Nov. 20, 2009

Complete Release

Rams travel to Valpo
The Rams take their first true road trip of the season to Valparaiso, Ind. to take on the Crusaders. Tip off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT on Sunday from the Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000).

Senior Lauren Kenney tallied a double-double with 21 points and 16 rebounds while sophomore Betsy Adams also scored 21 points as Valparaiso started the season 2-0 for the first time since the 1985-86 season with a 64-55 victory over Southern Illinois Edwardsville on Wednesday evening.

The game will be broadcast live on AM 1410 KIIX. Brian Roth calls all the action. Live game audio will also be available via Rams All-Access subscription on CSURams.com.

In addition, the game can be viewed live online through the Horizon League Network at horizonleaguenetwork. tv or through the link at valpoathletics.com free of charge.

Rams vs. Valpo series...
Sunday’s meeting between Colorado State and Valparaiso marks only the third overall meeting between the two schools.

The series is currently tied at 1-1 with both games taking place in Fort Collins. This will mark the Rams' first trip to Valpo. Head Coach Kristen Holt is 0-1 against the Crusaders.

About Valpo...
The Crusaders host the Rams with an overall record of 2-0 to start the season, behind the guidance of Head Coach Keith Freeman. He holds a 262-181 (.591) in 16 seasons at Valparaiso which is 42nd among all active Division I coaches.

Valpo enters Sunday's matchup with four players averaging double-digit points after two games. Betsy Adams leads the team with 20.5 points per game with 50 percent accuracy beyond the arc. Lauren Kenney is not far behind Adams with 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

MWC Player of the Week...
Sophomore guard/forward Kim Mestdagh was named the Mountain West Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week, marking her first career honor.

Mestdagh has averaged 18.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game since the start of the season. She pulled down seven rebounds and led the team with 17 points on 5-of-14 (.357) shooting, including 5-of-7 (.714) from the free-throw line, during Colorado State's season-opening victory over Montana (72-64). Twelve of her points came in the second half.

The Ieper, Belgium, native went on to tally 21 points and six rebounds in an 85-60 win over Wichita State. Mestdagh shot 75 percent (3-of-4) from three-point range and 70 percent (7-of-10) from within the arc. She also went 4-for-5 (.800) from the free-throw line in the contest.

Despite foul trouble at Denver on Wednesday, Mestdagh was still able to net 17 points, hitting two three-pointers and a jumper to take an early 8-0 lead.

Heimstra Heats up...
In the first two games this season sophomore forward Meghan Heimstra has scored a total of 33 points and 20 rebounds. Against Montana on Nov. 13, the Longmont native had a career-high 11 rebounds and 16 points for the team's first double-double of the season.

Last time out...
Sophomore Chatilla van Grinsven tied her career high of 18 points, while Kim Mestdagh and Bonnie Barbee also reached double figures with 17 and 11 points, respectively, but the Colorado State women’s basketball team fell 68-55 on Wednesday evening to the Denver Pioneers at Magness Arena.

After opening with quick back-to-back three-pointers and a jumper by Mestdagh, the Rams (2-1) jumped to a quick 8-0 lead before Kaetlyn Murdoch put the Pioneers on the board. Mestdagh recorded her third double-digit game of the season, with 12 of those points coming in the first half.

Mestdagh quickly found herself in foul trouble, however, committing two fouls and she sat for the second part of the first half. The Rams stuck with Denver, though, entering halftime with only a two-point deficit.

Despite a great effort from van Grinsven, who netted 12 points in the second half, the Rams failed to find their groove and only hit four field goals in the last 10 minutes of the game.

Rams seeing double...
Since the start of the season, five Rams have scored double figures in at least one game. Sophomore Kim Mestdagh leads the pack with three-consecutive games, followed by junior Bonnie Barbee with two consecutive. Sophomores Natalie van den Adel, Meghan Heimstra and Chatilla van Grinsven round out the bunch with one game each.

Homegrown talent...
In addition to the three 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, 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 performer 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.

Holt holding court...
Second-year Head Coach Kristen Holt is in her second season at the helm of the Rams’ program. Last season, Holt improved the Rams' overall record by six wins and improved conference wins by four games. She has installed a fast-paced offense this season in order to continue building a program of excellence at Colorado State.

Up next...
Colorado State hosts Texas State, Delaware and Houston as part of the 16th annual Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational. The four-game tournament will take place Nov. 27 and 28 at Moby Arena, with games beginning at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day. Delaware and Houston face off in the opening game, followed by a matchup between CSU and Texas State. The outcomes of Friday’s games will determine the matchups for Saturday, with the Rams playing the late game regardless of outcome.