Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, January 4
Laramie, WY
2 PM MT
Colorado State
8-7, 2-2MW
56
at
49
Wyoming
7-6, 3-1MW
1
2
3
4
F
Colorado State
16
13
12
15
56
Wyoming
16
12
10
11
49
Rams Win Border War at Wyoming, 56-49
1/4/2020 4:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LARAMIE, Wyo. – In between Moby Arena and Arena-Auditorium lies a 66-mile trek, give or take a few miles. The path has built a rivalry between Colorado State and Wyoming's athletic programs.
The Border War includes women's basketball, a matchup which until Saturday's tilt was knotted up at 50 wins apiece, depending on who you ask. Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams was 8-8 himself before the Rams' 56-49 win Saturday.
If only for a short span of 42 days until the two team's next meeting, the rivalry is tilted in the Rams' favor. To Williams, the record is something which mean a lot – the game simply carries an added significance.
The same sentiment rings true for the veterans of the rivalry in Annie Brady, Myanne Hamm and Liah Davis. Winning against Wyoming wasn't just an opportunity to stretch their conference win streak to two games for the first time since the 2017-18 season, but a chance to garner bragging rights.
"For our fans, and for us too, it's got a little more pop to it," Williams said. "To get a road win is crucial. More than that, from just a program and coaching standpoint, that's a hell of a coach across the way, that's a hell of a basketball program, so just to beat a good program on their court is never easy."
Wyoming's Taylor Rusk, the host's most tenured and experienced player, is just as savvy as the Rams' leaders. Entering the game, it was clear the offense would run through the Cowgirls' forward, much the way it has in the past.
Stop Rusk, and you stand a good chance of stopping the Cowgirls. It's merely part of the puzzle though. The Cowgirls possess outside shooting, driving guards and even a center in Tereza Vitulova who, as evidenced by her team-high 16 points, can dominate on any given day.
Weathering the storm, without getting down due to an added confidence from experience is what's turned close games from losses to wins for the Rams.
"I think that we realize we are a great team and we needed to believe that," Tori Williams said. "Losing and the preseason, it kind of put a fire under us. I think winning these games is good for us."
In just her third game back from a lengthy injury stint, Williams scored 14 points. Makenzie Ellis, a newcomer this year, did her part as well with a career-high 22 points. Colorado State improved to 8-7 overall and 2-2 within the Mountain West. Wyoming fell to 7-6 and obtained its first MW loss to go to 3-1.
As a fifth-year player, Ellis brought to the Rams an added grit. Though she had yet to play in a Border War, her experience along the way, as well as a desire to enable the Rams' seniors to leave their final trip to Wyoming victorious.
"It's such a big rivalry," Ellis said. "I'd played at this arena before and I know it's a great crowd, a great atmosphere. It gives us a lot of pride. Every game, I want to play like it's my last and the same goes for those (seniors). I want to give them my all."
When the game mattered most, Williams called a timeout with 55 seconds left. The Rams carried a five-point lead – a margin that would grow to seven at the game's conclusion.
The huddle was more than just strategy, it was a chance to take a breath for the team.
"We knew we had to have positive possessions on offense, as well as defense," Tori said. "I think that's what helped us get the win."
NOTES
- The Rams forced Wyoming into 15 turnovers – the most by the Cowgirls in their four Mountain West games this season.
- Makenzie Ellis in back-to-back games set a new career-high mark in points. She scored 19 points against Nevada and followed that up with 22 against Wyoming. It marks her fourth double-digit scoring game of the season – her best stretch as a Ram.
- Nine of the Rams' 10 free throws made occurred in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
- Defensively, the Rams held its fifth opponent to under 50 points. The last time Wyoming failed to eclipse the 50-point mark was on 1/30/16 – a 63-42 CSU win.
Next
The Rams will enjoy a week off before hosting San Jose State at Moby Arena Saturday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. MT.
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter – CSUWBasketball | Instagram – csuwbasketball | Facebook – @CSUWBasketball
The Border War includes women's basketball, a matchup which until Saturday's tilt was knotted up at 50 wins apiece, depending on who you ask. Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams was 8-8 himself before the Rams' 56-49 win Saturday.
If only for a short span of 42 days until the two team's next meeting, the rivalry is tilted in the Rams' favor. To Williams, the record is something which mean a lot – the game simply carries an added significance.
The same sentiment rings true for the veterans of the rivalry in Annie Brady, Myanne Hamm and Liah Davis. Winning against Wyoming wasn't just an opportunity to stretch their conference win streak to two games for the first time since the 2017-18 season, but a chance to garner bragging rights.
"For our fans, and for us too, it's got a little more pop to it," Williams said. "To get a road win is crucial. More than that, from just a program and coaching standpoint, that's a hell of a coach across the way, that's a hell of a basketball program, so just to beat a good program on their court is never easy."
Wyoming's Taylor Rusk, the host's most tenured and experienced player, is just as savvy as the Rams' leaders. Entering the game, it was clear the offense would run through the Cowgirls' forward, much the way it has in the past.
Stop Rusk, and you stand a good chance of stopping the Cowgirls. It's merely part of the puzzle though. The Cowgirls possess outside shooting, driving guards and even a center in Tereza Vitulova who, as evidenced by her team-high 16 points, can dominate on any given day.
Weathering the storm, without getting down due to an added confidence from experience is what's turned close games from losses to wins for the Rams.
"I think that we realize we are a great team and we needed to believe that," Tori Williams said. "Losing and the preseason, it kind of put a fire under us. I think winning these games is good for us."
In just her third game back from a lengthy injury stint, Williams scored 14 points. Makenzie Ellis, a newcomer this year, did her part as well with a career-high 22 points. Colorado State improved to 8-7 overall and 2-2 within the Mountain West. Wyoming fell to 7-6 and obtained its first MW loss to go to 3-1.
As a fifth-year player, Ellis brought to the Rams an added grit. Though she had yet to play in a Border War, her experience along the way, as well as a desire to enable the Rams' seniors to leave their final trip to Wyoming victorious.
"It's such a big rivalry," Ellis said. "I'd played at this arena before and I know it's a great crowd, a great atmosphere. It gives us a lot of pride. Every game, I want to play like it's my last and the same goes for those (seniors). I want to give them my all."
When the game mattered most, Williams called a timeout with 55 seconds left. The Rams carried a five-point lead – a margin that would grow to seven at the game's conclusion.
The huddle was more than just strategy, it was a chance to take a breath for the team.
"We knew we had to have positive possessions on offense, as well as defense," Tori said. "I think that's what helped us get the win."
NOTES
- The Rams forced Wyoming into 15 turnovers – the most by the Cowgirls in their four Mountain West games this season.
- Makenzie Ellis in back-to-back games set a new career-high mark in points. She scored 19 points against Nevada and followed that up with 22 against Wyoming. It marks her fourth double-digit scoring game of the season – her best stretch as a Ram.
- Nine of the Rams' 10 free throws made occurred in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
- Defensively, the Rams held its fifth opponent to under 50 points. The last time Wyoming failed to eclipse the 50-point mark was on 1/30/16 – a 63-42 CSU win.
Next
The Rams will enjoy a week off before hosting San Jose State at Moby Arena Saturday, Jan. 11, at 2 p.m. MT.
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter – CSUWBasketball | Instagram – csuwbasketball | Facebook – @CSUWBasketball
Team Stats
CSU
WY
FG%
.420
.356
3FG%
.286
.400
FT%
.667
1.000
RB
31
28
TO
10
15
STL
4
4
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballG
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