Rams Split Week at Utah State, Hosting New Mexico

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State continues Mountain West action this week, heading to Utah State for a Thursday contest at 6:00 p.m., MT before return to Moby Arena and hosting New Mexico on Saturday staring at noon. Saturday's game will feature a doubleheader with the men's team hosting Fresno State at 2:30 p.m., and will also be the annual State Pride game.

Fans are encouraged to attend both games, as women's basketball ticket holders may stay for the men's game, but will need to move to sections G, H, L or M rows 27 and higher. Men's basketball ticket holders may arrive early and watch the women's game but will need to sit in sections mentioned before moving to their ticketed seats.

THIS WEEK
Thursday, Jan. 5 – at Utah State / 6:00 PM
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Saturday, Jan. 7 – vs. New Mexico / 12:00 PM (State Pride)
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RAMS NOTES

Tip Off
Colorado State continues Mountain West action, splitting the week on the road and at Moby Arena. The Rams head to Utah State for a Thursday contests before returning home to host New Mexico on Saturday.

Nail Biter
In games that are decided by five points or less, Colorado State is 0-3. The Rams suffered a pair of losses to SEC programs Mississippi State and Auburn by a combined six points. CSU dropped its first conference road game at UNLV in overtime by three.

Home Sweet Home
When playing in Moby Arena, Colorado State is 7-1 overall, averaging 79 points per contests, while also keeping opponents to 60 points.

Hitting 1K
Both McKenna Hofschild and Meghan Boyd reached 1,000 career points this season. Hofschild became the 20th Stalwart Ram to reach 1,000 career points at Colorado State in the dominating win against Denver. Boyd also reached 1,000 career points in the game against Regis after playing her first three seasons at Denver.

Getting Dubs
Head Coach Ryun Williams reached 200 wins at Colorado State after a 64-58 victory in the Mountain West opener against Fresno State. Williams is in his 11th season for the Rams and is the winningest coach in program history.

Chasing History
McKenna Hofschild is chasing Stalwart company. The senior has dished out 433 assist while at Colorado State. The guard is one-of-three in program history, to record 1,000 points and 400-plus assists, joining Ellen Nystrom and Becky Hammon. Hofschild is just 22 assist behind Deb Spickler who is No. 4 all time in career assists.

Tis The Season
The Rams were in the holiday spirit as they dished out a season-high 28 assists in the blowout win against Denver on Dec. 6. The 28 were the most since the 2018-19 season against Chadron State - also 28 assists.

Out Of Breath
The Rams played three games over five days at the end of November, including a pair of back-to-back contests at the Las Vegas Invitational. CSU returned from Vegas and played at Northern Colorado just two days later, going into triple overtime for the first time since 2014. Colorado State trailed nearly the whole game in regulation before forcing the overtime periods.

Protect The Rock
Colorado State doesn't turn the ball over much at all, which is why it leads the nation in fewest turnovers per game with 9.0. The Rams have forked the ball over just 117 times, the lowest in the country. The next team in the turnovers per game, averages more than 1.5 more than CSU at 10.6 (Villanova).

Free Baskets
The Rams are making the charity count, making 80.3 percent of their free throws - No. 2 in the nation behind Iowa State at a 80.9 mark. Destiny Thurman is making her free baskets count, shooting 96.8 percent from the line (30-for-31) which is No. 4 in the country. McKenna Hofschild is getting to the line - No. 24 in the nation in attempts, making 69-of-86 for an 80.2 mark.

Hot Hand
Senior Meghan Boyd continues to have hot hands, currently No. 39 the nation from behind the arc shooting 43.8 percent. The Rams as a team are No. 4 among all teams shooting 41.0 percent from downtown.

Ratio'd
Colorado State takes care of the ball, while also moving it around to create assists. The Rams enter their eighth week leading the country in assist/turnover radio at 1.85. McKenna Hofschild is No. 1 in the country with a 4.68 mark, having just 22 turnovers and 103 assists in 13 contests. Last season she finished the year at No. 5 in the nation with a 3.00 ratio.

Make It A Double
McKenna Hofschild has totaled two double-doubles so far this season, both coming with points and assists. Her first of the season was against Montana and second against Denver.
Joseana Vaz recorded her first double-double in the Green and Gold at Northern Colorado. The forward added 10 points in the triple-overtime game, while also pulling down 12 boards in 34 minutes of action.

Weekly Honors
McKenna Hofschild has earned a pair of Mountain West weekly awards already this season, being name the Player of the Week twice by the league. Hannah Ronsiek also has been named Freshman of the Week after the season-opening weekend.

Getting Benched – The Good Kind
Colorado State started the 2022-23 season against BYU, exploding in the second half outscoring the Cougars, 47-23, to cruise to an 82-62 win. The Rams' bench did a lot of the heavy lifting – scoring 40 points, nearly the total of BYU starters. CSU trailed at the half 39-35, but flipped a switch in the second, hitting 8-of-12 from three to break the opener wide open. Cailyn Crocker led the bench players scoring 17 points – second most on the team behind McKenna Hofschild with 18.

Watch Lists
McKenna Hofschild has been named to a pair of Preseason Watch Lists:
Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List
Recognizes the top player in women's NCAA Division I college basketball at a mid-major conference
Nancy Lieberman Award
Recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball

Opponents At A Quick Glace
Utah State began Mountain West action last week suffering a pair of losses at Air Force and against San Diego State - both by double figures. The Aggies hold a 3-10 overall mark and 0-2 in league play. USU beat College of Idaho, Weber State and Utah Valley. Maria Carvalho and Mayson Kimball lead the Aggies averaging double-figures with 10 points. Carvalho also holds down the paint averaging five rebounds.

New Mexico will start the week 9-5 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West. The Lobos will play at Wyoming on Thursday before playing in Moby Arena on Saturday. UNM opened conference play last week with a 70-58 victory against Air Force. Shaiquel McGruder was named the Mountain West Player of the Week - her second honor - after averaging 22 points and 10.5 rebounds. She also is No. 6 in the country in blocks per game with 2.86. Duff LaTascya follows McGruder in scoring with 12.8 points per game, where majority come from behind the arc - No. 5 in the country in threes per game with 3.23.

Series History
Colorado State will face Utah State for the 38th time, holding a 24-13 overall mark. The Rams have won the last six contests against the Aggies, including the last two in Logan, last losing in 2019.

Colorado State will play New Mexico for the 88th time on Saturday - the longest series behind Wyoming. The Rams trail in the series, 39-48, but hold a 23-13 mark while playing in Moby Arena. CSU faced UNM in 2022 in the Mountain West Tournament and snapped an eight-game skid dating back to 2018. The Rams have suffered a loss in the last two home games, recording their last win in 2018 with a 74-71 overtime victory.

UP NEXT

Wednesday, Jan. 11 – at Boise State / 6:30 PM MT
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