Women's Hoops Set for NCAA Tournament

FORT COLLINS – Colorado State women's basketball is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and is set to take on fifth-seeded Michigan State in the First Round in Norman, Okla., on Friday (March 20).

NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
March 20 vs. (5) Michigan State (22-8, 11-7 Big Ten)
Where: Norman, Okla. (Lloyd Noble Center)
When: 5:30 PM MT
Watch: ESPNEWS
Listen: Varsity Network App/Power102 FM

NOTING THE GAME

The Rams Are Dancing: Colorado State is back in the NCAA Tournament, making its first appearance in the dance since 2016 after winning the Mountain West tournament. This is Colorado State's second NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Ryun Williams.
Been Here Before: This is the second time Colorado State has earned a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the first being in 1998. That season the Rams were victorious in their 12-5 matchup against Drake, winning 81-75 for the biggest NCAA Tournament upset in program history.
Defensive Stalwarts: Colorado State's defense has been elite this season, giving up an average of just 54.9 points per game which is No. 7 in the country. The Rams have held 24-of-34 opponents to 60-or-fewer points, with 12 being held below 50. CSU is limiting the opposition to just 35.0% shooting which is also seventh nationally.
Whole Lotta Winning: Colorado State has been a model of consistency under head coach Ryun Williams as the Rams have won 20-or-more games in each of the past five seasons. Throughout Williams' time at the helm of the program, CSU has won at least 20 games 10 times, with two separate five-season streaks. This year's 27 victories are the most since the 2015-16 season in which CSU won 31 games and made its lone NCAA Tournament appearance under Williams.
Missing A Piece: Colorado State will be without its star guard Lexus Bargesser, who exited the MW semifinal game against UNLV in the second quarter with a season-ending injury. Bargesser had been sensational after transferring from Indiana over the summer, becoming one of the top mid-major players in the country. The senior guard did everything on the floor, averaging 15.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Bargesser took on a much larger offensive role than she had at Indiana, scoring 12.2 more points per game than last season (3.4) which is a top-10 increase among all DI players (min. 75% of team games each year).
Sophomores Stepping Up: Sophomore guards Brooke Carlson and Kloe Froebe found an extra gear in the new year. Since the start of 2026, Carlson has the Rams' second-highest scoring average (13.1), and leads the team with 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Froebe's numbers have soared as she is putting up 12.2 points on 45.8% shoooting from the floor and 40.4% shooting from 3, coupled with a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game.
Becoming A Habit: Lexus Bargesser was named the Mountain West Newcomer of the Year prior to the start of the conference tournament. Ram fans were far from surprised, not only because her play was deserving of the recognition, but also because CSU has won the award five of the last six seasons. Bargesser joined McKenna Hofschild (2020-21), Upe Atosu (2021-22), Destiny Thurman (2022-23) and Emma Ronsiek (2024-25) in the recent run of winners, showcasing CSU's apt for securing talent in the transfer portal.
Rams Protect The Rock: The Rams do a lot of good things, but one of their secrets to success is actually something they DON'T do: Turn the ball over. The Rams have led the nation in fewest turnovers per game each of the past four seasons, coughing it up just 8.7 times per game in 2024-25 which was the only mark below 10.5 in the country. Over the past decade of NCAA DI women's college basketball, only two programs have averaged less than nine turnovers a game across a season: Villanova (14-15, 15-16), and Colorado State (22-23, 24-25). Same ole Rams in 2025-26 as the they average 10.4 giveaways. No. 1 nationally, of course.
Loyal Rams: In an age of college athletics where playing at multiple schools has become the norm, Marta Leimane and Hannah Ronsiek have shown that sometimes it's best to plant your roots and grow. The pair of fourth-year seniors have combined for 237 appearances and 135 starts over their four seasons in the Green and Gold, helping the Rams to four-consecutive 20-win campaigns. In their final season of eligibility, the duo won their first conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament together.
We'll Hold Our Tongue...: Despite having a top-10 defense in the country by multiple stat categories, CSU was left without a player selected to the Mountain West All-Defensive team. Perhaps with something to prove, the Rams held opponents to 53.3 points per game, 30.7% shooting from the field and 20.3% shooting from three in their three-game run to the MW Championship.
Making the Adjustments: Head coach Ryun Williams and the Rams have had some massive third quarters this season, helping them enter the final frame with the lead in 27 games. The Rams have proven they can make effective halftime adjustments as they outscore the opponent by an average of 5.5 points in third periods this season (+186). The mark is better than any other MW team's single-quarter margin, regardless of which quarter.
B-Sizzle: Fans will love watching sophomore guard Brooke Carlson with her lightning-quick speed and first step that are impossible to ignore. The Batavia, Ill., native has stepped up in a big way for CSU throughout this postseason run, leading the Rams with 17.0 points per game while adding 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists during the MW Championship. On top of that, BC is a tenacious defender that often draws the top guard assignment for the Rams.
New Year, New Klo: Kloe Froebe faced some heavy struggles from the free-throw line to start the season, shooting just 48.9% (23-47) from the charity stripe before the New Year. Since then, however, she's been as consistent as they come, knocking down 75.7% of her looks (56-74) from the line. On top of that, the sophomore's 3-point shooting has seen a massive improvement in the new year as she is shooting 40.4% (23-57) from behind the 3-point line. During her freshman campaign, Froebe managed just 15.2% (5-33) from deep.

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Lexus Bargesser

Brooke Carlson

Kloe Froebe

Marta Leimane

Emma Ronsiek

Hannah Ronsiek