Oct. 27, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

Rams open exhibition season... 
Second-year Head Coach Kristen Holt and the Colorado State women's basketball program open the 2009-10 season Thursday at Moby Arena with an exhibition matchup against  the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves of the  NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).  Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT from Moby Arena.

The game will be broadcast live on AM 1410 KIIX.  Brian Roth returns for an ninth season behind the mic for the Rams. Matt Wozniak will provide color analysis. Live game audio will also be available via Rams All-Access subscription on CSURams.com.

Live statistics are available on CSURams.com by clicking on the "Gametracker" icon on the calendar of the home page or from the women's basketball schedule page. 

Promotions at Moby...   
In addition to group ticket deals and kid's days at Moby Arena, Pick 6 mini plans and Pepsi 4-packs are on sale. The women's Pick 6 Plan package will be priced at $30, giving fans a choice of any six home games.

Pepsi 4-pack plans for  women's basketball are also available for Rams fans. The package includes four tickets, four hot dogs/bratwursts and four sodas. Cost is $20 for the women's games and can be used for any of the following games: Nov. 13 vs. Montana, Dec. 11 vs. Colorado, Jan. 16 vs. BYU, Feb. 3 vs. Utah, Feb. 9 vs. Air Force, Feb. 27 vs. TCU, and March 3 vs. San Diego State.

About CSU-Pueblo...   
CSU-Pueblo enters the 2009-10 season with an experienced roster that includes two returning starters and eight returning lettermen from last season.  During the 2008-09 campaign, the Thunderwolves posted an overall record of 22-9, including a 13-6 mark and second-place finish in the RMAC West Division. The team went on to win the RMAC Postseason Championship. 

Junior guard Rachel Espinoza returns to lead the Thunderwolves attack.  The 2008-09 CSU-Pueblo Athlete of the Year, Espinoza led the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game and was named the RMAC Shootout Most Valuable Player.  She was a first-team all-RMAC West Division selection for the ThunderWolves.

Returning junior starter forward Amanda Bartlett returns after leading the team in free throw percentage - .875 - a season ago.  Bartlett also averaged 3.5 rebounds per game.

CSU vs. CSU-Pueblo comparison*... 

Home sweet home...   
Including exhibition games, Colorado State will play six of its first eight contests at Moby Arena. Overall since 1974-75, the Rams hold a record of 293-176 (.625) in Moby Arena.  The Rams will play a total of 14 regular-season contests in Moby Arena in 2009-10.

International flavor...  
Rams fans will notice that the 2009-10 Rams roster features many international players. Three sophomores from the Rams' squad are from Europe. Guard/forward Kim Mestdagh hails from Ieper, Belgium, while forward Chatilla van Grinsven (Helmond) and Natalie van den Adel (Barendrecht) are both from the Netherlands.

Homegrown talent...   
In addition to the five international players on the CSU roster, the Rams also feature three players from Colorado.  Junior guard Sara Hemmings graduated from Greeley West High School as a five-sport athlete in Greeley, Colo., and played one season at the University of Northern Colorado before transferring to the University of Arizona and then coming to CSU. Sophomore forward Meghan Heimstra is a former two-time all-Colorado peformer at Silver Creek High School in nearby Longmont, Colo., and freshman guard Kelly Bond led her team to a City Championship and a Final 8 appearance at Longmont High School.  

Fresh Faces...    
The Rams have five newcomers this season with three freshmen and two junior transfers. Freshman Chantel Kennedy looks to bring speed to the team this season. At Wesleyan High School in Norcross, Ga., Kennedy set a school record in track relays and was the State and Regional champion in the 400 meter dash.

Meixandra Porter, a freshman guard from Freedom High School in Chantilly, Va., is said to be the most athletic player on the team pound for pound. At 5-6 she benches 170 pounds. 

Holt holding court... 
Second-year Head Coach Kristen Holt makes her sophomore season debut at the helm of the Rams' program on Thursday. Last season, Holt improved the Rams overall record by six wins and improved conferences wins by four games. She hopes input a fast-paced offense this season in order to continue building a program of excellence at Colorado State.

Up next..    
The Rams play host to Adams State Nov. 6 at Moby Arena. Last year the Rams beat the Grizzlies by a score of 59-58 in a Halloween thriller with a 12-2 run in the final two minutes of the game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.