Dec. 1, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Colorado State (1-4) vs.Denver (1-3)
Dec. 3, 2008 | Fort Collins, Colo. | Moby Arena (8,745) | 7 p.m. MT

Rams continue homestand, host Pioneers... 
Colorado State hosts in-state rival Denver, Wednesday evening at Moby Arena, in the fourth game of a five-game home stand. 

Each team enters the matchup riding a two-game losing streak and in search of its second win of the 2008-09 campaign.  Colorado State was 0-2 last week, with tough losses to Valparaiso (64-53) and Murray State (75-70) in the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational.  Valpo went on to win the tournament with a victory over Florida State in the second round. 

Denver opened the season with three straight home games.  After falling to Wyoming (61-54) on Nov. 14, and defeating UC Davis (64-50) on Nov. 21, the Pioneers suffered a 76-55 setback vs. Nebraska on Nov. 24, and dropped an 82-68 decision at Creighton on Sunday. 

The game will be broadcast live on AM 1410 KIIX.  Brian Roth, in his eighth season behind the mic for the Rams, calls all the action.  Kevin McGlue 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.
 
Rams vs. Denver series... 
Wednesday’s meeting between Colorado State and Denver marks the 20th overall meeting between the two schools, who have squared off in each of the last five seasons since renewing the rivalry in 2003. 

The Rams, who had won 11 consecutive matchups in the series from 1980-2005, have lost three consecutive games to Denver, including a 65-53 home loss in 2006. 

About Denver... 
Denver comes to Moby Arena with an overall record of 1-3 to start the season, behind the guidance of first-year head coach Erik Johnson.

Junior forward Ashley Robinson leads Denver, averaging 10.8 points per contest, while sophomore forward Brianna Culberson ranks second at 9.8 points.  Both players rank second on the team in rebounding, pulling down 5.0 rebounds per contest.  Senior center Sara Bents leads the team with 5.3 rebounds per game. 

Closing in on 500... 
Junior forward Juanise Cornell is nearly halfway to becoming the 15th player in Colorado State women’s basketball history to reach 1,000 career points.  Cornell, who has started 63 of 64 career games played at Colorado State, enters action this week with 481 career points. 

Cornell has nearly as many career points as the next three players - Britney Minor (224), Kandy Beemer (184) and Carine Reimink (150) - on the active roster combined.  Minor, Beemer and Reimink, all seniors, are in just their second seasons with the Rams, having joined the team has junior college transfers last year.   

Last time out... 
Colorado State hosted the 15th annual Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational, featuring Florida State, Murray State and Valparaiso.

The Rams squared off against eventual-champion Valpo in the opening round, falling 64-53, thanks to a poor-shooting first half that saw the Rams go 0-for-9 from 3-point range and shoot just 23.3 percent overall.  CSU bounced back in the second half but was unable to close the gap. 

Junior forward Juanise Cornell led the Rams with 11 points and six rebounds.

The Rams’ second-round game was a different story, as CSU’s offense was firing on all cylinders to open the game.  Colorado State opened up a 14-point advantage over Murray State.  However 36 points by Racers’ guard Amber Guffey, coupled with a 10-minute drought without a field goal to end the game by the Rams, led the Racers to the come-from-behind win. 

Sophomore Bonnie Barbee and freshman Kim Mestdagh led the Rams with 12 points each.  Barbee connected on 2-of-3 attempts from 3-point range, while Mestdagh knocked down two from long distance.   

Home sweet home... 
Colorado State is in the midst of a homestand that includes five consecutive home games and six out of seven overall, with the exception being a Dec. 10 trip to Missoula, Mont. to face the Lady Griz.

The Rams began the stretch on the right foot with a 69-60 victory over Idaho, but dropped two close games against Valpo and Murray State on Friday and Saturday, respectively.     

Overall since 1974-75, the Rams hold a record of 288-168 (.632) in Moby Arena.  The Rams will play a total of 15 regular-season contests in Moby Arena in 2008-09, the most home dates for a CSU women’s basketball team since the 2004-05 season (16 home games).

Rebounding Ram... 
During the Rams last two games against Valpo and Murray State, forward Amaka Uzomah returned to the form that the Moby faithful had become accustomed to during the second half of last season.  The 6-1 senior, who recorded 11 consecutive games with nine or more rebounds to close the 2008-09 season, led the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational with 18 rebounds in two games.  Uzomah’s 10-rebound performance against Valparaiso marked the 12th double-digit rebounding effort in her 27-game career in Fort Collins.  For her career Uzomah, who surpassed 200 career boards over the weekend, averages nearly eight rebounds per game, the best mark on the Rams’ current roster. 

Strong starts by pair of freshmen... 
Freshmen Kim Mestdagh and Chatilla van Grinsven both had strong performances during last weekend’s Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational.  Mestdagh, who earned the first start of her career against Murray State, responded with a career-best 12 points to tie for the team-lead in the game with sophomore guard Bonnie Barbee.  Mestdagh, who hails from Ieper, Belgium, was thrust unexpectedly into a starting role when junior forward Juanise Cornell was sidelined with a migraine headache.  Van Grinsven made her Rams debut against Murray State, after missing the first four games of the season while serving an NCAA amateurism penalty.  The Dutch-born van Grinsven tallied six points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action. 

Heimstra heating up... 
Freshman Meghan Heimstra seems to be improving with each game she plays for the Rams.  The Longmont native has appeared in all five games for CSU, and after averaging fewer than three points and seven minutes in her first three games, posted marks of 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in her last two contests, while earning increased playing time (19 minutes per game). 

Change in UNI game day... 
The game between Northern Iowa and Colorado State, originally scheduled for Dec. 13, has been moved to Dec. 14 at noon.  The switch was made to accommodate the schedule for the 2008 NCAA volleyball regional tournament that will be held at Moby Arena, Dec. 12-13.  Fans ages 18 and under will still receive $1 admission to the game. 

Up next... 
Colorado State hosts in-state rival Northern Colorado on Dec. 6 at Moby Arena.  The game, which is slated to begin at 2 p.m., will mark the 29th meeting between the two teams, with the Rams holding a 17-9 advantage (10-3 in Fort Collins).

The game will also be the Rams’ annual “Pack the House” event.  Fans who wear green to Moby Arena will receive a coupon for $1 admission.