Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, December 21
Tulsa, OK
5 p.m. MT
Colorado State
6-7,0-2Mountain
55
at
61
Tulsa
4-8,0-0AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Colorado State
16
6
12
21
55
Tulsa
18
6
22
15
61
Colorado State Falls 61-55 at Tulsa
12/21/2019 8:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball
TULSA, Okla. – Despite pulling the game within a score late in the fourth quarter, Colorado State lost 61-55 to Tulsa Saturday evening at the Reynolds Center.
The Rams went on a 7-0 run to make it a 54-51 CSU deficit with just under two minutes to play, however the game's leading scorer, Kendrian Elliot, converted back-to-back layups to help regain control for the Golden Hurricane's win down the stretch. Colorado State dropped to 6-7 overall, while Tulsa (4-8) stopped its six-game losing streak in the Golden Hurricane's first home game back in as many games.
Uncharacteristically, the Rams surrendered 16 turnovers after entering the contest with a Mountain West-leading average of 11 per game. The Golden Hurricane capitalized on the fault by turning them into 20 points – the second most against the Rams this season.
"Tulsa had 14 points off our turnovers in the first half," head coach Ryun Williams said. "They were silly turnovers of cross-court passes and the players trying to do too much with the ball. We know better than that. We were getting great shots, but that hurt us, and you can't do that on the road. Additionally, we couldn't slow down Kendrian Elliot who was the top person we scouted. We have to do better in our assignments all around."
After missing four games, redshirt-sophomore Tori Williams was inserted back into the starting lineup and finished with a team-high 15 points. The guard provided the late spark by having a hand in all seven points in CSU's last push. First, she assisted an Andrea Brady jumper, and then she drew a charge – not her first of the game – at the other end. Next time up the floor, she found Jamie Bonnarens for a 3. To pull within three, she took it herself – a spinning layup in the lane.
"She [Tori Williams] was playing aggressive," Williams added. "She will shoot it better, but it was an encouraging performance. She didn't have much practice time to get back to the speed of play, so that will only improve going forward. We have to have her on the floor. She's a scoring threat and has a high basketball IQ."
The first nine Ram points were from long distance with Makenzie Ellis, playing in her hometown, having a hand in all of them as she hit a top-of-the-key jumper and assisted the other two makes. Each team connected on four 3s in the first quarter with the Golden Hurricane adding a field goal to hold the 18-16 lead.
Defenses tightened up and offenses sputtered in the second quarter as both teams managed six points each. Aside from an Ellis free throw in the opening 18 seconds of the second quarter, both teams went scoreless until the 4:09 mark when the Golden Hurricanes converted on two from the line. A game-high dozen points from Elliot carried Tulsa to the break with the 24-22 advantage.
Consecutive Golden Hurricane 3s to start the second half gave Tulsa the biggest lead up until that point at eight. The Rams gained their composure and forced another dry spell of the Tulsa offense and brought the game within six points, but a banked-in buzzer beater 3 off another Ram turnover halted momentum and put CSU deficit up to a dozen.
In the second half, Colorado State kept better care of the ball with four turnovers compared to the first half's dozen, however Tulsa connected on 7-of-10 shots from behind the arc, which created most of the separation.
Offensively, Megan Jacobs and Ellis contributed 11 and 12 points, respectively. On the glass, Brady tallied a season-high 15 rebounds.
Next, the Rams will enjoy a 10-day break for the holidays before returning to the hardwood and conference play on the first day of the new year. Colorado State will play Nevada at home in Moby Arena with a 7 p.m. tip.
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter – CSUWBasketball | Instagram – csuwbasketball | Facebook – @CSUWBasketball
The Rams went on a 7-0 run to make it a 54-51 CSU deficit with just under two minutes to play, however the game's leading scorer, Kendrian Elliot, converted back-to-back layups to help regain control for the Golden Hurricane's win down the stretch. Colorado State dropped to 6-7 overall, while Tulsa (4-8) stopped its six-game losing streak in the Golden Hurricane's first home game back in as many games.
Uncharacteristically, the Rams surrendered 16 turnovers after entering the contest with a Mountain West-leading average of 11 per game. The Golden Hurricane capitalized on the fault by turning them into 20 points – the second most against the Rams this season.
"Tulsa had 14 points off our turnovers in the first half," head coach Ryun Williams said. "They were silly turnovers of cross-court passes and the players trying to do too much with the ball. We know better than that. We were getting great shots, but that hurt us, and you can't do that on the road. Additionally, we couldn't slow down Kendrian Elliot who was the top person we scouted. We have to do better in our assignments all around."
After missing four games, redshirt-sophomore Tori Williams was inserted back into the starting lineup and finished with a team-high 15 points. The guard provided the late spark by having a hand in all seven points in CSU's last push. First, she assisted an Andrea Brady jumper, and then she drew a charge – not her first of the game – at the other end. Next time up the floor, she found Jamie Bonnarens for a 3. To pull within three, she took it herself – a spinning layup in the lane.
"She [Tori Williams] was playing aggressive," Williams added. "She will shoot it better, but it was an encouraging performance. She didn't have much practice time to get back to the speed of play, so that will only improve going forward. We have to have her on the floor. She's a scoring threat and has a high basketball IQ."
The first nine Ram points were from long distance with Makenzie Ellis, playing in her hometown, having a hand in all of them as she hit a top-of-the-key jumper and assisted the other two makes. Each team connected on four 3s in the first quarter with the Golden Hurricane adding a field goal to hold the 18-16 lead.
Defenses tightened up and offenses sputtered in the second quarter as both teams managed six points each. Aside from an Ellis free throw in the opening 18 seconds of the second quarter, both teams went scoreless until the 4:09 mark when the Golden Hurricanes converted on two from the line. A game-high dozen points from Elliot carried Tulsa to the break with the 24-22 advantage.
Consecutive Golden Hurricane 3s to start the second half gave Tulsa the biggest lead up until that point at eight. The Rams gained their composure and forced another dry spell of the Tulsa offense and brought the game within six points, but a banked-in buzzer beater 3 off another Ram turnover halted momentum and put CSU deficit up to a dozen.
In the second half, Colorado State kept better care of the ball with four turnovers compared to the first half's dozen, however Tulsa connected on 7-of-10 shots from behind the arc, which created most of the separation.
Offensively, Megan Jacobs and Ellis contributed 11 and 12 points, respectively. On the glass, Brady tallied a season-high 15 rebounds.
Next, the Rams will enjoy a 10-day break for the holidays before returning to the hardwood and conference play on the first day of the new year. Colorado State will play Nevada at home in Moby Arena with a 7 p.m. tip.
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter – CSUWBasketball | Instagram – csuwbasketball | Facebook – @CSUWBasketball
Team Stats
CSU
TULSA
FG%
.340
.423
3FG%
.259
.524
FT%
.750
.600
RB
33
35
TO
16
18
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballG
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