
88 (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 previously 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 (.339)
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
Quick 2017-18 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 Return Bulk of Production 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.
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.
Tuesday, March 6 | 3:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. PT
Thomas & Mack Center | Las Vegas
Live Video: CSURams.com/live (MW Network)
Live Audio: CSU Radio Network (KARS 102.9 FM) | TuneIn App
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Colorado State Women's Basketball: Twitter | MW Championship Supplement
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's basketball team is set to open tournament play at the 2018 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship this Tuesday with an afternoon contest against the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Opening tip between the No. 5-seeded Rams (19-10, 11-7 MW) and the No. 4-seeded Bulldogs (16-13, 11-7 MW) is slated for 3:30 p.m. MT (2:30 p.m. PT) from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Should CSU advance, the Rams will face the victor from the game involving the No. 1 seed and the No. 8 or No. 9 seed. Potential opponents for that game, which is slated for 7:30 p.m. MT (6:30 p.m. PT) at the same location on Wednesday, are top-seeded Boise State, No. 8-seeded Air Force and No. 9-seeded Utah State.
Live video will be available through CSURams.com/live (MW Network). Live audio will also be available via the CSU Radio Network, and can be found on KARS 102.9 FM and on the TuneIn app on Saturday with play-by-play from Matthew Wozniak. In addition, live stats will be made available by the Mountain West. Each can be found in the links above, or on the women's basketball schedule page on CSURams.com.
A Colorado State Win on Tuesday Would…
- Advance CSU to a Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship semifinal matchup against either Boise State, Air Force or Utah State on 7:30 p.m. MT (6:30 p.m. PT) on Wednesday.
- Advance Colorado State to the semifinals of the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship for the third consecutive season and the fourth time overall in head coach Ryun Williams' six-year tenure.
- Be the first time since 2009 that Colorado State has a game at the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship as the lower seed. The Rams last did so as the No. 8 seed against No. 5-seeded Wyoming in the first round in 2009.
- Mark the first time that Colorado State has won as the No. 5 seed at the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship.
The Path Through the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship
- The Colorado State women's basketball team enters as the No. 5 seed in the MW Women's Basketball Championship. The No. 6 through No. 11 seeds play on Monday, while the Rams, as well as the No. 1 through No. 4 seeds, will have a first-round bye.
- Colorado State's quarterfinals opponent on Tuesday will be the No. 4-seeded Fresno State Bulldogs. Opening tip is slated for 3:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. PT from the Thomas & Mack Center. Fresno State won bother meetings between the two schools this season.
- Should CSU advance past the Bulldogs, it will face the winner of Tuesday's 12 p.m. PT/1 p.m. MT matchup between the top-seeded Boise State Broncos and No. 8 seed Air Force Falcons/No. 9 seed Utah State Aggies. That potential semifinals contest will take place on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. PT.
- A victory in the semifinals would set the Rams up to play for the Mountain Women's Basketball Championship at 1 p.m. MT/12 p.m. PT on Friday. Possible opponents from the other side of the bracket include No. 2 seed UNLV, No. 3 seed Wyoming, No. 6 seed New Mexico, No. 7 seed Nevada, No. 10 seed San Diego State and No. 11 seed San Jose State. Wyoming and UNLV each have first-round byes earning one of the conference's top-five seeds.
Colorado State's Potential 2018 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship Schedule
- Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. PT - No. 5 seed Colorado State vs. No. 4 seed Fresno State
- Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. PT - No. 5 seed Colorado State vs. No. 1 seed Boise State/No. 8 seed Air Force/No. 9 seed Utah State
- Friday, 1 p.m. MT/12 p.m. PT - No. 5 seed Colorado State vs. No. 2 seed UNLV/No. 3 seed Wyoming/No. 6 seed New Mexico/No. 7 seed Nevada/No. 10 seed San Diego State/No. 11 seed San Jose State
Record Watch
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen is shooting .449 (61-for-136) from three-point range to this point in the season. That mark is on pace to finish second on the CSU single-season three-point field goal percentage list behind only the record held by Vanessa Espinoza (2003-04 - .455, 51-for-112).
- Austgulen's career three-point field goal percentage is currently .392 (142-for-362), which ranks fourth on CSU's all-time list. The senior ranks only behind Brenda Brunner (.415), Vanessa Espinoza (.414) Becky Hammon (.411).
- Austgulen is also currently ranked in CSU's all-time top 10 in career three-point field goals made with 142. She sits in ninth behind Jamie Patrick (eighth – 143).
- As a team, Colorado State is holding opponents to 56.3 points per game, which is on pace to rank fourth in program history. The program record is 49.1 points per game, set in 1974-75. The Rams will finish in the all-time top 10 if they go on to allow 61.1 points per game or fewer.
- Colorado State's three-point field goal percentage defense of .269 currently ranks third in program history. The record was set by the 2015-16 Rams, which held opponents to a combined .257 (141-for-549) three-point field goal percentage. The Rams will finish in the program's all-time top 10 by holding opponents to a .306 mark or better from three-point range.
- Additionally, the Rams' current field goal percentage defense of .342 ranks fifth on the program's all-time single-season list. The 1974-75 Rams set the current program record of .303 (344-for-1,136). The Rams will finish in the top 10 if they finish with a field goal percentage defense of .383 or better.
- Colorado State has made 185 three-point field goals this season, tying for ninth by a single team in CSU's all-time top 10. The 2009-10 Rams rank 10th with 183, while the 2015-16 Rams rank eighth with 207.
- Colorado State has 109 blocks this season to tie for sixth in a single season in program history. This year's team ranks behind only the 2012-13 Rams (first – 140), the 2013-14 team (second – 120), the 2016-17 club as well as the 2011-12 and 1999-00 squads (tied for fourth – 111 each).
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 fifth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.342) this season, eighth nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense (.269) and 26th nationally in scoring defense (56.3 allowed per game).
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen ranks as one of the NCAA's elite sharpshooters so far this season, as her .449 three-point field goal percentage ranks 14th in the nation. Her 2.2 three-pointers per game in conference play rank sixth in the Mountain West.
- As a team, one of Colorado State's most favorable national statistical rankings is in the turnovers column. The Rams commit just 12.7 turnovers per game, which ranks 31st in the nation. Additionally, CSU has the nation's 30th-lowest rate of personal fouls per game (14.7).
- Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy leads the team in scoring in Mountain West play, ranking 14th in the conference with 13.2 points per game in league play. She is also 10th in the league in rebounding in MW play, corralling 6.7 boards per conference game. Additionally, the senior ranks 11th in three-point field goal percentage (.384) in conference play.
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu ranks 13th in the conference and third among freshmen in the league with a .464 field goal percentage in MW games. Her 12 made field goals against San Diego State on Jan. 3 are the third-most in a single game by any Mountain West player this season, as are Tvrdy's 12 against the Aztecs at home on Jan. 24. In addition, Colaivalu's 26 points against Boise State on Dec. 28, 2017 were the most by any player in a conference opener this season.
- Senior forward Veronika Mirkovic averages 0.9 blocks per game to this point in conference play, good for 10th in the league.
- Austgulen ranks first in the conference in minutes played during Mountain West play, as she averages 38.1 per conference game. Tvrdy is third in that category with 37.2 per game.
- 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.
- 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 Fresno State Bulldogs
- Fresno State earned the No. 4 seed in the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship after finishing 2017-18 with an 11-7 conference record and 16-13 mark overall. Fresno State finished the 2016-17 season with an 18-15 record (8-10 MW), including three wins in the Mountain West tournament before falling to Boise State in the final.
- Fresno State won each of the two meetings against Colorado State during the regular season. Fresno State won the first meeting against the Rams, 56-45, in Fresno, Calif., on Jan. 6, and won in Moby Arena, 75-64, on Feb. 17.
- Among the strengths for Fresno State this season is in three-point shooting, as the Bulldogs hold foes to the nation's 10th-lowest three-point field goal percentage (.270) and rank 68th in the nation with a .347 three-point field goal percentage. The Bulldogs also rank 35th nationally in free throw percentage (.755).
- Junior guard Candice White continues to rank as one of the nation's top free throw shooters, checking in at fourth in the nation with a .940 free throw percentage. White ranks within the nation's top 100 at a team-best 17.7 points per game.
Hannah Tvrdy, Grace Colaivalu Earn Mountain West Honors for 2017-18 Regular Season
- Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy and freshman guard Grace Coalivalu of the Colorado State women's basketball team have received yearly honors from the Mountain West for their play during the 2017-18 regular season. The conference announced its accolades on Monday, March 5. Tvrdy earned All-Mountain West and Mountain West All-Defensive honors, while Colaivalu was selected to the Mountain West All-Freshman team.
- Tvrdy is the third Ram to be chosen All-Defensive since the accolade was first awarded in 2008-09 (Ellen Nystrom, Meghan Heimstra). Colaivalu is the first Mountain West All-Freshman selection from CSU since Elin Gustavsson and Ellen Nystrom in 2013-14.
- Tvrdy finished the season as the Rams' leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in conference play. The Seward, Neb., native ranked ninth in the Mountain West in scoring in conference play, as well as ninth in rebounding, 10th in three-point field goal percentage (.384), fourth in defensive rebounding (5.3/game) and second in minutes played (35.4/game) in league games.
- Colaivalu finished the regular season as CSU's No. 3 scorer (7.8 points per game during conference play), and ranked 13th in the Mountain West and third among conference freshmen in field goal percentage (.464). The freshman from Sacramento, Calif., averaged 22 points per game over the Rams' first four Mountain West games this season, marking the highest average in any player's first four conference games in the Ryun Williams era.
Rams Earn No. 5 Seed in 2018 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship
- The Colorado State women's basketball team finished the 2017-18 regular season with a 19-10 overall record and 11-7 conference mark. With those results, Colorado State earned the No. 5 seed in the 2017 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship.
- With its No. 5 seed this year, Colorado State has earned a first-round bye in tournament play. The Rams have had a first-round bye in each of the five most recent conference tournaments.
- Colorado State has never previously been the No. 5 seed at the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship. The Rams have only played as the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 8 or No. 9 seed in prior seasons.
- The last time a No. 5 seed won the MW Women's Basketball Championship was in 2011, when No. 5 -seeded Utah came out on top in tournament play.
Is 71 a Magic Number for the Rams?
- Under sixth-year coach Ryun Williams, the Colorado State women's basketball team has scored 71 points or more in a single game 56 times. When scoring at least 71 points in Williams' tenure, Colorado State is 55-1, with no losses in regulation.
- When scoring at least 71 points in a game in 2017-18, Colorado State is 6-0.
- The only loss ever suffered by CSU with a 71-point-plus offensive performance under Williams was on Nov. 29, 2014, an 87-81 double-overtime defeat at Colorado.
Finding the Right Combination
- The Colorado State women's basketball team has shuffled its lineup throughout the season, using 11 different starting lineup combinations between the 29 games it has played.
- While the Rams have used many different combinations, the makeup of most of those have been consistent. Each of Stine Austgulen, Veronika Mirkovic, Sofie Tryggedsson and Hannah Tvrdy have started at least 20 games this season.
- Colorado State has used three different lineups over the past six games, but the majority of those lineups has remained the same. Austgulen, Jordyn Edwards, Tryggedsson and Tvrdy have been in each of those lineups, with the only position changing at forward (Annie Brady, Liah Davis or Mirkovic).
Ryun Williams Becomes CSU's All-Time Wins Leader
- With the Rams' over Wyoming on Jan. 31, sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams became the winningest coach in program history. That win was his 130th at Colorado State, passing former CSU coaching great Tom Collen for the program's all-time wins lead (129 for Collen from 1997-2002).
- Ryun Williams is also one of only three coaches in program history to win at least 100 games with the Rams, earning his 100th with the Rams' 70-67 overtime over San Jose State on Jan. 4, 2017.He joined Tom Collen and Greg Williams (108 wins).
- Ryun Williams already owns the most conference wins in program history, entering the season with a program-best 70 in Mountain West play. The previous record was held by Collen, who won 56 conference games as CSU head coach from 1997-02.
Hannah Tvrdy Named Mountain West Player of the Week on Jan. 29
- After averaging 22.0 points per game on .631 shooting (19-for-31) and 9.5 rebounds per game between wins over San Diego State and New Mexico, Hannah Tvrdy was named Mountain West Player of the Week. Her honor was announced on Monday, Jan. 29.
- Colorado State led SDSU by six at halftime in their win over the Aztecs, but it was a Tvrdy offensive outburst in the third quarter that put the game on ice. In that quarter, Tvrdy went 8-for-10 from the floor, pouring in 18 points to give the Rams a 65-38 lead heading to the fourth. CSU went on to win 72-43 as Tvrdy finished with 28 points on 12-for-18 shooting along with 10 rebounds.
- Tvrdy led CSU offensively once against in the Rams' 74-71 overtime win over New Mexico, scoring 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting with nine boards and a trio of assists. Her late-game heroics lifted the team once again, as she buried the go-ahead three-pointer with less than a minute remaining in extra time to give the Rams the win.
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 88 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
88 (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 previously 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 (.339)
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
Quick 2017-18 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 Return Bulk of Production 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.
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.
Players Mentioned
CSU Basketball (W): Murphy (L) and Froebe (R) Postgame (SD Mines, 2025)
Tuesday, November 25
CSU Basketball (W): Ryun Williams Postgame (SD Mines, 2025)
Tuesday, November 25
CSU Basketball (W): Murphy (L) and Ronsiek (R) Postgame (San Diego 2025)
Monday, November 17
CSU Basketball (W): Ryun Williams Postgame (San Diego, 2025)
Monday, November 17























