Rams Use Win to Build Up Confidence

If the game was approached correctly, there was a purpose.

Do that, and the reason for Colorado State's women's basketball team to bring in a NAIA school like Columbia College, a program with a run of 20-win seasons, to Moby Arena becomes clear. An 85-28 victory Saturday proves his team approached it the right way.

While the Rams do have a load of experience on the roster, coach Ryun Williams knows he's going to have to depend on some youngsters when Mountain West play begins at the end of December.

Even before that, when facing Gonzaga and Georgia. It requires the younger set – even some older players who have struggled out of the gate – having some confidence and Williams to have trust in them, something he had yet to acquire by the second game in a win over Oregon State, one where the five starters played at least 33 minutes each.

So having a game in hand early – the Rams led 43-13 at the break – allowed a host of players to accumulate minutes of game action they hadn't seen before. Freshman Khloe Froebe, who has now started two games in the team's 3-1 start, played 20 minutes for the second consecutive game. And she reached a career high in scoring for a second straight game, tying for the team lead with 15 after notching 14 in the loss to BYU on Wednesday.

Brooke Carlson played 20 minutes, more than she'd played combined in the games leading up. She finished with 11 and flashed an all-around game. Classmate Kayla Hedrick played 18 minutes, matching what she did earlier in the week and contributing in a multitude of ways.

Those minutes matter, no matter who they come against.

"We've had a tough schedule. The first three – holy moly. It just didn't call for inexperience probably to give yourself the best chance to win," Williams said. "This was obviously that, and I was really proud of those kids who haven't played a lot of minutes. Khloe was really good again. Brooke, I thought played with m much more control and confidence. Her mind was where it needed to be. And Jo (Vaz) was somebody who has been really solid every time she's gone in. I was pleased with that."

The list went on. Anne Zachariah played well. Hannah Simental, a fifth-year transfer, found her shot from deep. Even Marta Leimane late. She was in foul trouble early but found some success toward the end after opening the season rusty with her shot.

While the elder statesmen appreciate the pick-me-up, the youngsters who are finding their way really need those moments of success. Williams said the Rams will be a good team if Leimane, Simental and Vaz all play to their potential, which they did in the game.

But for a freshman, a gentle reminder isn't possible with no past to reference. For them, it's about stacking performances, learning from each and moving to the next chance.

"I feel like you gain a lot just as a team also, just the connection and cheering each other on from these type of games," Carlson said. "Also, I feel like I was kinda struggling the past few games, so it was nice to come out in a game like this where I can gain my confidence back."

Carlson brings a gear to the team no other Ram has, and she can use it on both ends of the floor. Keeping it under control is part of her process, which she did in driving the lane for 11 points while also hitting a 3.

Beyond that, she distributed a trio of assists and collected three steals. A fourth attempt came with the warning she anticipated, hearing Williams from the sideline, which she responded to with a knowing hand wave.

"I was gambling for the ball, and I knew I was going to hear it. I was like, 'I got you coach,'" Carlson said. "In high school I tended to gamble a lot, and that's been a really big adjustment for me here to just stay solid and be in front of the person no matter what."

Williams didn't see her wave him off. Regardless, even if he had, it wasn't something he would take offense too. In fact, it was a knowing response from a young player showing some moxie on the floor. He sees it in all three of the freshmen who he expects to play a role, because it shows him they're listening.

And he will speak a lot. He also knows they're getting it, bit by bit.

"The thing I really love about them is you can coach them. They're not fragile," he said. "They're not sensitive. She knew she made a mistake; she knew I was probably going to bark at her a little bit and she basically said, 'shut up Williams, I got this.' And you know what? She's got it. They're growing up each and every game. They're really good freshmen and they know how to play this game."

Frobe has the most pressure of the trio after being named the conference's preseason freshman of the year. She's not playing like it bothers her, or that the honor is a burden of any kind.

Not only did she match Emma Ronsiek's 15 points, she tied for the team lead in rebounding with Hedrick, both of them collecting seven. However, five of hers came on the offensive glass, a figure matched by Vaz as the team finished with 17 second-chance points.

She was raised to attack the glass, so she does. She can also hawk the ball, finishing with a trio of steals herself. And the points will come, which they have the past two games.

"I think I'm just starting to gain my confidence and play off my teammates better. I think we're really starting to click there; we're starting to see what's open and play to each other's strengths," Froebe said. "I think that's what's going to work out and help us in the end."

Simental warmed up behind the arc, hitting two in a row to finish with 10 points. Vaz closed with eight, and the team leader in assists was Headrick, who also had a block.

Any bit of confidence helps, no matter where it comes, regardless of the opponent. Young and old, you take what you can get. The game was even a boost for Ronsiek, who was 6-of-11 from the field after going 2-of-12 against BYU.

Because there are going to be days in the future when they struggle. And the more days they have like Saturday, the easier it is to bounce back. Having someone close by in a similar situation doesn't hurt, either.

"I think it's just been awesome, especially since we're both from Illinois," Froebe said, looking at Carlson. "We know that home sickness, we can kind of lean on each other for that. It really goes beyond us two. We have a team that's so supportive and always there for us. It's nice to be surrounded by such amazing people."

And as conference play approaches, it will be comforting for Williams to have a greater measure of trust in the confidence they gained as individuals.

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