Team Effort Results in Tough Road Win Over Gonzaga

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SPOKANE, Wash. – The first road test of the season presented numerous challenges to Colorado State women's basketball, but the Rams found a way to overcome them all as they defeated Gonzaga 70-66 on Thursday night at the McCarthy Athletic Center.

Entering a building in which the Bulldogs (2-1) had won 22-straight home openers, the Rams (3-0) knew it would take a total team effort to come out victorious. Much like last year's contest between the two sides in Fort Collins, the Rams (3-0) had to muster a comeback effort to take down the Bulldogs (2-1).

Trailing by six entering the final quarter of play, CSU rallied together and used a team scoring effort to reclaim the lead. Back and forth the scoring went down the stretch, but Ram guards Lexus Bargesser (12 points), Brooke Carlson (13 points) and Kloe Froebe (17 points, 6 rebounds) each made crucial plays down the stretch to pull ahead. CSU strung together just enough stops on the defensive end, while Carlson sank crucial free throws to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Ronsiek was the fourth Ram in double figures, making three triples as part of a 16-point effort. It is the second game in a row in which four Rams have scored 10-or-more points.

Gonzaga's Lauren Whittaker was an unstoppable force as she nailed 4-of-7 from deep as part of a 29-point performance. On the flip side, the Rams' guards put on a defensive masterclass in locking down Gonzaga's star guard – and one to watch for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award – Allie Turner, who finished with just two points and three turnovers.

How It Happened
Colorado State faced an early storm as Gonzaga came out with the hot hand, shooting 54.5% from the floor across the early stages to build an early lead. The home team's size gave the Rams trouble as the Bulldogs reined in three early offensive rebounds, helping them build a 23-16 lead at the end of the first period.

CSU settled into the game out of the quarter break, scoring six-straight to put themselves right back in the mix. Improved defensive rebounding and patient looks on offense Colorado State control the tempo, and a Ronsiek-fueled 9-0 run gave the Rams a five-point lead with 2:30 remaining in the half.

However, Gonzaga's hot shooting from deep was reignited as Whittaker knocked down a pair of threes to spark an 8-0 run the other way. Whittaker set a serious tone in the first half, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor and a 4-of-5 clip from deep.

In danger of trailing at halftime for the first time this season, CSU took the ball up the floor for a final possession and found Ronsiek in the corner, who brushed aside the hand in her face and knocked down the triple to even things at 34 apiece as the teams entered the locker room.

Both sides traded buckets out of the break, with neither team able to gain an edge over the other. However, Colorado State fell into a 1-of-8 cold spell that enabled an 8-0 Gonzaga run, forcing head coach Ryun Williams to call a timeout to try and regroup his squad. A Bargesser baseline midrange revived the Rams' scoring, but as the period drew to a close a buzzer-beating three from the Bulldogs' Teryn Gardner gave Gonzaga a 53-47 lead entering the final period.

The Rams stormed out of the gates to open the final quarter of play, quickly cutting the lead down to one. Froebe continued to attack the basket as she converted a huge and-1 layup to regain the lead with just over five minutes remaining.

After building the lead up to five thanks to active hands on the defensive end, Whittaker came through once again for GU with back-to-back buckets, cutting the CSU lead down to just a point. In a situation in which Gonzaga needed to foul, it chose to send Brooke Carlson to the line with 36.8 seconds left, and the sophomore cooly sank both to extend the lead.

After a Whittaker free throw on the other end, Carlson was sent to the line once again to protect a 68-66 lead. The Batavia, Ill., native came through with another pair of makes to secure a Ram win in Spokane.

Up Next
The Rams return to Moby Arena for a matchup against San Diego on Monday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Fans can get tickets by visiting CSURams.com/Tickets.

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