Shootaround: First Assists of Day Dished Out by Support Staff

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Oct 18

TBA

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vs South Dakota (Exh.)

Oct 29

6:30 pm

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vs Colorado Christian (Exh.)

Nov 4

6:00 pm

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vs Weber State

Nov 9

1:00 pm

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vs Long Beach State

Nov 13

TBA

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at Gonzaga

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The first assists of the day did not come from McKenna Hofschild.

In March, benches get shorter as the games get tighter, and Colorado State's women's basketball team has been leaning on the starters in the run to the Mountain West Tournament championship game. Kendyll Kinzer has logged 110 minutes in three games, playing every second in the win over Wyoming. Hofschild has played one less minute than her. Sydney Mech has played 103 and Upe Atosu 100. Post Karly Murphy has had the most rest, thanks to the presence of Cali Clark, sitting at 84 heading into tonight's matchup with top-seeded UNLV at 8 p.m. (MT) at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Between games and at the shootarounds, that's when athletic trainer Annie Lopez-Baumann and strength and conditioning coach Brandon Mikulecky work their magic, focusing on recovery as the team plays four games in as many days.

The most popular item in Lopez-Bauman's inventory is the Normatec Recovery System, which the players simply call "The Boots." All of the starters are regular users of it, putting their legs in the bags for 20 minutes, as the system is devised to help increase circulation and keep fluids from settling, creating heavy legs. It's a far cry from past days of telling players to go to the hotel room and raise their legs with pillows.

"They help a ton, especially when you're on the road," Lopez-Bauman said. "It's the same stuff we'd be using on the road. It's all about your muscles and the fluid back flowing through the heart. The circulation is the important part, so having the tools to help with that recovery is huge."

Players also go to Lopez-Bauman to use the Hypervolt Percussion Gun on her, a handheld massage device which also helps the cause.

For the players, the bags feel like magic.

"They make your legs feel refreshed, rejuvenated, not as tired," Kinzer said. "After the compression and stuff, my legs don't feel heavy any more. They squeeze your legs, literally as hard as you can, and then it works it up and slowly releases over and over again.

"You feel really light. It's like you're walking on a cloud. You're bouncy."

Lopez-Bauman said they'll also add some old-school to treatment today, filling up bath tubs in the rooms for the players who also like ice baths.

It will all help, but also will arriving at the arena to play for a trophy. Head coach Ryun Williams knows the adrenaline of the moment will do wonders, too.

"Our kids are really good at recovery," he said. "I think what's in front of them and what they've worked so hard for, they're not going to be tired. We're not going to let them do that. They're going to think about what we have to do to be victorious. I don't think you're going to see us play tired."

The Series: This was the solo matchup for the Rams this season, dropping an 80-69 decision to the Rebels on Senior Day. In tournament play, the Rams are 2-1 against the Rebels. Colorado State will be after its third MW tourney title; UNLV it's first.

What to Watch from UNLV: Start with player of the year Desi-Rae Young, a handful in the post, and then work toward Essence Booker, the point guard who orchestrates the offense. Booker is averaging 15.3 points per game to lead the team, also pacing them with 116 assists on the year. Young sits at 15.2 points per outing, averaging 8.5 rebounds. Kiara Jackson came off the bench and hit the Rams for 20 in their only meeting.

What to Watch from CSU: The tournament hasn't changed the dynamic at all for CSU. They still need McKenna Hofschild and Upe Atosu leading the way, counting on supplementary scoring from whoever has a good matchup in the game, be it a Sydney Mech, Kinzer or Karly Murphy. Atosu and Hofschild have been in double figures every tournament game, and every CSU starter has done it at least once.

Of Note: The Rams practiced at their third facility on the trip, using the UNLV basketball practice courts to prepare for the championship game. … CSU is 2-1 in MW title games. UNLV is 0-1, making its only appearance back in 2002.

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