Grad Transfers Lead The Way In Comeback Win

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at Gonzaga

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Grad-transfers Emma Ronsiek and Hannah Simental proved they were some of the most experienced players on the court Friday afternoon as they provided a steady foundation in Colorado State's come-from-behind, 60-54 win against Kent State at the Puerto Rico Thanksgiving Clasico in San Juan.

The duo combined for 37 points on the day, with Ronsiek's 24 leading all scorers. But it wasn't just what they did, but how they did it. The fifth-year seniors showed poise in a game that was scrappy and physical from the opening tip and provided a sense of control when the game needed it most. Simental scored eight of her points in the second quarter to provide some much-needed damage control amidst a Kent State run, while Ronsiek poured in 18 in the second half to lead the 10-point second-half comeback.

During the process, Simental scored career-point No. 1,500, a testament to her scoring prowess over her four-year career at Northern Colorado. For Ronsiek, she collected her third 20-point scoring effort in her eight games at CSU. Ronsiek also battled for eight rebounds while dishing out two assists.

How It Happened
The Rams opened the game on the front foot, jumping out to a 5-0 lead after stringing together some opening stops on the defensive end. The teams traded buckets for the remainder of the period, but Kent State worked the CSU lead down to 13-12 before the quarter ended.

The Golden Flashes owned the second period of play as the Rams struggled to find a rhythm offensively. Kent State nailed a pair of threes to open the quarter, stealing the lead quickly before upon it throughout the remainder of the half. Simental kept things in reach for Colorado State, nailing two triples on her way to eight points in the quarter. Entering the halftime break, the Rams found themselves at a nine-point disadvantage.

The Golden Flashes were resilient in the opening stages of the second half, with Colorado State making efforts at cutting into the lead but Kent State responding to each attempt. After a pair of Kent State free throws pushed the lead to 10, a Joseana Vaz pass found Simental for her third 3-pointer of the game, a shot opened the flood gates for Colorado State and sparked the game-defining 17-0 scoring run.

Simental's triple made way for Ronsiek to take over she knocked a down a 3-pointer of her own that brought the score to 43-39. A couple of possessions later, Vaz's energy led to an offensive rebound and free throws which brought it to a one-possession game. Brooke Carlson earned her way to a pair of free-throws to tie it, then Ronsiek created some instant offense by pulling down the defensive rebound and finding Sanna Ström in stride for a bucket on the other end, returning the lead to the Rams as the period came to a close.

Ronsiek continued to control the game in the fourth, making her opening attempt from the floor before grabbing the ensuing defensive rebound and cashing it in for another triple. This capped the 17-point scoring run for CSU and gave the Rams a seven-point lead. Thanks to continued defensive efforts from Vaz and her teammates, and a continued dominance from Ronsiek, the Rams never allowed the Golden Flashes within a single possession as they closed out a strong victory to open their time in Puerto Rico.

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