Colorado State University Athletics
Tuesday, December 6
Fort Collins, CO
6:30 PM
Colorado State
6-3,0-0Mountain West
85
vs
54
Denver
3-6,0-0Summit League
1
2
3
4
F
Denver
10
18
13
13
54
Colorado St.
17
23
24
21
85
Rams In Giving Mood In Blowout of Denver
12/6/2022 9:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Hofschild reaches 1,000 career points at CSU
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Tis the season.
Â
Tuesday night's victory at Moby Arena came via a series of perfectly wrapped presents. Pretty bows leading to layups. Flowing ribbons to the perimeter leading to wide-open 3s. Shiny, glimmering gift wrap without too much tape holding it in place so the top of the basket could be ripped off with ease.
Â
"They played that zone and there were a lot of gaps," CSU coach Ryun Williams said. "McKenna got us going early. I thought she was aggressive to start, and that's two games in a row now, and we love that McKenna Hofschild. This team likes to share the ball. They move well for each other. I thought our bigs did a great job on that baseline, you saw Destiny Thurman flash really well tonight, so it was good to have her back.
Â
"The fact we had 28 assists, that's a great number. We love to see that. This team likes to share the ball, and we have more playmakers."
Â
Colorado State's women's basketball team handed out a season-best assist total coming off 34 made baskets in an 85-54 dismantling of Denver, pushing the Rams'Â mark to 6-3 on the season.
Â
It led to a trio of 20-point quarters for the team with five players finishing in double figures. Hofschild led the way with 16 and pushed her to a rare program milestone as she became just the 20th Ram to score 1,000 career points in the green and gold. In the locker room afterward, her teammates presented her with a special game ball to mark the achievement.
Â
"Got a little ball, and my teammates are really good about supporting me and supporting each other, so we had a little celebration," Hofschild said. "It's special. I think to be part of a program and a team that is really so together and a second family to me … A thousand points is awesome, but to be here with these people just makes it even better and I'm just blessed to be around everyone that I am this day."
Â
Not only can Hofschild score, but she makes it easier for others to do so. She's the Rams' not-so-secret-Santa, pumping out 13 assists in the game, reaching her third double-double of the season (and seventh in her career) before the fourth quarter began.
Â
That's her niche. She set the single-season record a season ago with 216, setting the single-game record with 17 against Utah State. Her 407 career assists rank her fifth all-time, but she wasn't the only Ram in a giving mood.
Â
Eight other Rams had assists in the game, four of them with multiple as Caitlyn Crocker had four, Thurman, Joseana Vaz and Hannah Ronsiek two each. Hofschild's penchant for paying it forward is making the Rams rather charitable.
Â
"We just play together, and we want to get the best shot for the team," Hofschild said. "Whether that's getting it for yourself or getting it for a teammate, I think everyone on the court is looking to get the best possible play for the team. I think it's rubbing off, but I think everyone sees the floor really well and gets the team involved."
Â
The Rams passed up some good shots in the game for better ones as they shot 59.6 percent from the floor, 37.9 percent from 3, making 11-of-29. The team's worst shooting quarter was the fourth, when they hit only 44.4 percent, as the bench emptied midway through the frame.
Â
Every other stanza was 61.5 percent or better, the two middle quarters at 69.2 percent.
Â
"Coach, he talks about it during practice, before the game, during the game, to find the best shot for the team," Thurman said. "I feel like maybe sometimes we can overshare – people pass up shots – but for the most part it's starting to rub off when McKenna is leading in assists on our team."
Â
Thurman returned to the lineup after missing the past two games with an injury and inserted herself into the plan coming off the bench, scoring 14 on the night. Megan Boyd, the DU transfer, finished with 12, and Kendyll Kinzer and Hannah Ronsiek both had 10, Ronsiek matching a career best set in her first collegiate game.
Â
For Thurman, it was just good to get back on the floor again.
Â
While she helps make things work offensively, her reappearance in the lineup provided the biggest jolt defensively, with her ability to play strong on-ball defense.
Â
The Rams picked their poison in the game, backing off Ally Haar in favor of putting more pressure on Emma Smith and Jojo Jones, the Pioneers' leading scorers. While Harr went off for a career-best 23 points (hitting 7-of-17 3-pointers), but there was no sense crying over a spilled latte. CSU limited the DU duo to just 14 points combined on the night, 11 shy of their combined average.
Â
When it comes to Thurman, there is no pep talk needed for the defensive end.
Â
"Your focus has to be defense every game," Thurman said. "He didn't talk to me about it; you just gotta go out there and do it, and that's what I did."
Â
It all happened with Sydney Mech – arguably the team's best defender – sidelined with an injury. But Cali Clark helped by matching a career best with 13 rebounds, and Kinzer blocked four shots, the team finishing with nine rejections.
Â
Denver shot just 27.3 percent in the game, and just 25 percent from deep, but still, somebody has to clean up the spill, and Hofschild knows Williams will remind them about closing out on shooters with more urgency, even ones who were shooting just 27.1 percent from 3 entering a game.
Â
"Oh yeah," Hofschild said.
Â
But overall, a rather festive mood for a team which has won two in a row after going through a dry spell where it lost three of four. Before everybody gathers around the tree at home, the Rams have two more contests on their home floor, starting with San Francisco on Saturday (1 p.m.).
Â
Â
Tuesday night's victory at Moby Arena came via a series of perfectly wrapped presents. Pretty bows leading to layups. Flowing ribbons to the perimeter leading to wide-open 3s. Shiny, glimmering gift wrap without too much tape holding it in place so the top of the basket could be ripped off with ease.
Â
"They played that zone and there were a lot of gaps," CSU coach Ryun Williams said. "McKenna got us going early. I thought she was aggressive to start, and that's two games in a row now, and we love that McKenna Hofschild. This team likes to share the ball. They move well for each other. I thought our bigs did a great job on that baseline, you saw Destiny Thurman flash really well tonight, so it was good to have her back.
Â
"The fact we had 28 assists, that's a great number. We love to see that. This team likes to share the ball, and we have more playmakers."
Â
Colorado State's women's basketball team handed out a season-best assist total coming off 34 made baskets in an 85-54 dismantling of Denver, pushing the Rams'Â mark to 6-3 on the season.
Â
It led to a trio of 20-point quarters for the team with five players finishing in double figures. Hofschild led the way with 16 and pushed her to a rare program milestone as she became just the 20th Ram to score 1,000 career points in the green and gold. In the locker room afterward, her teammates presented her with a special game ball to mark the achievement.
Â
"Got a little ball, and my teammates are really good about supporting me and supporting each other, so we had a little celebration," Hofschild said. "It's special. I think to be part of a program and a team that is really so together and a second family to me … A thousand points is awesome, but to be here with these people just makes it even better and I'm just blessed to be around everyone that I am this day."
Â
Not only can Hofschild score, but she makes it easier for others to do so. She's the Rams' not-so-secret-Santa, pumping out 13 assists in the game, reaching her third double-double of the season (and seventh in her career) before the fourth quarter began.
Â
That's her niche. She set the single-season record a season ago with 216, setting the single-game record with 17 against Utah State. Her 407 career assists rank her fifth all-time, but she wasn't the only Ram in a giving mood.
Â
Eight other Rams had assists in the game, four of them with multiple as Caitlyn Crocker had four, Thurman, Joseana Vaz and Hannah Ronsiek two each. Hofschild's penchant for paying it forward is making the Rams rather charitable.
Â
"We just play together, and we want to get the best shot for the team," Hofschild said. "Whether that's getting it for yourself or getting it for a teammate, I think everyone on the court is looking to get the best possible play for the team. I think it's rubbing off, but I think everyone sees the floor really well and gets the team involved."
Â
The Rams passed up some good shots in the game for better ones as they shot 59.6 percent from the floor, 37.9 percent from 3, making 11-of-29. The team's worst shooting quarter was the fourth, when they hit only 44.4 percent, as the bench emptied midway through the frame.
Â
Every other stanza was 61.5 percent or better, the two middle quarters at 69.2 percent.
Â
"Coach, he talks about it during practice, before the game, during the game, to find the best shot for the team," Thurman said. "I feel like maybe sometimes we can overshare – people pass up shots – but for the most part it's starting to rub off when McKenna is leading in assists on our team."
Â
Thurman returned to the lineup after missing the past two games with an injury and inserted herself into the plan coming off the bench, scoring 14 on the night. Megan Boyd, the DU transfer, finished with 12, and Kendyll Kinzer and Hannah Ronsiek both had 10, Ronsiek matching a career best set in her first collegiate game.
Â
For Thurman, it was just good to get back on the floor again.
Â
While she helps make things work offensively, her reappearance in the lineup provided the biggest jolt defensively, with her ability to play strong on-ball defense.
Â
The Rams picked their poison in the game, backing off Ally Haar in favor of putting more pressure on Emma Smith and Jojo Jones, the Pioneers' leading scorers. While Harr went off for a career-best 23 points (hitting 7-of-17 3-pointers), but there was no sense crying over a spilled latte. CSU limited the DU duo to just 14 points combined on the night, 11 shy of their combined average.
Â
When it comes to Thurman, there is no pep talk needed for the defensive end.
Â
"Your focus has to be defense every game," Thurman said. "He didn't talk to me about it; you just gotta go out there and do it, and that's what I did."
Â
It all happened with Sydney Mech – arguably the team's best defender – sidelined with an injury. But Cali Clark helped by matching a career best with 13 rebounds, and Kinzer blocked four shots, the team finishing with nine rejections.
Â
Denver shot just 27.3 percent in the game, and just 25 percent from deep, but still, somebody has to clean up the spill, and Hofschild knows Williams will remind them about closing out on shooters with more urgency, even ones who were shooting just 27.1 percent from 3 entering a game.
Â
"Oh yeah," Hofschild said.
Â
But overall, a rather festive mood for a team which has won two in a row after going through a dry spell where it lost three of four. Before everybody gathers around the tree at home, the Rams have two more contests on their home floor, starting with San Francisco on Saturday (1 p.m.).
Â
Team Stats
Denver
CSU
FG%
.273
.596
3FG%
.250
.379
FT%
.818
.857
RB
36
36
TO
8
6
STL
3
1
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
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