Sign Up | Lost Password

WBK: CSU Outpaces Boise St 60-52

Jan. 17, 2012
Danielle Marshall, CSU Athletic Media Relations

BOISE, Idaho – The Rams were up by three with 1:21 on the clock and in danger of falling behind to the Broncos, but Colorado State held off Boise State with outstanding defense and clutch shooting Tuesday, winning 60-52 at Taco Bell Arena.

With its second win on the road this season, CSU is now 2-1 in conference play with a 6-12 record overall, while Boise State falls to 11-7 overall and 2-1 in the Mountain West.

Both LaDeyah Forte and Kelly Hartig had a chance to put the game away for CSU with little more than a minute remaining, but both players missed the front end of their one-and-one free-throw attempts. The Rams caught a break with a missed shot on the Boise end and Meghan Heimstra hit a layup and got the foul at the Rams’ end to seal the win.

“We’ve had wins this year,” said Head Coach Kristen Holt. “But I think our team knows that we beat a good team.”

Colorado State opened the game on a 9-0 run and eventually increased its lead to as much as 14 midway through the first half. However, mental errors late in the half led to Rams turnovers and BSU was able to close the gap to seven heading into the locker room.

A 13-2 run midway through the second half gave the Rams a 10-point lead, but Boise State would not go away, threatening by pulling within three points at the 1:40 mark. But in the end, Heimstra’s shot and free throws by Hayley Thompson removed all hope for the Broncos.


Kim Mestdagh and Sam Martin both tallied double figures with 21 and 19, respectively. Mestdagh was also the Rams’ leader on the defensive end with 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Heimstra also hit double figures with clutch play at the end. She finished the night with 10 points and seven boards. Thompson and Hartig were dominant forces for the Rams down low, pulling down seven boards as well.

After several starting lineups throughout the non-conference schedule, the Rams may have found their groove with Forte, Thompson, Mestdagh, Martin and Hartig. The five have now started three consecutive games dating back to the contest at Seattle on Jan. 8.

Tuesday was the sixth road trip over an eight-game stretch for the Rams since Dec. 20. CSU will have only one true road trip from now until Feb. 11, with three contests in the familiar confines of Moby Arena. The team returns home to host Wyoming in an “Orange Out” Saturday in the first installment of the Border War. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.