Shootaround: Persistence Pays Off for Hannah Ronsiek

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In true Ryun Williams fashion, there had to be a setup.

There was mock surprise in his delivery as he led into the announcement after Sunday's workout, the fact junior Hannah Ronsiek has been named to the Mountain West All-Defensive team. The statement was true to a degree if he stepped back two seasons when Ronsiek was a freshman out of O'Gorman High School is Sioux Falls, S.D. When it comes to current time and place, the Colorado State women's basketball coach wasn't shocked in the slightest.

She knew exactly what he was doing, lying in the moment to give her the ultimate praise.

"Even coach yesterday when he was like announcing it, he was like, 'I can't believe I'm saying this, but Hannah's on the defensive team,' … it just goes to show the coaches and the time and work they've put into me as well," Ronsiek said.

The kid who came with strong zone discipline but struggled with man-to-man concepts worked diligently to become a strong defensive player and now plays the crucial float in the Rams' system. And when certain matchups come into play, they'll let her lock down an opponent.

Known more for being a perimeter sniper upon arrival, she has become a key figure in the team's defensive scheme. She leads the team in rebounding at 6.0 per outing, collecting 180 defensive boards. She also paces the Rams with 44 steals and 27 blocked shots.

This honor was a point of pride, and Exhibit A in a person can turn a perceived weakness into a strength.

"I think that was probably my biggest adjustment going into college, especially just pace. It was a big transition going from zone and high-school level talent and athleticism," Ronsiek said. "I think freshman year was just a good period of time to adjust to the new speed and level of play.

"I definitely put in some work. I think zone in high school helped me to see the ball the way to see it the way I do. It is cool."

Honestly, she was expecting to be named to the team. Williams expected her name to be included, but those who have known her for a while simply had to applaud the improvement in her game. Even her coaches back as a prep texted her defense wins championships.

And a scorer can learn to keep others from doing so.

No Surprises

Tournament play is filled with knowns, and Monday is no different. This will be the second time the Rams and Fresno State have played, the lone matchup coming on Feb. 19 at Moby Arena. So, CSU assistant coach Rico Burkett said a team has to focus on what it knows best.

Itself.

"A big part of it is you have to be about you," Burkett said. "Take the good things you want to try to exploit and understanding how they want to attack you but staying with an even keel and staying true to your beliefs and your philosophies as far as how you want to attack."

The league's unbalanced schedule led to the teams playing just once, and it was a 20-point victory for the home team. Additional knowledge has been gleaned through the years of playing the Bulldogs and the systems they employ despite constant roster change.

The Rams can't overthink the outcome too much. Nor can they underplay what went well.

Burkett said they have to take in all the information, understanding in-game adjustments will have to be made. Keep it simple.

"At this time, it's all about momentum. Everybody is 0-0," he said. "It's about playing with positive energy and kind of that honest belief. You just have to play with a lot of confidence and play your best basketball."

Here and There

Colorado State is 2-1 in tournament play against Fresno State. The Rams have won their past three quarterfinal games. … The opening round of the tournament went chalk, with Monday's schedule bringing the top five seeds to the floor. … Top-seeded UNLV has won the past three tournament titles, entering all as the No. 1 seed. … The last time a lower seed won the tournament was Wyoming as the No. 7 back in 2021 when the Cowgirls beat No. 4 Fresno State.

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