Colorado State University Athletics
Wednesday, February 18
Fort Collins, Colo.
6:30 PM
Colorado State
20-7,11-5Mountain West
70
vs
59
Nevada
8-18,4-12Mountain West
1
2
3
4
F
Nevada
19
13
5
22
59
Colorado St.
16
17
20
17
70
CSU Survives the Hunt
2/18/2026 9:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Rams overcome turnovers to deliver win as March looms
In the wild, a Wolf overpowers a Ram more often than not. Strength, speed, instinct — it's survival of the fittest.
But on the hardwood, the Ram refuses to fold.
Colorado State once again proved that when it comes to basketball, grit outweighs fangs. In a 70-59 win over Nevada, the Rams withstood an early surge, regrouped and delivered the kind of second-half performance which defines teams built for March.
However, it wasn't comfortable at first.
Six first-half turnovers turned into 13 Nevada points. Missed layups and defensive lapses gave the Wolf Pack clean looks. Despite taking a one-point lead into halftime, CSU hadn't established control. Nevada had come hunting.
And in late February, it's exactly what lower-seeded teams do.
"Nevada really came to play, and we knew they would," coach Ryun Williams said. "The message was, let's be ready to go right out of the gate. It took a half to figure that out. Apparently our kids didn't believe us, that Nevada was here to play. We had to dig in the toughness bag at halftime, because they definitely out-toughed us."
The Wolf Pack played like it. Physical. Aggressive. Unafraid.
So the Rams responded and for Williams, the halftime message was direct.
"I mean, anybody that knows Coach Williams knows he can get a little feisty, especially when we're not playing his standards," Madelyn Bragg said. "But I think that's something you can appreciate from a head coach, because if he didn't care about us the way that he does, he wouldn't get after us the way that he does. And I feel like we all have higher standards for ourselves because of the expectations he sets for us as well."
The mentality shift showed immediately out of the halftime break. CSU clamped down defensively, allowing just five Nevada points in the third quarter. The ball began flowing through Bragg and Kloe Froebe — and the game shifted.
"It was pretty obvious who came to really play tonight," Williams said. "It was those two kids."
Bragg delivered her second double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds, asserting herself on the block with a confidence which has been building for weeks. Froebe matched her with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, steady and composed when the Rams needed rhythm.
Williams has seen the change in Bragg over weeks of play.
"Going back to probably the Wyoming game, to be honest with you, you see a little different assertiveness and determination from Maddie," Williams said. "It's obvious how she's catching the ball. She wants it and she wants to score it."
It's a kind of want which especially matters at this time of year.
Because Nevada held the size advantage, boasting four players 6-foot-2 or taller. For stretches, the length bothered CSU. As well as size, Maia Rosarion found success early, shooting 5-of-7 in the second half before the Rams' defensive adjustments limited her impact.
When Nevada collapsed defensively to contain Bragg, CSU sprayed the ball back out and knocked down timely threes. The formula became simple: absorb the pressure, respond with poise and finish strong.
"I think every game you have to come in focusing on the other teams athletes," Froebe said. "You kind of change a little bit. But I think we just came in and we knew we had to stop the drive and gap help, and I think we executed that pretty well."
Execution had dips and valleys but few embodied resilience more than Lexus Bargesser.
After four first-quarter turnovers and a 1-of-9 shooting line through three quarters, Bargesser could have disappeared. Instead, she reset. In the fourth quarter, she knocked down every shot she attempted.
"You've got to keep playing," Williams said. "You can't let what happened the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter affect the next play. It's that next play mentality … that's what mature teams do."
Maturity also showed in the rotations.
With Brooke Carlson and Hannah Ronsiek battling foul trouble, Jadyn Fife and Marta Leimane logged significant minutes. The chemistry didn't waver. The edge didn't dull.
"I think this is where champions are made here, the end of February and beginning of March," Froebe said. "I think we have to stay mentally tough and stay together. We've grown our chemistry throughout the entire year. And so right now it's just really comes down to who's focused and mentally prepared each night."
The mental preparation takes hold and remains important night in and out.
Seeding is secured. Targets are painted. Every possession carries postseason weight.
"These last games, they're basically tournament games," Williams said. "Every environment is going to be that, and every possession you need to treat like it's the most important possession of the night."
In the wild, the Wolf may have the advantage.
But February basketball isn't about instinct alone — it's about discipline, response and resolve. It's about who adjusts when the pressure tightens and who finishes when the stakes rise.
"At this time of the year, teams like Wyoming and teams like Nevada have absolutely nothing to lose," Bragg said. "You guys saw it tonight, Nevada came out. They were tougher than us in the first half and… we have a huge target on our back. So we need to come out and perform every night, especially against teams that are technically ranked lower than us because they want nothing more than to beat us and ruin our season."
Nevada came ready to hunt. The Rams answered.
And as February fades into March — when games sharpen, possessions sting and seasons hang in the balance — Colorado State is proving the Ram doesn't scare easily.
Because in the arena, survival isn't about who strikes first.
It's about who endures.
But on the hardwood, the Ram refuses to fold.
Colorado State once again proved that when it comes to basketball, grit outweighs fangs. In a 70-59 win over Nevada, the Rams withstood an early surge, regrouped and delivered the kind of second-half performance which defines teams built for March.
However, it wasn't comfortable at first.
Six first-half turnovers turned into 13 Nevada points. Missed layups and defensive lapses gave the Wolf Pack clean looks. Despite taking a one-point lead into halftime, CSU hadn't established control. Nevada had come hunting.
And in late February, it's exactly what lower-seeded teams do.
"Nevada really came to play, and we knew they would," coach Ryun Williams said. "The message was, let's be ready to go right out of the gate. It took a half to figure that out. Apparently our kids didn't believe us, that Nevada was here to play. We had to dig in the toughness bag at halftime, because they definitely out-toughed us."
The Wolf Pack played like it. Physical. Aggressive. Unafraid.
So the Rams responded and for Williams, the halftime message was direct.
"I mean, anybody that knows Coach Williams knows he can get a little feisty, especially when we're not playing his standards," Madelyn Bragg said. "But I think that's something you can appreciate from a head coach, because if he didn't care about us the way that he does, he wouldn't get after us the way that he does. And I feel like we all have higher standards for ourselves because of the expectations he sets for us as well."
The mentality shift showed immediately out of the halftime break. CSU clamped down defensively, allowing just five Nevada points in the third quarter. The ball began flowing through Bragg and Kloe Froebe — and the game shifted.
"It was pretty obvious who came to really play tonight," Williams said. "It was those two kids."
Bragg delivered her second double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds, asserting herself on the block with a confidence which has been building for weeks. Froebe matched her with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, steady and composed when the Rams needed rhythm.
Williams has seen the change in Bragg over weeks of play.
"Going back to probably the Wyoming game, to be honest with you, you see a little different assertiveness and determination from Maddie," Williams said. "It's obvious how she's catching the ball. She wants it and she wants to score it."
It's a kind of want which especially matters at this time of year.
Because Nevada held the size advantage, boasting four players 6-foot-2 or taller. For stretches, the length bothered CSU. As well as size, Maia Rosarion found success early, shooting 5-of-7 in the second half before the Rams' defensive adjustments limited her impact.
When Nevada collapsed defensively to contain Bragg, CSU sprayed the ball back out and knocked down timely threes. The formula became simple: absorb the pressure, respond with poise and finish strong.
"I think every game you have to come in focusing on the other teams athletes," Froebe said. "You kind of change a little bit. But I think we just came in and we knew we had to stop the drive and gap help, and I think we executed that pretty well."
Execution had dips and valleys but few embodied resilience more than Lexus Bargesser.
After four first-quarter turnovers and a 1-of-9 shooting line through three quarters, Bargesser could have disappeared. Instead, she reset. In the fourth quarter, she knocked down every shot she attempted.
"You've got to keep playing," Williams said. "You can't let what happened the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter affect the next play. It's that next play mentality … that's what mature teams do."
Maturity also showed in the rotations.
With Brooke Carlson and Hannah Ronsiek battling foul trouble, Jadyn Fife and Marta Leimane logged significant minutes. The chemistry didn't waver. The edge didn't dull.
"I think this is where champions are made here, the end of February and beginning of March," Froebe said. "I think we have to stay mentally tough and stay together. We've grown our chemistry throughout the entire year. And so right now it's just really comes down to who's focused and mentally prepared each night."
The mental preparation takes hold and remains important night in and out.
Seeding is secured. Targets are painted. Every possession carries postseason weight.
"These last games, they're basically tournament games," Williams said. "Every environment is going to be that, and every possession you need to treat like it's the most important possession of the night."
In the wild, the Wolf may have the advantage.
But February basketball isn't about instinct alone — it's about discipline, response and resolve. It's about who adjusts when the pressure tightens and who finishes when the stakes rise.
"At this time of the year, teams like Wyoming and teams like Nevada have absolutely nothing to lose," Bragg said. "You guys saw it tonight, Nevada came out. They were tougher than us in the first half and… we have a huge target on our back. So we need to come out and perform every night, especially against teams that are technically ranked lower than us because they want nothing more than to beat us and ruin our season."
Nevada came ready to hunt. The Rams answered.
And as February fades into March — when games sharpen, possessions sting and seasons hang in the balance — Colorado State is proving the Ram doesn't scare easily.
Because in the arena, survival isn't about who strikes first.
It's about who endures.
Team Stats
Nevada
CSU
FG%
.393
.441
3FG%
.133
.263
FT%
.563
.867
RB
36
39
TO
9
10
STL
8
5
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballColorado State Basketball (W): Bragg (L) and Froebe (R) Post-Game (Nevada, 25-26)
Wednesday, February 18
Colorado State Basketball (W): Ryun Williams Post-Game (Nevada, 25-26)
Wednesday, February 18
Colorado State Basketball (W): Ryun Williams Post-Game (New Mexico 25-26)
Saturday, February 14
Colorado State Basketball (W): Froebe (L) and Carlson (R) Post-Game (Wyoming, 25-26)
Saturday, February 07