Rams saddle up for Border War
The women’s basketball team is saddling up and heading toward
the border for what promises to be a fast-paced, action-packed
matchup. Colorado State (10-7, 1-3 MWC) will play the Cowgirls of
Wyoming on Friday in Laramie, Wyo. at 7 p.m. Conference-leading
scorer Ashley Elliot, who averages 16.3 points per game, leads a
Wyoming (6-11, 2-2 MWC) team that awaits the arrival of its border
rival. The Rams will look to avenge a disappointing 58-55 loss to
San Diego State Saturday, as well as stop their loosing streak.
“I’d like to get a win,” sophomore guard Vanessa Espinoza said.
“We haven’t had one in a long time, but we’re focused on getting a
win.”
The Rams will have to go about getting a win without senior
forward Joy Jenkins, who broke her nose last Monday in practice.
Stepping in for the senior will be freshman Kylee O’Dwyer.
“I’m excited,” O’Dwyer said. “This is a big step, but it’s a
reward for working hard.” Without Jenkins in the lineup head coach
Chris Denker admits the game plan will change but said CSU fans
shouldn’t panic.
“Losing Joy does impact our game,” he said. “We lose her senior
leadership, and she is a very versatile player. The rotation is
going to be a little tighter now, but we have a lot of confidence
in our team, it’s just a matter of going out and doing it.”
With winning on the minds of both teams, the game should be a
crowd pleaser. The last two contests in Wyoming have gone into
overtime, with both teams winning one game.
“Wyoming is a big rival,” Espinoza said. “Of all the teams, I
think I hate them the most.”
But whether the Rams like or dislike the Cowgirls won’t
determine the outcome of the game; good basketball will. Espinoza
and company seem to have the plan mapped out for the matchup.
“We have to make shots,” she said “That’s the bottom line. We
have to limit (Elliot’s) touches, make shots and continue to do the
things that we’ve been doing.”
CSU holds a 38-25 advantage over the Cowgirls, but the question
of whether history will prove faithful for the Rams or whether the
Cowgirls will bring enough firepower to end their own losing skid
remains unanswered.
Rams Probable Starting Line Up
No. Position Player Importance
5 guard Vanessa Espinoza Small but gets to the hoop, and scores
often
11 guard Jasai Ferrucho Fiery in-your-face defender
31 forward Kylee O’Dwyer Big on the boards, and can knock down a
few shots
33 forward Melissa Dennett The “Diesel” can’t be stopped, plows
over competition
45 center Lindsay Thomas Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, Thomas is
a
big girl, with a BIG game
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