Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, December 4
Fresno, CA
7 PM MT
Colorado State
3-1 (1-1MW)
74
at
78
Fresno State
2-2 (1-1MW)
1
2
3
4
F
Colorado State
18
23
17
16
74
Fresno State
17
18
19
24
78
Rams Drop Finale to Split Series with Fresno State, 78-74
12/4/2020 9:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FRESNO, Calif. – In what seemed like an extension from yesterday's contest, the Rams and the Bulldogs went down to the wire again, but this time Fresno State grabbed the comeback win, 78-74, Friday night at The Save Mart Center.
Colorado State (3-1, 1-1 MW) led for over 30 minutes in the game, but Fresno State (2-2, 1-1) was always at arm's length away only letting the Rams' largest lead go to 10 points twice. CSU's Sydney Mech hit a 3 to go up seven to start the fourth, but the Bulldogs tied it by media break and after held the lead for the duration despite the Rams clawing back. Under a minute, Mech and Tori Williams made shots along with McKenna Hofschild free throws to pull within one point at 21 seconds. After FS split free throws, CSU had a chance at a tie or win but it did not go down leading to the Bulldogs icing the game at the free throw line to secure the win.
"Our team came out with nice rhythm yet again, looking to score and attack," head coach Ryun Williams said. "Our transitioning was good as well offensively and defensively. Those are two really good basketball teams right there. We did not make as many plays as we did last night, but that is how it goes sometimes. I look around in the locker room and I can see their disappointment, which shows heart. That is the mentality you want in the locker room."
Leading the Rams, Mech dropped a career-high 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting with five rebounds and two assists. For the second night in a row, senior Lore Devos shouldered the glass work with a team-high eight rebounds, while she chipped in 11 points. Tori Williams and Ellie Boni contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively, and represented six of CSU's 10 three-pointers. With seven assists, Hofschild continued to provide her teammates opportunities to score as she now has three games of at least five dishes.
Both teams lit up the shooting chart in the first half going over 40% and CSU went into the half with a 41-35 lead. Out of the break, Mech scored four straight to put the Rams up by 10. Instead of CSU running away with it, Fresno State tightened up with the help of their twin back court Hanna and Haley Cavinder who each finished with 19 points. They combined with MW Preseason Player of the Year Maddi Utti scored all of FS's 19 points in the quarter, making it a one-score game by the final second until CSU's Boni struck again. Like a mirror image, the freshman Ram closed out the third quarter with a buzzer beater, giving CSU a four-point lead going into the fourth.
Unfortunately, the CSU momentum did not thwart Fresno State. A 12-2 Bulldog run midway through the fourth flipped the script and despite the Rams keeping the game close in the final stretch, shooting fell short in the final period. In the fourth, CSU shot 28.6% after enjoying over 40% in the three previous quarters.
The final box resembled the tight matchup that it was. Colorado State finished at 42.9% shooting and Fresno State at 44.3%, while both succumbed to 11 turnovers and compiled 26 points in the paint. The main difference boiled down to FS's 18 for 22 at the free throw line compared to CSU's 4-of-4 free throws.
"This was a tough weekend between travel, COVID, and back-to-back games against the abnormality of Fresno State," Williams added. "It was good for us. This was a great learning experience that excites me for us going forward. Next, SDSU comes in with one of the best players in the league and other complementary parts so we have another tough conference test. We are going to get home, get some rest and be ready."
The Rams will return to the hardwood for another two-game conference series next Tuesday evening and Thursday afternoon against San Diego State at Moby Arena.
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter – CSUWBasketball | Instagram – csuwbasketball | Facebook – @CSUWBasketball
Colorado State (3-1, 1-1 MW) led for over 30 minutes in the game, but Fresno State (2-2, 1-1) was always at arm's length away only letting the Rams' largest lead go to 10 points twice. CSU's Sydney Mech hit a 3 to go up seven to start the fourth, but the Bulldogs tied it by media break and after held the lead for the duration despite the Rams clawing back. Under a minute, Mech and Tori Williams made shots along with McKenna Hofschild free throws to pull within one point at 21 seconds. After FS split free throws, CSU had a chance at a tie or win but it did not go down leading to the Bulldogs icing the game at the free throw line to secure the win.
"Our team came out with nice rhythm yet again, looking to score and attack," head coach Ryun Williams said. "Our transitioning was good as well offensively and defensively. Those are two really good basketball teams right there. We did not make as many plays as we did last night, but that is how it goes sometimes. I look around in the locker room and I can see their disappointment, which shows heart. That is the mentality you want in the locker room."
Leading the Rams, Mech dropped a career-high 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting with five rebounds and two assists. For the second night in a row, senior Lore Devos shouldered the glass work with a team-high eight rebounds, while she chipped in 11 points. Tori Williams and Ellie Boni contributed 14 and 12 points, respectively, and represented six of CSU's 10 three-pointers. With seven assists, Hofschild continued to provide her teammates opportunities to score as she now has three games of at least five dishes.
Both teams lit up the shooting chart in the first half going over 40% and CSU went into the half with a 41-35 lead. Out of the break, Mech scored four straight to put the Rams up by 10. Instead of CSU running away with it, Fresno State tightened up with the help of their twin back court Hanna and Haley Cavinder who each finished with 19 points. They combined with MW Preseason Player of the Year Maddi Utti scored all of FS's 19 points in the quarter, making it a one-score game by the final second until CSU's Boni struck again. Like a mirror image, the freshman Ram closed out the third quarter with a buzzer beater, giving CSU a four-point lead going into the fourth.
Unfortunately, the CSU momentum did not thwart Fresno State. A 12-2 Bulldog run midway through the fourth flipped the script and despite the Rams keeping the game close in the final stretch, shooting fell short in the final period. In the fourth, CSU shot 28.6% after enjoying over 40% in the three previous quarters.
The final box resembled the tight matchup that it was. Colorado State finished at 42.9% shooting and Fresno State at 44.3%, while both succumbed to 11 turnovers and compiled 26 points in the paint. The main difference boiled down to FS's 18 for 22 at the free throw line compared to CSU's 4-of-4 free throws.
"This was a tough weekend between travel, COVID, and back-to-back games against the abnormality of Fresno State," Williams added. "It was good for us. This was a great learning experience that excites me for us going forward. Next, SDSU comes in with one of the best players in the league and other complementary parts so we have another tough conference test. We are going to get home, get some rest and be ready."
The Rams will return to the hardwood for another two-game conference series next Tuesday evening and Thursday afternoon against San Diego State at Moby Arena.
For More on Colorado State Women's Basketball follow: Twitter – CSUWBasketball | Instagram – csuwbasketball | Facebook – @CSUWBasketball
- CSURams.com -
Team Stats
CSU
FS
FG%
.429
.443
3FG%
.385
.333
FT%
1.000
.818
RB
34
40
TO
11
11
STL
3
6
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
10
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballG
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