Rams host Utah State and Wyoming in Mountain West action this week

Colorado State Rams (10-5, 2-2 MW) vs. Utah State Aggies (3-12, 1-3 MW)
Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 7 p.m. MT
Moby Arena | Fort Collins, Colo.
Live Video: CSURams.com/live (MW Network)
Live Audio: CSU Radio Network (KMAX 94.3 FM)
Live Stats: CSURams.com

Colorado State Rams (10-5, 2-2 MW) vs. Wyoming Cowgirls (9-5, 2-1 MW)
Border War
Saturday, Jan. 13 | 2 p.m. MT
Moby Arena | Fort Collins, Colo.
Live Video: CSURams.com/live (MW Network)
Live Audio: CSU Radio Network (KMAX 94.3 FM)
Live Stats: CSURams.com
Promotion: Student for a Game (student section ticket and T-shirt for $15 (see details below)

Colorado State Women's Basketball: Tickets | Twitter | Weekly Release

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's basketball team returns home this week for Mountain West games against the Utah State Aggies and Wyoming Cowgirls.

Colorado State (10-5, 2-2 MW) tips off with Utah State (3-12, 1-3 MW) from Moby Arena at 7 p.m. MT on Wednesday. The Aggies enter this week's slate of games following a 62-58 win over San Diego State and losses to San Jose State, Fresno State and UNLV. USU is 1-6 on the road this season.

CSU caps off the week with a Border War contest against Wyoming (9-5, 2-1 MW) at 2 p.m. MT on Saturday. The Cowgirls dropped their conference opener at San Diego State, 68-62, but have won each of their past two Mountain West contests, including a 66-51 road victory at preseason MW favorite Boise State. Wyoming has split its six games on the road this season (3-3).

The promotion for Saturday's Border War matchup is "Student for a Game." As part of the promotion, fans will be able to purchase a student section ticket and CSU women's basketball T-shirt for $15. Fans interested in participating can use the promo code "wbbstudent" at CSURams.com/promocode.

Tickets for all home games are now available, and may be purchased at CSURams.com/tickets or through a call to 800-491-RAMS (7267). Parking is available for all home games in the Moby Arena parking lot. A new clear bag system is now in effect for all CSU women's and men's basketball games in an effort to increase the safety of all fans in attendance, and information on that system can be found here.

Live video will be available through CSURams.com/live (MW Network), while live audio will be available via the CSU Radio Network and the TuneIn app. Radio broadcasts for each of Wednesday's and Saturday's games will be carried by KMAX 94.3 FM, with Matthew Wozniak on the call. Live stats will also be available for each game. Each can be found in the links above, or on the women's basketball schedule page on CSURams.com.

A Colorado State Win on Wednesday Would…
- Be the Rams' 13th win in their past 14 games played against Utah State, dating back to the 1984-85 season.
- Be CSU's 10th straight home win over Utah State. The Rams have not lost to the Aggies at home since the 1979-80 season (Feb. 29, 1980).
- Move the Rams to 18-9 all-time against Utah State.
- Improve the Rams' record to 8-1 against Utah State in Ryun Williams' tenure.
- Improve the Rams' record to 5-0 at home against Utah State under Williams.
- Be the Rams' 11th win in their past 12 regular-season Mountain West games.
- Be the Rams' third win in their past four games.
- Be the Rams' fourth win in their past five home games.

Record Watch
- Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams is currently at 125 wins in his tenure with the Rams, the second-most in program history. Williams trails only Tom Collen, whose 129 wins as CSU head coach are the most in program history. Williams needs four more wins to tie Collen, and five to pass him.

Game Day Storylines
- Colorado State has been one of the nation's top defensive teams during sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams' tenure, and the Rams are once again this season. CSU ranks seventh in the nation and tops in the Mountain West in field goal percentage defense (.340) this season, as well as ninth nationally and best in the conference in three-point field goal percentage defense (.255).
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen ranks as one of the NCAA's elite sharpshooters so far this season. Her .458 three-point field goal percentage ranks 16th in the nation and tops among qualifiers in the Mountain West. Her 2.3 three-pointers per game in conference play rank ninth in the Mountain West.
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu is averaging 22 points per game in Mountain West play, the most of any player in the conference. Her 29 points against San Diego State on Jan. 3 are the second-most by any Mountain West player this season, while her 26 against Boise State on Dec. 28, 2017 were the fifth-most by any player in the league and most in a conference opener this season.
- Colaivalu's 22 points per game is the best scoring average for any freshman in her first four conference games in the Ryun Williams era.
- Additionally, Colaivalu ranks seventh in the conference with a .589 field goal percentage in MW games and first in the conference in three-point percentage (.667) in conference action.
- As a team, one of Colorado State's most favorable national statistical rankings is in the turnovers column. The Rams commit just 12.5 turnovers per game, which ranks 17th in the nation. Additionally, CSU has the nation's 19th-lowest rate of personal fouls per game (14.3).
- Another of CSU's strengths is on the defensive glass, as the Rams rank 15th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (30.3). The Rams are paced in that category by senior forward Veronika Mirkovic and senior guard Hannah Tvrdy, who are each fifth in MW play with 5.5 defensive rebounds per game.
- Mirkovic currently averages 1.8 steals per game and one block per game in conference play. Those marks rank sixth and seventh in the league, respectively.
- Tvrdy is currently averaging 37 minutes per game in MW play, the second-most in the league. Austgulen ranks third in the conference with 36.8 minutes played per game in MW games, while Mirkovic is eighth (34.2).
- Lore Devos paced the Rams with 25 points in her collegiate debut against Idaho. No other CSU player has scored as many points in her debut in the now-six-year Ryun Williams era.

Scouting the Utah State Aggies
- The Utah State Aggies are 3-12 at the midpoint of the 2017-18 season and are 1-3 through two weeks of conference play. Last season, the Aggies went 17-15 and 9-9 in conference play before making an appearance in the Women's Basketball Invitational.
- Utah State is 1-6 on the road this season, and has dropped each of its two away conference games in 2017-18 (at San Jose State, at Fresno State). The Aggies' lone conference win came over San Diego State at home, 62-58.
- One category Utah State stacks up well in as a team is in blocks. The Aggies rank 65th nationally in blocked shots per game with an average of 4.4. Deja Mason leads the team with 1.7 blocks per game.
- Utah State is led offensively by Olivia West, who averages 14.7 points per game. Shannon Dufficy paces the Aggies in rebounds per game (8.7).

Scouting the Wyoming Cowgirls
- The Wyoming Cowgirls enter this week with a 9-5 overall record and a 2-1 mark in conference play. The Cowgirls, which were projected to finish second in the Mountain West in preseason voting, reached the second round of the WNIT after finishing 23-10 and 13-5 in league play last season.
- Wyoming dropped its conference opener at San Diego State, 68-62, but has bounced back to win its two most recent league games. In those games, the Cowgirls defeated Nevada, 66-60, and preseason Mountain West favorite Boise State, 66-51.
- Wyoming stacks up as one of the nation's top defensive teams, ranking 18th nationally in scoring defense (55.9 points allowed per game). Additionally, the Cowgirls and rank 26th in personal fouls per game (14.6) and 13th in free throw percentage (.775).
- Preseason All-Mountain West selection Liv Roberts leads the Cowgirls in points (12.5) and rebounds (6.4) per game. Taylor Rusk averages 9.6 points per game, and ranks 23rd nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.444) as well as 17th in assist/turnover ratio (2.9).

Colaivalu Lights Up Scoreboards to Start Mountain West Play
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu has made the most of her first opportunities at Mountain West action. In her first four career conference games, Colaivalu has scored 80 points for an average of 22 points per game.
- Colaivalu's 22 points per game are not just the most on the team – they are the most of any player in the Mountain West to this point.
- No freshman during the now-six-season Ryun Williams era has scored more points in her first four career Mountain West games. See below for a breakdown.

Most Points by CSU Freshmen in First Four MW Games Under Ryun Williams
80 (22.0 points per game) – Grace Colaivalu, 2017-18
54 (13.5 points per game) – Caitlin Duffy, 2012-13
40 (10.0 points per game) – Elin Gustavsson, 2013-14

Rams Set Tradition of Strong Defensive Play
- Since taking over the program prior to the 2012-13 season, head coach Ryun Williams has made strong defense a cornerstone of his vision for the program's success. Over the past four years, the Rams' defense has ranked among the nation's elite.
- Over the past four seasons, Colorado State has ranked no lower than 15th in the nation in field goal percentage defense. The Rams have ranked as high as second in the nation, and have placed within the nation's top six twice.
- See below for a breakdown of the Rams' national field goal percentage defense ranks over the past four years of Williams' tenure.

Notable National Field Goal Percentage Defense Ranks Under Ryun Williams
2017-18 – Seventh (.340)
2016-17 – Sixth (.339)
2015-16 – Second (.330)
2014-15 – 15th (.354)

Rams Match Second-Best 10-Game Start of Ryun Williams Era
- With its win over Prairie View A&M on Monday, Dec. 18, the Colorado State women's basketball team moved to 7-3 for the 2017-18 season, matching its second-best 10-game start under sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams.
- Only one Williams-led CSU team compiled a better record through 10 games. The 2015-16 Rams went 9-1 through their first 10 contests before finishing with a 31-2 mark and a program record for win percentage (.939).
- Under Williams, every team to win at least six of its first 10 games has gone on to win the Mountain West regular-season title and win at least 23 games.

Colorado State Under Ryun Williams in First 10 Games (Sorted by Best Start)
2015-16 – 9-1
2017-18 – 7-3
2014-15 – 7-3
2013-14 – 7-3
2016-17 – 6-4
2012-13 – 3-7

Annie Brady Named Mountain West Women's Basketball Player of the Week
- After recording double-doubles against each of Prairie View A&M and Morgan State, Colorado State junior forward Annie Brady has been named the Mountain West Women's Basketball Player of the Week. The conference announced Brady's honor on Tuesday, Dec. 26.
- Over those two games, the junior averaged 18.5 points per game on .581 (18-for-31) shooting and corralled 15.5 rebounds per game.
- Her first double-double of the week came in a 19-point, 14-rebound (seven offensive) effort in the Rams' 71-59 win over PVAMU. She followed that with an 18-point, 17-rebound performance to lead CSU to a 60-44 win over Morgan State in the Rams' nonconference finale. Brady shot 9-for-13 (.692) from the floor in that game.
- This marks the first weekly conference honor for Brady since she joined the Rams prior to this season. The Salt Lake City, Utah native is also the first Ram to receive one of the league's weekly honors this season.

Devos Makes Historic Debut for Rams
- Freshman guard Lore Devos made her first official appearance for Colorado State on Friday, Nov. 10 in the Rams' season-opener against Idaho. The Kortrijk, Belgium native opened her CSU career with 25 points, the most by any CSU freshman in a season opener in head coach Ryun Williams' six-year tenure.
- Devos was the Rams' leading scorer against Idaho, scoring her 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the floor and 5-for-5 shooting from the free throw line.
- The only other player to score at least 20 points in her debut for Williams was two-time Mountain West Player of the Year Ellen Nystrom. The former CSU standout from Sweden scored 20 points in her first career game for CSU, a win over UCCS on Nov. 8, 2013.

Most Points Scored by a CSU Freshman in a Season Opener Under Ryun Williams
Lore Devos (2017-18 season) – 25 points
Ellen Nystrom (2013-14 season) – 20 points
Taylor Varsho (2012-13 season) – 19 points
Callie Kaiser (2015-16 season) – 13 points
Elin Gustavsson (2013-14 season) – 10 points

Early Season Storylines
- The Colorado State women's basketball team is off to a 7-3 start this season, matching its second-best 10-game start of the now-six-year Ryun Williams era. Each CSU team with at least seven wins in its first 10 games has gone on to win the Mountain West regular season title and at least 23 games.
- Colorado State is fresh off its fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West title, distinguishing the program as one of 12 teams in the nation – women's and men's basketball – to have an active streak at least that long.
- No other basketball team in Mountain West history – women's or men's – has won as many regular-season conference titles consecutively. In addition, the Rams have won all four of those outright. Of teams to win consecutive MW regular-season titles, no other team has won more than two outright.
- Colorado State was picked to finish third in the conference this season by league coaches and select media. The Rams received six first-place votes en route to 211 points and that third place projection. The Rams rank behind only Boise State (seven FPV, 221 points) and Wyoming (six FPV, 216 points).
- The Rams return three of five starters and seven letterwinners from last year's team. Hannah Tvrdy is the Rams' returning leader in each of points (8.3), rebounds (4.6) and assists (2.4) per game.
- CSU also looks to be solid from beyond the three-point arc this season. The Rams return 80 percent of their three-point production from last season, as 203 of 255 threes made last year were made by returning players.
- Mixing with that veteran core returning for Colorado State is a group of eight underclassmen, as sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams grooms one of the youngest CSU rosters over his tenure. In terms of what percentage of the roster is made up of freshmen and sophomores (53.3 percent), CSU ranks as the nation's 18th-youngest team.
- Although the Rams' roster is largely composed of youth, the Mountain West also looks to be one of the nation's youngest conferences. The Rams are the fifth-youngest team in the conference when measured by the same criteria above.

Rams' Four Consecutive Regular-Season Conference Titles Ranks Among Nation's Elite
- The Colorado State women's basketball team made history this past season by winning its fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West championship. That feat had never been previously accomplished by any women's or men's basketball team in conference history.
- That active streak of four consecutive regular-season conference titles ranks the Rams among the nation's elite. Between both women's and men's NCAA Division I basketball, only 11 other programs in the nation have a current streak that is as long or better.
- On the women's side, the programs are Baylor, Chattanooga, Connecticut, DePaul, Green Bay, Notre Dame and defending national champion South Carolina.
- Only four men's teams have a streak at least as long at the CSU women: Gonzaga, Kansas, Villanova and Wichita State.

Regular-Season Conference Titles Won – Best Active Division I Streaks (Women's and Men's Basketball)
Kansas (men's) – 13 (Big 12)
Green Bay (women's) – 11 (Horizon)
Baylor (women's) – Seven (Big 12)
Chattanooga (women's) – Five (Southern)
Gonzaga (men's) – Five (West Coast)
Wichita State (men's) – Five (Missouri Valley)
Colorado State (women's) – Four (Mountain West)
Connecticut (women's) – Four (American)
DePaul (women's) – Four (Big East)
South Carolina (women's) – Four (SEC)
Villanova (men's) – Four (Big East)

Rams Enter 2017-18 as One of Nation's Youngest Teams
- While the Rams' 2017-18 roster is largely made of a veteran group of seven upperclassmen, the bulk of the Rams' roster this season comes from the ranks of underclassmen. A combined eight freshmen and sophomores make up 53.3 percent (eight of 15) of the roster, while the six freshmen make up 40 percent.
- In terms of what percentage of the roster is comprised of underclassmen, Colorado State ranks as the nation's 18th-youngest team. If measured by percentage of freshman relative to the overall roster, CSU's 40 percent is the 10th-highest in the nation.
- However, the Mountain West also shapes up to be a very young conference this season. Each of San Jose State (80 percent), Utah State (76.9 percent), Air Force (76.5 percent) and Fresno State (69 percent) are younger than Colorado State by underclassmen on the roster.

Youngest Division I Teams by Percentage of Underclassmen
1. UNCG – 87.7 percent
2. FIU – 80 percent
2. San Jose State – 80 percent
4. Utah State – 76.9 percent
5. Air Force – 76.5 percent
12. Fresno State – 69 percent
18. Colorado State – 53.3 percent

Youngest Division I Teams by Percentage of Freshmen
1. Savannah State – 64.3 percent
1. Fordham – 64.3 percent
3. Air Force – 58.8 percent
4. San Jose State – 53 percent
5. FIU – 50 percent
5. Elon – 50 percent
10. Colorado State – 40 percent

Rams Projected to Finish Third in the Mountain West in 2017-18
- The Colorado State women's basketball team has been voted by league coaches and select media to finish third in the Mountain West in 2017-18, as announced by the conference on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
- Colorado State, which is coming off an unprecedented fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West title, earned 211 points and six first-place votes en route to its third-place projection. The only team to earn more first-place votes was Boise State, which received a league-best 221 points and was picked to win the conference by seven voters. Wyoming (216 points, six first-place votes) narrowly edged CSU for second in the voting.
- New Mexico and UNLV, which were picked fourth and fifth respectively, were the only other schools to receive first-place votes. The Lobos received four first-place votes and 186 points, while the Lady Rebels received 185 points were picked No. 1 by two voters.
- The Rams had been picked to win the Mountain West in each of the past three preseason Mountain West polls and four times overall. Behind only those three first-place projections, this is the Rams' fourth-highest projection under sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams. The Rams were picked seventh before winning the conference in 2013-14 and fifth before Williams first season at CSU (2012-13).

2017-18 Mountain West Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Rank/Team (First-Place Votes) - Points
1. Boise State (7 FPV) - 221 points
2. Wyoming (6) - 216
3. Colorado State (6) - 211
4. New Mexico (4) - 186
5. UNLV (2) - 185
6. Utah State - 136
7. Fresno State - 117
8. San Diego State - 102
9. San José State - 61
10. Nevada - 60
11. Air Force - 29

Rams Look to be Strong from Three-Point Range
- Although the Rams lost substantial production in many categories with the departure of last year's senior class, one area the team did not lose much in is three-point shooting. As a team, the Rams return 80 percent of their three-point field goals made from last season.
- 203 of the 255 threes made by the Rams last year were made by returning players. Stine Austgulen led the Rams last season with 53 three-point field goals made.
- Austgulen and Hannah Tvrdy return as two of the top three-point shooters in the Mountain West, ranking No. 14 and No. 7 in three-point field goal percentage last season, respectively.
- Notably, junior Myanne Hamm ranked fifth in MW in three-point field goal percentage during conference play (.400), while junior Sofie Tryggedsson ranked 14th in the MW with 1.5 three-point field goals per game during conference play.

Williams Chasing CSU All-Time Wins Record
- Sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams entered the 2016-17 with a record of 115-46 in his tenure thus far at Colorado State. That wins total ranks only behind Tom Collen (129 wins) for most all-time as CSU head coach.
- With the Rams' 70-67 overtime over San Jose State on Jan. 4, 2017, Williams earned his 100th win as CSU head coach, becoming third coach in program history to reach that milestone. Besides Ryun Williams and Tom Collen, the only other coach in school history to reach that mark was Greg Williams (108 wins).
- Ryun Williams already owns the most conference wins in program history, as his teams have gone 70-18 in Mountain West play over his tenure. The previous record was held by Collen, who won 56 games as CSU head coach from 1997-02.

Dropping Knowledge
- Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams has been selected as one of 32 voters for the USA TODAY Sports Women's Basketball Coaches Poll. The panel, which is chosen by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), votes weekly throughout the regular season.
- The voters are chosen based upon the 32 conferences that receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Each conference has one representative, and the names of the voters are published along with each week's poll.

The 2016-17 Season at a Glance
- Colorado State accomplished many feats in 2016-17, but none was greater than winning its historic fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West championship. No other basketball team in Mountain West history – women's or men's – has won the conference in four consecutive seasons other than the CSU women.
- CSU reached the postseason for the fourth straight season under now-sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams with an automatic berth to the Postseason WNIT. The Rams defeated Saint Mary's at Moby Arena in the first round of the tournament, marking the Rams' first postseason win since 2003.
- On Dec. 18, 2016, CSU defeated Seattle, 66-62, to record the team's 22nd consecutive win at Moby Arena. That broke the previous record for consecutive wins at home, which was previously 21 straight from 1998-99.
- The Rams also set two different records for consecutive conference wins between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The Rams had won 22 straight games against conference foes when including postseason games, and 25 games against conference opponents in regular-season contests.
- Overall, the CSU's 25 wins tie for the fourth-most in program history, while the Rams' 15 conference wins tie for the second-most in program history.
- Ryun Williams posted his fourth consecutive season with 15 Mountain West wins or more, bringing his career MW record to 70-18. His current MW win percentage of .795 ranks as the best of any coach in Mountain West history.
- Williams also became the third coach in program history to reach 100 wins at CSU, and has the second-most wins at CSU (115) in school history. Tom Collen owns the all-time record with 129 wins at CSU.
- Williams' 70 Mountain West wins also rank as by far the most conference wins in CSU history.
- Ellen Nystrom, who graduated after the 2016-17 season, repeated as Mountain West Player of the Year after earning that honor in 2015-16. The Rams have had the conference player of the year in three consecutive seasons, as Gritt Ryder earned honor as a senior in 2014-15.
- Nystrom and fellow 2016-17 senior Elin Gustavsson departed CSU as the winningest players in conference play in Mountain West history. The senior duo from Sweden won 63 MW games over their careers at CSU, which is by far the most of any athlete – women's or men's basketball – in conference history.

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