Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, January 18
Fort Collins, Colo.
1:00 PM
Colorado State
13-6,4-2Mountain West
74
vs
78
New Mexico
12-7,5-1Mountain West
1
2
3
4
F
New Mexico
26
12
22
18
78
Colorado St.
10
18
17
29
74
Emma Ronsiek lines up for a free throw
Photo by: CSU Athletics Communications
Falling Behind With A Close Margin
1/18/2025 3:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Rams lose 78-74 to the New Mexico Lobos
Never, ever give up, even if it seems hopeless.
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The theme of Saturday was just that. Even if the game ended 78-74 — making Colorado State 4-2 in conference play — the game highlighted that even familiar opponents can come out swinging.
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"When you get into conference, you see how another team is like and watch film," said Emma Ronsiek, who scored 29 points during the game. "When we were watching old New Mexico games, or last year's, you feel like that's exactly how they're going to play against us or that's exactly how they're going to guard. But you have to be flexible within every game. I don't know if we were super flexible tonight."
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New Mexico held the lead for nearly the entire game, slowly chipping away at the offense and forcing turnovers. The score was 26-10 at the end of the first quarter, the 16-point lead was a daunting gap to close for the Rams.
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Coupled with the aggressive play displayed by the Lobos, who ending the game with three players in foul trouble, the Rams seemingly could not keep up.
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"A 26-point first quarter, I think that sums it up," coach Ryun Williams said. "They came out with a different mindset and toughness than we did. We were behind the eight-ball, I felt like all night, really fighting the game and trying to establish some momentum. They're a difficult team to defend. They drive it down your throat."
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The pressure exuded by the Lobos won them the game, but the Rams had two triumphs of their own. Ronsiek (29 points, 11 rebounds) got her second double-double of her CSU career, and Hannah Simental (24 points) achieved her first 20-point game as a Ram.
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A small token of achievement which displayed the effort and changes made to their strategy later in the game.
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However, the hasty decisions made while under the Lobos' pressure cost the win. After all, the Rams ended the game shooting 33% and making 27 of their 32 free throws.
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Learning from their mistakes, a home game doesn't necessarily mean a won game.
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"Moving forward in conference games, we have to bring it every night," Simental said. "It's tough to get a win, even if you're at home and have to come into it every day and get prepared for the next."
Â
Seeing it in another light, surmounts to matching energy. UNM's energy was aggressive, quick and without a second thought. CSU tried to match the fast-paced Lobos, but the score quickly got underneath them.
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A mix of both defensive prowess and speed on the fast break, quickened the game in the Lobos favor.
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"They sped us up," Williams said. "We got down and then we tried playing even faster. You still have to read the game, and you still have to take what the game gives you. If you start playing the wrong kind of forceful it's hard to play good offense. And I thought that was the case throughout a lot of our lineup tonight."
Â
Armed with a bench lineup which scored 38 of the 74 points, Williams has a lot to choose from; Simental being one of them.
Â
Taking control of the ball and speed of the game is something CSU must watch out for further into conference play. Whether it amounts to points off the fast break or seriously pushing for a rebound, speed is paramount.
Â
Continuing further into their season, giving up was never an option, rather, they must adapt.
Â
The theme of Saturday was just that. Even if the game ended 78-74 — making Colorado State 4-2 in conference play — the game highlighted that even familiar opponents can come out swinging.
Â
"When you get into conference, you see how another team is like and watch film," said Emma Ronsiek, who scored 29 points during the game. "When we were watching old New Mexico games, or last year's, you feel like that's exactly how they're going to play against us or that's exactly how they're going to guard. But you have to be flexible within every game. I don't know if we were super flexible tonight."
Â
New Mexico held the lead for nearly the entire game, slowly chipping away at the offense and forcing turnovers. The score was 26-10 at the end of the first quarter, the 16-point lead was a daunting gap to close for the Rams.
Â
Coupled with the aggressive play displayed by the Lobos, who ending the game with three players in foul trouble, the Rams seemingly could not keep up.
Â
"A 26-point first quarter, I think that sums it up," coach Ryun Williams said. "They came out with a different mindset and toughness than we did. We were behind the eight-ball, I felt like all night, really fighting the game and trying to establish some momentum. They're a difficult team to defend. They drive it down your throat."
Â
The pressure exuded by the Lobos won them the game, but the Rams had two triumphs of their own. Ronsiek (29 points, 11 rebounds) got her second double-double of her CSU career, and Hannah Simental (24 points) achieved her first 20-point game as a Ram.
Â
A small token of achievement which displayed the effort and changes made to their strategy later in the game.
Â
However, the hasty decisions made while under the Lobos' pressure cost the win. After all, the Rams ended the game shooting 33% and making 27 of their 32 free throws.
Â
Learning from their mistakes, a home game doesn't necessarily mean a won game.
Â
"Moving forward in conference games, we have to bring it every night," Simental said. "It's tough to get a win, even if you're at home and have to come into it every day and get prepared for the next."
Â
Seeing it in another light, surmounts to matching energy. UNM's energy was aggressive, quick and without a second thought. CSU tried to match the fast-paced Lobos, but the score quickly got underneath them.
Â
A mix of both defensive prowess and speed on the fast break, quickened the game in the Lobos favor.
Â
"They sped us up," Williams said. "We got down and then we tried playing even faster. You still have to read the game, and you still have to take what the game gives you. If you start playing the wrong kind of forceful it's hard to play good offense. And I thought that was the case throughout a lot of our lineup tonight."
Â
Armed with a bench lineup which scored 38 of the 74 points, Williams has a lot to choose from; Simental being one of them.
Â
Taking control of the ball and speed of the game is something CSU must watch out for further into conference play. Whether it amounts to points off the fast break or seriously pushing for a rebound, speed is paramount.
Â
Continuing further into their season, giving up was never an option, rather, they must adapt.
Team Stats
UNM
CSU
FG%
.400
.333
3FG%
.370
.250
FT%
.727
.844
RB
43
41
TO
11
8
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
14
Pts
24
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
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