Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
17-5, 9-1MW
Boise State
15-6, 5-5MW
Recap: Rams' defense keys 60-53 win at Boise State
2/2/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BOISE, Idaho. – The Colorado State women's basketball team held Boise State to 16 first-half points and came up with key defensive stops down the stretch to stifle a late Bronco rally and earn a 60-53 win on Wednesday night from Taco Bell Arena.
Thanks to excellent first-half defense, the Rams (17-5, 9-1 MW) led the Broncos (15-6, 5-5 MW), 28-16, by halftime. Although the third quarter was high scoring for each team, CSU held Boise State to an 0-for-13 start from three-point range and grew its lead to 13 with 47 seconds to go in the third quarter. However, the Broncos made their next two threes from that point to spark a 10-0 run and cut the CSU lead to 47-46 with 6:29 to play.
With less than six minutes remaining, the Rams got to the free throw line for the first time in Wednesday's game, increasing their lead back to three on two key Elin Gustavsson free throws. Over the next three minutes, the Rams got timely baskets from Myanne Hamm and Hannah Tvrdy and took 53-48 lead with 2:46 to go. With multiple offensive rebounds over their next two possessions, the Broncos were able to fire three three-point attempts over the next 90 seconds. The Rams recovered to force misses each time, and the Broncos were forced to foul.
The Rams, who were in the bonus with 1:10 remaining, made seven of nine free throws down the stretch to put the game out of reach and seize their ninth Mountain West victory of the season. Off the bench, Amanda Kantzy and Hamm combined for 21 points on a combined 8-for-13 shooting. Gustavsson matched Kantzy with 11 points, while Callie Kaiser matched Hamm with 10. Ellen Nystrom scored four points with nine rebounds, six assists and six steals.
Despite a scoreless first five minutes of the game, the Rams set the tone for a strong first half with a 14-4 run to end the first quarter. Beginning at the 3:38 mark in the first quarter, the Rams went on a 14-0 run, leading by 11 at the 8:30 mark in the second quarter. That run set up CSU's halftime advantage, as the Rams never led by less than eight for the rest of the first half before building their 12-point halftime lead.
IN THEIR WORDS
Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams
"Everything for them seemed pretty darn contested - that was the plan all night. We did a good job on Brooke (Pahukoa) and we did a good job on Vanderschaaf. Everything was difficult for them. We just needed to get a little flow offensively. I thought the key tonight was timely baskets. We were timely in the first half when we had a bit of a lead, and then they came out and made a run in the second half. They made baskets, but so did we. We never allowed them to get the lead. It was 47-46 and then we went on a little run and that was it. Myanne Hamm and Amanda Kantzy were just outstanding off the bench. When we need them the most, they always seem to step up."
On how the Rams played in pressure situation on Wednesday:
"It was a really business-like effort. We did a decent job against their pressure – just 10 turnovers tonight was really good. When they made their runs, I liked our poise. We always got good shots and we made some big ones. We made some free throws down the stretch. It was nice to be tested in that area a little bit. We can be better there, but we made enough of them."
STAT OF THE GAME
With her first of six assists on Wednesday night, senior guard Ellen Nystrom moved into second place on CSU's all-time career assists list. Nystrom now has 529 for her career, nine behind Becky Hammon's CSU record of 538 career assists.
NOTES
- CSU has won 30 of its last 31 games against conference opponents (including postseason), as well as 32 of their last 33 regular-season conference games.
- CSU has won eight consecutive Mountain West games.
- The Rams' eight consecutive wins matches the program's eighth-longest win streak in program history.
- The Rams have won six consecutive games on the road.
- With the win on Wednesday, CSU is now 9-5 all-time against Boise State.
- CSU has won four of its past five games played against the Broncos.
- CSU is now 7-2 against the Broncos under Williams.
UP NEXT
The Colorado State women's basketball team returns home to host UNLV on Saturday. Opening tip from Moby Arena is slated for 2 p.m. MT.
