Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, December 8
Fort Collins, CO
1 PM MT
Colorado State
5-5,0-2Mountain
69
vs
72
Boise State
6-4,2-0Mountain
1
2
3
4
F
Boise St.
18
22
19
13
72
Colorado State
17
16
20
16
69
Rams Fall in Close One to Boise State, 72-69
12/8/2019 6:33:00β―PM | Women's Basketball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. β In junior college, Colorado State women's basketball head coach Ryun Williams was given a figure. His own head coach told him, "75 percent of all games are going to be won or lost by five points or less."
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The source cited was a Harvard study, something Williams still questions the validity of to this day. Nonetheless, the sentiment still rings in his head in games like Sunday's 72-69 loss to Boise State at Moby Arena.
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A late push led to the thin margin, but the Rams fell short. To reach the potential, which is so easily visible, the close games need to reverse course.
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"We're a good basketball team," Williams said. "But we have to start winning these close games."
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So far this year, the Rams have faced a single-digit margin in four games. Including their latest loss, they've yet to tally a win in those instances.
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A cause of the struggles is still working into their final form. The Broncos, a perennial Mountain West champion who's won 32 of their last 38 conference games, has found its identity. Led by six seniors, they presented a harsh litmus test for the Rams.
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The close margin, while short of the host's expectations, showed how close they are.
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"This team has a ton of potential," Williams said. "I hope they're in the locker room thinking, 'we should've won the game.' That's what winners think. We're thinking we should've won that basketball game.
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"I think our kids should believe we can beat that team and play on the same floor with them."
Β
While the Broncos were a complete team, the Rams are still unaware what a complete team could look like. They've been without Lore Devos since the first game. Myanne Hamm and Tori Williams have also gone down with injuries in the past two weeks.
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With his team at full strength, Williams remains giddy. They've already shown so much, reinforcements would only add to it. Turning the close losses into wins would also provide a snowball opportunity.
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"We all just tried to play tough tonight," Megan Jacobs said. "We really wanted this win tonight, but I think that our fans can see that we really tried to compete and get that win. We'll continue to move forward in conference and build on what we did tonight."
Β
The players on the floor are providing their own sparks already. Jacobs, after a hard fall in the first frame, finished with 18 points. Andrea Brady, the team's leader, finished with an even greater 23.
Β
A solid core has shown its face, even in the losses.
Β
"That was good leadership tonight," Williams said. "I liked Annie and Megan's leadership tonight. They played hard and made some big plays."
Β
The one thing which held the Rams back was their inability to keep the Broncos to a single attempt. The visitors racked up a bevy of offensive rebounds in the win, and second chances allowed pare down the win probability.
Β
When the Rams did limit the Broncos' attempts, like they did in the fourth quarter, they proved to be the more efficient squad.
Β
Little things like rebounding after a good defensive possession represent the difference between outcomes. Focusing on those small portions of a bigger picture will lend itself to success.
Β
"When you get two good teams out there, it's going to be a close game," Williams said. "Those little things, like giving them a couple of extra possessions and they convert a 3, or they get a put-back foul, that could be the difference. It doesn't matter if it happens in the first three minutes of the game or the last three. It's equally important."
Β
The Rams will look to a matchup in Knoxville, Tennessee against the Lady Volunteers to find some footing. It's a tough test, but one that "winners" embrace.
Β
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter β CSUWBasketball | Instagram β csuwbasketball | Facebook β @CSUWBasketball
Β
Β
Β
Β
Β
The source cited was a Harvard study, something Williams still questions the validity of to this day. Nonetheless, the sentiment still rings in his head in games like Sunday's 72-69 loss to Boise State at Moby Arena.
Β
A late push led to the thin margin, but the Rams fell short. To reach the potential, which is so easily visible, the close games need to reverse course.
Β
"We're a good basketball team," Williams said. "But we have to start winning these close games."
Β
So far this year, the Rams have faced a single-digit margin in four games. Including their latest loss, they've yet to tally a win in those instances.
Β
A cause of the struggles is still working into their final form. The Broncos, a perennial Mountain West champion who's won 32 of their last 38 conference games, has found its identity. Led by six seniors, they presented a harsh litmus test for the Rams.
Β
The close margin, while short of the host's expectations, showed how close they are.
Β
"This team has a ton of potential," Williams said. "I hope they're in the locker room thinking, 'we should've won the game.' That's what winners think. We're thinking we should've won that basketball game.
Β
"I think our kids should believe we can beat that team and play on the same floor with them."
Β
While the Broncos were a complete team, the Rams are still unaware what a complete team could look like. They've been without Lore Devos since the first game. Myanne Hamm and Tori Williams have also gone down with injuries in the past two weeks.
Β
With his team at full strength, Williams remains giddy. They've already shown so much, reinforcements would only add to it. Turning the close losses into wins would also provide a snowball opportunity.
Β
"We all just tried to play tough tonight," Megan Jacobs said. "We really wanted this win tonight, but I think that our fans can see that we really tried to compete and get that win. We'll continue to move forward in conference and build on what we did tonight."
Β
The players on the floor are providing their own sparks already. Jacobs, after a hard fall in the first frame, finished with 18 points. Andrea Brady, the team's leader, finished with an even greater 23.
Β
A solid core has shown its face, even in the losses.
Β
"That was good leadership tonight," Williams said. "I liked Annie and Megan's leadership tonight. They played hard and made some big plays."
Β
The one thing which held the Rams back was their inability to keep the Broncos to a single attempt. The visitors racked up a bevy of offensive rebounds in the win, and second chances allowed pare down the win probability.
Β
When the Rams did limit the Broncos' attempts, like they did in the fourth quarter, they proved to be the more efficient squad.
Β
Little things like rebounding after a good defensive possession represent the difference between outcomes. Focusing on those small portions of a bigger picture will lend itself to success.
Β
"When you get two good teams out there, it's going to be a close game," Williams said. "Those little things, like giving them a couple of extra possessions and they convert a 3, or they get a put-back foul, that could be the difference. It doesn't matter if it happens in the first three minutes of the game or the last three. It's equally important."
Β
The Rams will look to a matchup in Knoxville, Tennessee against the Lady Volunteers to find some footing. It's a tough test, but one that "winners" embrace.
Β
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter β CSUWBasketball | Instagram β csuwbasketball | Facebook β @CSUWBasketball
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Team Stats
BOISE
CSU
FG%
.414
.491
3FG%
.286
.227
FT%
.750
.909
RB
36
33
TO
13
17
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
10
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
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