Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, February 4
Fort Collins, CO
1:00 PM
Colorado State
66
vs
63
Wyoming
Clutch Crocker Seals Border War Win
2/4/2023 3:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Guard nails winning 3-pointer with 1.6 on the clock
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- "Welcome to the Border War," head coach Ryun Williams proclaimed to open his press conference.
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He couldn't have said it any better. The drama unfolded right in front of his eyes, leaving him stunned by what he saw.
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It came in the form of a heroic Cailyn Crocker. Her last-second 3-pointer gave Colorado State a crucial 66-63 win over the Wyoming Cowgirls at Moby Arena on Saturday afternoon.
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"We just wanted to win," Crocker said. "I told Kenna (McKenna Hofschild) that we knew everyone would collapse on her. It was a rough game for me, so I just wanted to do something to help the team. I'm glad it went in. It felt good."
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Crocker's 12 points – including her last three – were critical to the Rams paving a path to victory. It was close the entire game, as was to be expected, but they pulled it off in the end.
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The Rams had been victims of close games as they'd been 0-6 in those decided by less than five points. Saturday afternoon, however, would be different.
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"We kept sticking with it, next play mentality," Williams said. "We thought if we could finish better, we could put ourselves in a position to win. We play a little more connected each night, and we need to do that down the stretch."
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While Crocker will get the headlines thanks to her last-second, game-winning 3-pointer, Crocker certainly didn't want to be the one taking the spotlight. Even though she mentioned she had a rough game including four fouls, she would get help from another name in the lineup.
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Kendyll Kinzer had an exceptional game, and it couldn't have come at a more important stretch of the season. She had a season-best 17 points, topping her previous-best of 12 against Regis in December.
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"I think I did have the advantage with my ability to shoot the ball; that was in our game plan this week," Kinzer said. "I would definitely say it would work out for me since I was able to use my feet and knock down shots."
Â
It was a team effort which managed to pull the Rams over the top. While Crocker and Kinzer were solid, it didn't mean they themselves did all the work.
Â
In fact, Hofschild continued to deliver on her rise this season. She led the Rams with 25 points and nine assists, one shy of her eighth double-double and second straight game with a double-double. She was just part of the instrumental success of this Border War victory, leading in numerical statistics.
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"I thought our kids showed a lot of fight today," Williams said. "Nothing is ever easy when you play a game like this. It's one of those tighten-your-chinstrap and put your mouthpiece in and go-to-work games."
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With the win, Colorado State moves to 15-8, 8-5 in conference play. The closing stretch of the season is here, with the Rams only having six games left in the regular season.
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They move up to third in the Mountain West, still trailing UNLV and San Diego State and tied with the Cowgirls. With this being the first of possibly three meetings between CSU and Wyoming, this win was a gauge of what's possibly ahead.
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"It tells everyone we're in this, we're one of the best teams in the conference," Crocker said. "Beating them gives us that confidence that we're running with one of the best teams in the conference and that we should definitely be up there and competing with these teams."
Â
The Rams stopped Wyoming's three-game win streak and are now streaking themselves, going back to Thursday's immaculate win over Utah State. As the season comes to its conclusion, every win more than ever heading into the Mountain West Tournament is important.
Â
Wins against Wyoming are always great, especially when the Rams could end up facing them two more times this season. They have a long road trip ahead of them which includes a big matchup at San Diego State who they are chasing ahead of them in the standings.
Â
"Right now, I think we stand pretty good, we just got a good win," Williams said. "Next game mentality, we're just going to put our head down and focus one game at a time."
Â
Mentality will be key heading into the next games in particular. Not only are the Rams on the road for the next three matchups, but they may be without one of their star players.
Â
In the third quarter, Destiny Thurman drove to the basket but twisted her ankle in the process. She immediately grabbed it, hobbled off the floor and down under the bleachers to the locker room. She was testing it out under the bleachers but could not put any weight on it. She did not return and was in a boot postgame.
Â
"I haven't heard from our trainers," Williams said. "I don't know the severity of it, but I'm proud of the kids who came in and stepped up for Destiny. I thought Cali Clark, Hannah Ronsiek, and Meghan Boyd were huge. That's what makes it such a great team win. She's a tough cookie, she'll be back before you know it."
Â
Â
He couldn't have said it any better. The drama unfolded right in front of his eyes, leaving him stunned by what he saw.
Â
It came in the form of a heroic Cailyn Crocker. Her last-second 3-pointer gave Colorado State a crucial 66-63 win over the Wyoming Cowgirls at Moby Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Â
"We just wanted to win," Crocker said. "I told Kenna (McKenna Hofschild) that we knew everyone would collapse on her. It was a rough game for me, so I just wanted to do something to help the team. I'm glad it went in. It felt good."
Â
Crocker's 12 points – including her last three – were critical to the Rams paving a path to victory. It was close the entire game, as was to be expected, but they pulled it off in the end.
Â
The Rams had been victims of close games as they'd been 0-6 in those decided by less than five points. Saturday afternoon, however, would be different.
Â
"We kept sticking with it, next play mentality," Williams said. "We thought if we could finish better, we could put ourselves in a position to win. We play a little more connected each night, and we need to do that down the stretch."
Â
While Crocker will get the headlines thanks to her last-second, game-winning 3-pointer, Crocker certainly didn't want to be the one taking the spotlight. Even though she mentioned she had a rough game including four fouls, she would get help from another name in the lineup.
Â
Kendyll Kinzer had an exceptional game, and it couldn't have come at a more important stretch of the season. She had a season-best 17 points, topping her previous-best of 12 against Regis in December.
Â
"I think I did have the advantage with my ability to shoot the ball; that was in our game plan this week," Kinzer said. "I would definitely say it would work out for me since I was able to use my feet and knock down shots."
Â
It was a team effort which managed to pull the Rams over the top. While Crocker and Kinzer were solid, it didn't mean they themselves did all the work.
Â
In fact, Hofschild continued to deliver on her rise this season. She led the Rams with 25 points and nine assists, one shy of her eighth double-double and second straight game with a double-double. She was just part of the instrumental success of this Border War victory, leading in numerical statistics.
Â
"I thought our kids showed a lot of fight today," Williams said. "Nothing is ever easy when you play a game like this. It's one of those tighten-your-chinstrap and put your mouthpiece in and go-to-work games."
Â
With the win, Colorado State moves to 15-8, 8-5 in conference play. The closing stretch of the season is here, with the Rams only having six games left in the regular season.
Â
They move up to third in the Mountain West, still trailing UNLV and San Diego State and tied with the Cowgirls. With this being the first of possibly three meetings between CSU and Wyoming, this win was a gauge of what's possibly ahead.
Â
"It tells everyone we're in this, we're one of the best teams in the conference," Crocker said. "Beating them gives us that confidence that we're running with one of the best teams in the conference and that we should definitely be up there and competing with these teams."
Â
The Rams stopped Wyoming's three-game win streak and are now streaking themselves, going back to Thursday's immaculate win over Utah State. As the season comes to its conclusion, every win more than ever heading into the Mountain West Tournament is important.
Â
Wins against Wyoming are always great, especially when the Rams could end up facing them two more times this season. They have a long road trip ahead of them which includes a big matchup at San Diego State who they are chasing ahead of them in the standings.
Â
"Right now, I think we stand pretty good, we just got a good win," Williams said. "Next game mentality, we're just going to put our head down and focus one game at a time."
Â
Mentality will be key heading into the next games in particular. Not only are the Rams on the road for the next three matchups, but they may be without one of their star players.
Â
In the third quarter, Destiny Thurman drove to the basket but twisted her ankle in the process. She immediately grabbed it, hobbled off the floor and down under the bleachers to the locker room. She was testing it out under the bleachers but could not put any weight on it. She did not return and was in a boot postgame.
Â
"I haven't heard from our trainers," Williams said. "I don't know the severity of it, but I'm proud of the kids who came in and stepped up for Destiny. I thought Cali Clark, Hannah Ronsiek, and Meghan Boyd were huge. That's what makes it such a great team win. She's a tough cookie, she'll be back before you know it."
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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