Rams Stave Off Aztecs in Double Overtime 84-77 Win for Sweep

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – She played more minutes than any of her teammates a season ago.

Jamie Bonnarens did so by starting 29 of 30 games, but the senior hasn't started any of the first five this year. She's adjusting to the new role, and in the case of Colorado State's women's basketball team, it's nice to have someone of her pedigree to come off the bench and change the flow.

She did it with defense. And clutch shooting. And just plain good court sense and a sense of calm when things went higgledy-piggledy against San Diego State at Moby Arena on Thursday afternoon.

"Jamie was outstanding tonight, defensively and offensively, as well," said teammate Lore Devos. "She was amazing. She's a senior. She knows what she has to do, and when she's out there, she's giving it everything and doing the job she's supposed to."

Bonnarens played 27 minutes in the contest – by far her longest stretch of the campaign – producing 15 points and two key baskets in the final frame of what was an 84-77 double overtime victory. She opened the second overtime with a 3-pointer from the wing, then closed the scoring with a long jumper as the shot clock was running down.

No moment was too big for her, no task was too big of an ask. The Rams needed a smart defender at times, which she was. The needed an alternate scorer to Devos, and she gave them that, too, as the team improved to 5-1 on the season, 3-1 in Mountain West play.

It is a new role, but she looked like the same 'ol Bonnarens.

"I play how I play, I guess, and when my number's called, I'm ready to go," she said. "I don't try to get too flustered, but I definitely want to get my job done."

The schedule is strange, with teams playing each other in back-to-back contests. CSU head coach Ryun Williams poured over the stats from Tuesday's win, and saw that while Aztecs' leading scorer Sophia Ramos led the way, her teammates were shooting way too high of a percentage for his pleasure.

So he went to a zone to start the afternoon.

"Yeah, that proved to be absolutely brilliant – not," delivered Williams as his sarcastic best. "They scored on their first seven or eight possessions. I give our kids credit. We had to can that, and we went to switching every ball screen, which we did not do Tuesday night. We went over the top of all their ball screens, and that created some driving opportunities. I thought our kids did a good job of adjusting out of that timeout.

"You're going to try different things, but you're probably going to end up back at what you're really, really good at."

San Diego State couldn't, really, because Ramos, who scored 21 Tuesday, only played 2 minutes after sustaining what appeared to be a hand injury. So the Aztecs leaned on Tea Adams, who scored 24 points, including a step-back 3 to force the second overtime. Mercedes Staples added 16, pulling down a game-best 13 rebounds.

San Diego State did what was needed to stay in the game, outrebounding CSU 60-42, pulling down a cringe-worthy 23 on the offensive end.

The Rams, well, they had Devos, who was coming off a career night of 25 points and 11 rebounds. Now she's likely the frontrunner for conference player of the week honors after she came back with 23 points in the game – 10 in overtime – and grabbed 12 boards, now her career best. McKenna Hofschild had her splendid moments, especially driving the basket, scoring 18 and producing seven assists. Tori Williams had to fight to reach double figures, as the nation's leader in 3-pointers made struggled on a 1-for-8 night, but she battled for 10 rebounds – a career best.

Outside of Devos playing really steady, the Rams came and went with spurts. And that's when Bonnarens was needed, just as Coach Williams asked.

"We've had conversations here and there. Obviously Jamie is a very good basketball player and wants to help the team any way she can," he said. "But, when your number is called, Jamie, be ready to go. Defensively, she's really concentrated a lot more here lately and doing a better job keeping the ball in front of her. We thought we would go small tonight and try to stretch them a little bit and get another shot maker out there. Jamie stayed ready, and that's what a senior should do.

"That's what everybody should do. She had some great senior moments tonight. Proud of Jamie Bonnarens."

For some folks, it would be a tough role to accept, considering how much she was relied upon as a starter the year prior. The scoring was nice, especially when she makes all three of her 3-point attempts. But the scoring total which mattered most to her was on the big board, not the stat sheet, and that had the Rams winners once again.

New role. Same Jamie. And that's good news for a rebuilt Colorado State roster.

"I mean, I just want to win. I don't care whether I'm starting five, six, seven, I just want to win and when I go in, I want to do my part to win," Bonnarens said. "We have so many talented players, that that's how it is this year and that's really exciting for me, honestly."

The Rams pick back up on non-conference play next with two contests against Denver. First, the Pioneers will come to Moby Arena this Sunday for a noon tip and then Colorado State will play at Denver the following Friday.

For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter – CSUWBasketball | Instagram – csuwbasketball | Facebook – @CSUWBasketball

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