Jan. 23, 2010

Final Stats

By Garrett Finke
Athletic Media Relations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Another close game for the Rams and another win. Coming off a thrilling overtime victory in Las Vegas, the Rams came away with another close win over the Lobos of New Mexico Saturday afternoon, 67-60, at Moby Arena.

The win gives the Rams (11-7, 3-2 Mountain West) consecutive regular-season conference victories for the first time since a four-game streak, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2005. CSU also topped New Mexico (11-7, 3-3) for the first time in 13 games and reached 11 wins on the season, most by the Rams since they were 15-13 in 2004-05.

Although junior Bonnie Barbee only had one field goal, it may have been the most crucial basket of the game. With 1:19 remaining in the game and the score tied at 60, Barbee came off a double screen and hit a three-pointer from the wing to take the lead, a lead the Rams wouldn't relinquish.

Barbee, who stepped up to help fill the void left by starter Zoi Smmons, who was attending a family funeral, gave credit to first-year assistant coach Taylor Steven.

"There's a time to make a three," Barbee said. "I attribute that shot to Coach Steven for working with me on that."

Much of the Rams' success against the Lobos came on the defensive end. The Rams managed to convert 16 Lobo turnovers into 20 points. Ram freshman Chantel Kennedy had a terrific individual defensive performance against one of the conference's best. Kennedy was assigned the near-impossible task of defending Lobo senior guard Amy Beggin. Beggin is ranked 19th all-time in career scoring in the MWC and ninth in scoring average this season (13.8).

But Kennedy was able to shut down Beggin, limiting her to only two field goals in the first half and three in the second.

"Chantel did a tremendous job on Beggin," Head Coach Kristen Holt said. "She did a fantastic job for a freshman against a top layer in the league."
 
With the win, Colorado State snapped a seven-year losing streak against New Mexico and takes the Lobos' fifth-place spot in the MWC.

"The higher-ranked teams better watch out," Barbee said. "We're coming hard. We might not be the tallest or most athletic, but we have the biggest heart."

Sophomore Kim Mestdagh, the MWC's leading scorer, tallied 20 points and hit four three-pointers against the Lobos. Coming into the game, Mestdagh was seventh in the country in three-point field goals made per game (3.3).

While Mestdagh was getting it done beyond the arc, sophomore Chatilla van Grinsven was getting it done in the paint. Van Grinsven also scored 20 points while pulling down seven rebounds and rejecting the Lobos' shot attempts twice.

The Rams, now 7-2 at home, are making Moby Arena a very tough place for opponents to win. However, the Rams will have to wait until Feb. 3 to defend the Fort again as their next two games will be on the road.

The Rams travel to Fort Worth, Texas, for their next game to take on the TCU Horned Frogs, Wednesday. TCU is currently second in the MWC with a record of 3-1. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. MT.