Colorado State University Athletics
Wednesday, February 25
Fort Collins, Colo.
6:30 pm
Colorado State
22-7,13-5Mountain West
77
vs
61
UNLV
18-10,13-5Mountain West
1
2
3
4
F
UNLV
12
11
17
21
61
Colorado St.
29
10
11
27
77
Big Run Helps Rams End Skid to Rebels
2/25/2026 9:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Four reach double figures in key home victory
The matchup is the one which has caused more sleepless nights for Ryun Williams than any other and created more gray hair around his temples.
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A string of tightly contested games  which have stood as the great what-could-have been for Williams' Colorado State women's basketball teams. Outcomes – 10 consecutive losses to UNLV – which have impacted the Rams' hierarchy in the Mountain West standings, kept them from advancing in the tournament and even winning a conference title.
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Early on, a couple of the defeats stood as moral victories in some way. But that feel-good only extends so far and eventually fails to be relevant.
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Wednesday night the Rams decided enough was enough. Keyed by a 17-3 run at the end of the first stanza and stingy defense throughout, Colorado State delivered a crucial 77-61 victory at Moby Arena.
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"Like Marty (Leimane) said, you know, finally, coach, like finally. And it had that relief tone, like it's about time we got this job done," Williams said. "Because we've been so close. And they've been so difficult to beat. I mean, their players are incredible. You know, Lindy (La Rocque's) an incredible coach. And they're athletic. So for us to get the victory, it is somewhat of relief.
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"But I think it's OK for these kids to pat themselves on the back a little bit. They should be proud of themselves and grow just a next-level belief in what they can get done."
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Leimane and Hannah Ronsiek have been around long enough to be part of the final nine losses in that run, and both played key roles in ending it on their home floor.
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Playing well against the Lady Rebels has never really been an issue, it was the ability to take a punch and throw one back. To match aggressiveness and physicality.
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Check, check and check.
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"They're a tough team to beat and it took us four years," Leimane said. "I mean, it was our last chance to do it, so I think we kind of came with a different mentality to approach this game and paid off."
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When it comes time to pull out the highlights, it will be a hard list to rank. Near the top of the list will be the massive run at the end of the first frame, one which took a close game and put it decisively in the hands of the Rams.
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What fed the run was the other key factors. Leimane came off the bench and scored seven of her 12 points, adding her reliable defensive pressure all the while. Ronsiek and Maddy Bragg were holding their own in the blocks against the UNLV duo of Meadow Roland – who one could argue is the best player in the league – and Shelbee Brown. When Williams says UNLV is a physical and athletic team, they are exhibits A and B.
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Bragg had an early rejection against Brown, which led to some chatter between them. Bragg would later get entangled with Roland, leading to both of them getting technicals but Bragg shooting free throws. Those were her only two points, but her impact went beyond the offense.
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While Roland would eventually score 17 and grab 12 rebounds for a double-double, early on she was settling for shots behind the arc, where she is a 28 percent shooter. That was fine by CSU and Ronsiek.
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"I was on her the first game as well, and watching film back, I don't think that I performed very well defensively, so I just kind of watched those clips and saw what I could do differently," Ronsiek said of her time guarding Roland. "I kind of took a little more pride in that. We were switching all night too, so a lot of people were on her, and I think it was just a collective effort to contain her."
Â
A Leimane 3 started the big run, which was capped by a pair of 3s – first from McKenna Murphy and then Lexus Bargesser to beat the quarter clock to deliver a 29-12 edge.
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The Rams never trailed in the game, and the Lady Rebels never closed to within closer than eight points.
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CSU did things it never does in the matchup. The bench was huge, outscoring its UNLV counterparts 22-10. The Rams won the rebounding battle, 42-35.
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"We didn't let them get to the O-glass very much. I thought the rebounding was critical," Williams said. "And then I just thought we had different stretches throughout the game where we just … When maybe they were starting to kind of find some footing, we kind of kept them at bay with some good shot making.
Â
"I thought Marty was huge there. Kloe (Froebe) had a really solid second half. It was great to see Hannah make three 3s in the second half. We just had some really timely shot making as well with the toughness plays. We won a lot of those tonight. And that's where Vegas has kind of had our number. They've kind of just punked us a little bit and have gone through us and over us and what have you. So I thought our kids, they came ready to fight tonight."
Â
Bargesser led the way with 19, with 16 coming the first 20 minutes. Brooke Carlson's 13 all came in the second half (she was 11-of-11 from the line) after sitting the final 12 minutes of the first half with foul trouble. Froebe delivered 12, seven in the second half. Leimane made it four in double figures, her 12 the first time she's been in double figures since the first game of the season.
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Now it's Colorado State which has impacted the hierarchy, the win creating a three-way time at 13-5 in conference play between the Rams (22-7), the Lady Rebels (18-10) and Boise State – and those two teams play each other the final night of the regular season.
Â
It will impact who is seeded where in the conference tournament, and what that road forward looks like.
Â
As far as the two seniors knew, this could be their last chance.
Â
"I mean, not many games left, so you've just got to take it and have some fun in it," Leimane said. "I think that was my mentality when I approached this game and it paid off. It was really fun to beat the Rebels."
Â
Finally.
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A string of tightly contested games  which have stood as the great what-could-have been for Williams' Colorado State women's basketball teams. Outcomes – 10 consecutive losses to UNLV – which have impacted the Rams' hierarchy in the Mountain West standings, kept them from advancing in the tournament and even winning a conference title.
Â
Early on, a couple of the defeats stood as moral victories in some way. But that feel-good only extends so far and eventually fails to be relevant.
Â
Wednesday night the Rams decided enough was enough. Keyed by a 17-3 run at the end of the first stanza and stingy defense throughout, Colorado State delivered a crucial 77-61 victory at Moby Arena.
Â
"Like Marty (Leimane) said, you know, finally, coach, like finally. And it had that relief tone, like it's about time we got this job done," Williams said. "Because we've been so close. And they've been so difficult to beat. I mean, their players are incredible. You know, Lindy (La Rocque's) an incredible coach. And they're athletic. So for us to get the victory, it is somewhat of relief.
Â
"But I think it's OK for these kids to pat themselves on the back a little bit. They should be proud of themselves and grow just a next-level belief in what they can get done."
Â
Leimane and Hannah Ronsiek have been around long enough to be part of the final nine losses in that run, and both played key roles in ending it on their home floor.
Â
Playing well against the Lady Rebels has never really been an issue, it was the ability to take a punch and throw one back. To match aggressiveness and physicality.
Â
Check, check and check.
Â
"They're a tough team to beat and it took us four years," Leimane said. "I mean, it was our last chance to do it, so I think we kind of came with a different mentality to approach this game and paid off."
Â
When it comes time to pull out the highlights, it will be a hard list to rank. Near the top of the list will be the massive run at the end of the first frame, one which took a close game and put it decisively in the hands of the Rams.
Â
What fed the run was the other key factors. Leimane came off the bench and scored seven of her 12 points, adding her reliable defensive pressure all the while. Ronsiek and Maddy Bragg were holding their own in the blocks against the UNLV duo of Meadow Roland – who one could argue is the best player in the league – and Shelbee Brown. When Williams says UNLV is a physical and athletic team, they are exhibits A and B.
Â
Bragg had an early rejection against Brown, which led to some chatter between them. Bragg would later get entangled with Roland, leading to both of them getting technicals but Bragg shooting free throws. Those were her only two points, but her impact went beyond the offense.
Â
While Roland would eventually score 17 and grab 12 rebounds for a double-double, early on she was settling for shots behind the arc, where she is a 28 percent shooter. That was fine by CSU and Ronsiek.
Â
"I was on her the first game as well, and watching film back, I don't think that I performed very well defensively, so I just kind of watched those clips and saw what I could do differently," Ronsiek said of her time guarding Roland. "I kind of took a little more pride in that. We were switching all night too, so a lot of people were on her, and I think it was just a collective effort to contain her."
Â
A Leimane 3 started the big run, which was capped by a pair of 3s – first from McKenna Murphy and then Lexus Bargesser to beat the quarter clock to deliver a 29-12 edge.
Â
The Rams never trailed in the game, and the Lady Rebels never closed to within closer than eight points.
Â
CSU did things it never does in the matchup. The bench was huge, outscoring its UNLV counterparts 22-10. The Rams won the rebounding battle, 42-35.
 Â
"We didn't let them get to the O-glass very much. I thought the rebounding was critical," Williams said. "And then I just thought we had different stretches throughout the game where we just … When maybe they were starting to kind of find some footing, we kind of kept them at bay with some good shot making.
Â
"I thought Marty was huge there. Kloe (Froebe) had a really solid second half. It was great to see Hannah make three 3s in the second half. We just had some really timely shot making as well with the toughness plays. We won a lot of those tonight. And that's where Vegas has kind of had our number. They've kind of just punked us a little bit and have gone through us and over us and what have you. So I thought our kids, they came ready to fight tonight."
Â
Bargesser led the way with 19, with 16 coming the first 20 minutes. Brooke Carlson's 13 all came in the second half (she was 11-of-11 from the line) after sitting the final 12 minutes of the first half with foul trouble. Froebe delivered 12, seven in the second half. Leimane made it four in double figures, her 12 the first time she's been in double figures since the first game of the season.
Â
Now it's Colorado State which has impacted the hierarchy, the win creating a three-way time at 13-5 in conference play between the Rams (22-7), the Lady Rebels (18-10) and Boise State – and those two teams play each other the final night of the regular season.
Â
It will impact who is seeded where in the conference tournament, and what that road forward looks like.
Â
As far as the two seniors knew, this could be their last chance.
Â
"I mean, not many games left, so you've just got to take it and have some fun in it," Leimane said. "I think that was my mentality when I approached this game and it paid off. It was really fun to beat the Rebels."
Â
Finally.
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Team Stats
UNLV
CSU
FG%
.328
.414
3FG%
.296
.407
FT%
.684
.947
RB
35
42
TO
4
5
STL
1
3
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
11
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballColorado State Basketball (W): Leimane (L) and Froebe (R) Post-Game (Wyoming, 25-26)
Wednesday, February 25
Colorado State Basketball (W): Ryun Williams Post-Game (UNLV, 25-26)
Wednesday, February 25
Colorado State Basketball (W): Ryun Williams Post-Game (Wyoming, 25-26)
Saturday, February 21
Colorado State Basketball (W): Bragg (L) and Froebe (R) Post-Game (Nevada, 25-26)
Wednesday, February 18