Rams travel to Gonzaga, host North Florida this week

Colorado State Rams (2-2) at Gonzaga Bulldogs (6-1)
Wednesday, Nov. 28 | 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT
McCartney Athletic Center (6,000) | Spokane, Wash.
Coverage: TheW.tv | KARS 102.9 FM | Live Stats

Colorado State Rams (2-2) vs. North Florida Ospreys (2-2)
Sunday, Dec. 2 | Noon MT
Moby Arena (8,745) | Fort Collins, Colo.
Coverage: CSURams.com/live (MW Network) | KARS 102.9 FM | Live Stats

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's basketball team splits time on the road and at home this week, traveling to Gonzaga before hosting North Florida in this week's slate of games.

Colorado State (2-2) faces the Bulldogs (6-1) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT from the McCartney Athletic Center (6,000) in Spokane, Wash. Following their meeting with the Zags, the Rams will return to Moby Arena (8,745) for a Noon MT matchup with the Ospreys (2-2) on Sunday.

Tickets are available for all games in Moby Arena this season, and may be purchased at CSURams.com/tickets or through a call to 800-491-RAMS (7267). Parking is available for $10 for all home games in the Moby Arena parking lot and for free in the Lory Student Center parking lot.

CSU Athletics' clear bag system will be in effect for all home CSU women's and men's basketball games in an effort to increase the safety of all fans in attendance, as is the use of metal detectors. Information on that clear bag system, along with other important game day information, can be found on the CSURams.com game day page here.

Live video for Wednesday's game at Gonzaga is available through TheW.tv, while Sunday's contest will be streamed via the Mountain West Network on CSURams.com/live. Each radio broadcast is scheduled to be on KARS 102.9 FM, with Matthew Wozniak on the call for each game. Live stats will also be available. Links to each can be found above or on the schedule page on CSURams.com.

Scouting the Gonzaga Bulldogs

Gonzaga is 6-1 through its first seven games of the 2018-19 season, with wins over Rutgers (57-40) and UNLV (70-59) among its most notable results. Gonzaga reached the NCAA Tournament last season after finishing 27-6 and 17-1 in conference play.
Among the nonconference results for Gonzaga last year was a 65-49 defeat at the hands of Colorado State in Moby Arena. Five Rams scored in double digits, including 12 points from now-sophomore guard Lore Devos.
Gonzaga is projected to win the West Coast Conference for the sixth-consecutive season, according to the conference's preseason poll. Gonzaga seniors Zykera Rice, Chandler Smith and Laura Stockton were named to the Preseason All-WCC Team.
Gonzaga is 39th in in the nation in turnovers per game (13.4) and 54th in turnover margin (+4.9). The Zags boast the nation's No. 51 scoring defense (55.6) as well as the No. 79 scoring margin (+12.6). On the offensive end, the Bulldogs have the NCAA's No. 40 team free throw percentage (.756) and have made the 43rd-most free throws (90) nationally.

Scouting the North Florida Ospreys

North Florida is off to a 2-2 start in 2018-19, picking up its wins over Trinity Baptist (99-40) and Florida A&M (64-53). The Ospreys were 13-18 and 5-9 in conference play last season.
In preseason polling, conference coaches projected North Florida to finish sixth of nine teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The preseason media poll picked the Ospreys to finish fifth in the conference in 2018-19.
Among North Florida's team strengths is discipline in terms of committing fouls, tallying the 22nd-fewest in the NCAA per game (14.3). UNF also ranks 74th nationally in steals per game (10.3) and 63rd in the country in turnover margin (+4.3).
Individually, Elli Bartley ranks seventh in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (5.0). Tiffany Tolbert, who leads the team in scoring, ranks 72nd in the NCAA in points per game (18.3), while Adrienne Jackson is eighth in steals per game (4.0).

A Colorado State Win on Wednesday Would…

Move Colorado State to 2-0 all-time against Gonzaga. The two teams met for the first time in Moby Arena last season, where CSU defeated the Zags, 65-49.
Be CSU's first win in a game played in the state of Washington since Dec. 29, 2000 (won at Washington). The only other game the Rams played in Washington since that win in 2000 was in 2016 (lost at then-No. 17/15 Washington).
Give the Rams their fifth 3-2 or better start during the now-seven-season Ryun Williams era.

Rams Among National Statistical Leaders

Defensively, the Rams once again rank among the nation's elite. Colorado State is fifth in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense (.295), 19th in three-point field goal percentage defense (.214) and 24th in scoring defense (52.8).
Through four games, Colorado State ranks 12th nationally in fewest personal fouls per game (13.5) and 48th in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game (13.8).
Junior guard Mollie Mounsey ranks among the nation's top 100 individuals in two categories. The Follett, Texas native is eighth in the NCAA in minutes played per game (39.0) and 88th in three-point field goals made per game (2.8).
Senior forward Tatum Neubert also ranks among the nation's top 100 in multiple categories. She ranks 31st in free throw percentage (.917) and 77th in blocked shots per game (1.8).
Sophomore guard Grace Colaivalu ranks 98th in the country in assists per game, averaging 4.8 per contest.
Sophomore guard Lore Devos is 45th nationally in minutes played per game (36.0).

Rams Among Mountain West Statistical Leaders

As a team, Colorado State tops the Mountain West in scoring defense (52.8), field goal percentage defense (.295) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.214).
Sophomore guard Lore Devos ranks sixth in the Mountain West in scoring (15.0 points/game). She also ranks sixth in rebounding (7.3/game), sixth in defensive rebounds per game (4.8) and eighth in offensive rebounds per game (2.5).
Devos' 10 field goals made against Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 6 rank as the fourth-most in a single game by any Mountain West player this season.
Sophomore guard Grace Colaivalu is averaging 4.8 assists per game, good for fourth in the conference. Additionally, the Sacramento, Calif., native is third in assist/turnover ratio (1.9).
Junior guard Mollie Mounsey is fourth in the conference in three-point field goals made per game (2.8).
Senior forward Tatum Neubert is ranked fourth in the league in blocked shots per game (1.8). She also currently places third in the conference in free throw percentage (.917).
Neubert registered four blocks against Northern Colorado on Nov. 20, the fifth-most in a single game by any player in the conference this season.
Sophomore forward Lena Svanholm also ranks among Mountain West free throw percentage leaders, placing ninth (.800).

Quick Hits

After finishing the 2017-18 season with its fifth straight 20-win season and fifth consecutive postseason appearance, Colorado State touts a new-look squad for 2018-19. The Rams return seven players from last year's roster, but welcome as many newcomers to the team.
Among the returning players for Colorado State is talented sophomore guard Lore Devos, who was second on the team in scoring over the Rams' two exhibitions. Devos averaged 17.5 points per game against those two opponents, and posted a double-double against Colorado Christian (17 points, 10 rebounds). Devos led the Rams with 23 points in their season opener against Eastern New Mexico, and currently paces the team with 15 points per game.
Among the Rams' newcomers is junior guard Mollie Mounsey, who has been named the 2018-19 Mountain West Preseason Newcomer of the Year. Mounsey, who averaged 21.0 points per game over the Rams' two exhibitions, is a two-time NJCAA First-Team All-American and led the nation (Division I, II, III, NAIA or NJCAA) in threes (143) in 2016-17 at Seward Country CC.
Senior forward Tatum Neubert, another newcomer for the Rams, averaged a double-double for the Rams in exhibition play. Neubert was one of three Rams to average double-digit scoring in those exhibitions (13.5/game) and corralled an average of 10 rebounds per outing.
Sophomore guard Grace Colaivalu is also among the returners for the Rams after earning the program's first Mountain West All-Freshman selection since 2013-14 (Ellen Nystrom, Elin Gustavsson) last season. Colaivalu averaged 7.3 points and 2.8 assists per game last season, with a notable stretch of 22.0 points per game over her first four career conference games.
Colorado State's coaching staff has also been retooled heading to the 2018-19 season, as the Rams welcomed Rico Burkett and Kellie Lewis to the staff. With those two additions, CSU has four coaches with NCAA head coaching experience on its staff this season, the most of any women's basketball program in the nation.

Mollie Mounsey Named Mountain West Preseason Newcomer of the Year

Junior guard Mollie Mounsey of the Colorado State women's basketball team was named the 2018-19 Mountain West Preseason Newcomer of the Year on Thursday, Nov. 1.
Among the credentials for Mounsey in her junior college career were NJCAA First-Team All-America honors in each of her freshman and sophomore seasons. In 2016-17, Mounsey made 143 three-point field goals, the most of any women's basketball player in the nation among all Division I, II, III, NAIA or NJCAA schools.
Mounsey, who joins the Rams from Seward County Community College, is the second CSU player to receive a superlative award from the Mountain West in the preseason in the past three seasons. Former CSU great Ellen Nystrom was named MW Preseason Player of the Year prior to the Rams' 2016-17 campaign.

CSU Coaching Staff Among the Nation's Most Experienced

Entering this season, Colorado State women's basketball has four coaches on its staff with NCAA head coaching experience. No other women's basketball program in the nation has more than three.
Along with current CSU head coach Ryun Williams, each of Kellie Lewis (Florida Atlantic), Rico Burkett (Wayne State) and Chad Lavin (South Dakota, Wyoming) have been head coaches at an NCAA institution in their careers.
No other school has as many coaches with NCAA head coaching experience. Baylor, Texas Tech and UNCW each have three coaches on their respective staffs with NCAA head coaching experience.

Something About Season Openers for Devos

Sophomore guard Lore Devos paced the Rams with 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting in their win over Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 6. That season-opening performance mirrored her debut in 2017-18.
In the Rams' 2017-18 opener, Devos poured in a team-high 25 points on exactly the same 10-for-16 shooting from the floor. That remains Devos' career high, and is the most points scored by a player in their first game during the Ryun Williams era.
Devos' two collegiate season openers remain her two best scoring performances to this point in her career.

Newcomers' Exhibition Play a Sign of Things to Come?

Colorado State cruised to a pair of exhibition victories prior to the 2018-19 season, and the impact of a pair of their newcomers was one reason why.
Mountain West Preseason Newcomer of the Year and junior guard Mollie Mounsey posted a 21.0 points per game average in the Rams' two exhibitions, a team high. Mounsey shot 10-for-14 (.714) from beyond the three-point arc over those two games.
Senior forward Tatum Neubert was one of three Rams to average double-digit points in those two exhibitions, joining Mounsey and sophomore guard Lore Devos (17.5/game) with 13.5 points per game. More notably, Neubert averaged a double-double over those two games, averaging exactly 10 rebounds per game.

Rams Make Fifth Consecutive Postseason Appearance in 2017-18

Among the many accomplishments of the 2017-18 Colorado State women's basketball team was its fifth consecutive postseason appearance. The Rams received an at-large bid to the Postseason WNIT, and advanced to the second round for the second straight season.
Colorado State defeated Western Illinois, 67-64, last season, and took down Saint Mary's, 80-68, in overtime in the opening round two years ago for its most recent postseason victories. Before those two WNIT wins, CSU had not won in the postseason since 2003.
CSU will be looking to make its sixth consecutive postseason berth in 2018-19. The Rams have only had one longer streak of consecutive postseason appearances, reaching the NCAA Tournament or the WNIT in seven consecutive seasons from 1998-04.

Rams Win 20 Games for Fifth Straight Season

Colorado State women's basketball went 21-12 in 2017-18, clinching its fifth straight season with at least 20 wins under now-seventh-year head coach Ryun Williams.
Outside of those five seasons, Colorado State has only won 20 games or more in nine other seasons. That gives Williams 35.7 percent of the 20-plus-win seasons in program history.
Former CSU head coaches Greg Williams, Tom Collen and Chris Denker combined for the only stretch with more consecutive seasons of 20 victories or more from 1995-2003. Ann Matlock coached the only other CSU team with 20 wins or more in 1981-82.

Williams Ranks Among CSU, Mountain West Coaching Greats

Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams enters his seventh season at the helm of the program in 2018-19. Williams has won 136 games in his tenure to this point, making him the winningest coach in program history.
In addition to that, Williams has won 81 conference games, by far the most in program history. Former CSU head coach Tom Collen is the closest with 56 conference wins.
Williams also ranks as the third-winningest coach in Mountain West history in terms of win percentage in conference games (76.4 percent, 81-25). The only coaches with better records in conference play are former Utah head coach Elaine Elliott (.793, 130-34), as well as former Fresno State head coach and current TCU head coach Reagan Pebley (.778, 28-8).
Ryun Williams' seventh season as CSU basketball coach makes him one of the two longest-tenured head coaches in program history. Greg Williams also served as head coach for seven seasons from 1990-97.

Dropping Knowledge

Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams is 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.
Williams is in his second season as a voter after completing his first year voting in the coaches' poll in 2017-18.

Newcomers in the Lineup for the Rams

Among the storylines for Colorado State women's basketball this season will be the integration of seven newcomers into the 2018-19 lineup. The seven newcomers will mesh with the return of six letterwinners, along with one redshirt.
Of those newcomers, two are graduate transfers and are eligible to contribute immediately. Those players are guard Roichelle Marble (Wisconsin) and forward Tatum Neubert (LSU/Oregon).
Also among the newcomers are junior guard Mollie Mounsey (Seward County CC), a two-time NJCAA First-Team All-American, and freshman guard/forward Taylor Mole (Australia), who joins the Rams with international playing experience.
Jamie Bonnarens (Cameron), Megan Jacobs (Utah) and Tori Williams (Utah) will redshirt per NCAA transfer rules before playing for the Rams next season.

Rams Return Mountain West All-Freshman Selection

Among the returners for Colorado State in 2018-19 is sophomore guard Grace Colaivalu, who was named to the Mountain West All-Freshman Team last season.
Upon receiving that distinction last season, Colaivalu became the first Ram to earn an all-conference freshman team selection since 2013-14 and the third all-time. The only other two Rams to be named to the MW All-Freshman Team were Ellen Nystrom and Elin Gustavsson, each in 2013-14.

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