Fort Collins – Four freshmen Colorado State women’s basketball players were indefinitely suspended and will be formally charged this week with reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor, for a plastic bottle “bomb” prank against teammate Kelly Finley on Monday night.
Leading scorer Kelly Jo Mullaney, part-time starter Emily Neal, key backup Raysha Ritter and rarely used reserve walk-on Brittney Stirling were contacted by Fort Collins police Friday.
Before the four basketball players can be reinstated, they will have to answer to the school’s judiciary committee, coach Jen Warden, the athletic department’s top administration and their own teammates.
Mullaney, Neal and Finley were also AAU and high school teammates in Minneapolis.
“This is a case where four teammates were trying to play a prank on a teammate, and it went bad,” Grant said. “They thought the device would just make a loud bang, and that it would not be a big deal. It was not meant in a malicious way by any means. I know that Mullaney and Finley are very good friends.”
There were no injuries or property damage when the device was set off outside Finley’s apartment. Common household cleaning agents were in the bottle, according to what police told CSU senior associate athletic director Gary Ozzello.
The suspensions left the Rams with just eight players, including two former walk-ons, in a 73-42 loss to New Mexico.
“We found out the conclusion of the police investigation Friday afternoon and immediately made the suspensions,” Warden said. “There is no telling right now how long this is going to last.”
The backfired prank is the latest incident in what has been a precipitous decline in the program since Tom Collen left after a 2002 NCAA first-round loss to Tulane. Replacement Chris Denker was forced out following the 2005 season and a series of meetings between disgruntled players, parents and then-athletic director Mark Driscoll over Denker’s conduct in practice.
Warden swept six non-senior players off last year’s roster to make way for a heralded incoming class headed by Mullaney, the daughter of former CSU football great Mark Mullaney.
Meanwhile, the program that produced eight straight 20-win seasons through 2003’s NIT team is working on its second straight losing record.
“We brought in this new class and were hoping for a change,” senior guard Sara Hunter said. “There comes a point you have to put your foot down. We’re students first and Division I basketball players second. What happened, there’s no excuse.”
As for inviting them back, Hunter said: “It’s not my place to speak for the team.”
Molly Nohr, also a senior guard, said, “It will be a team decision.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Natalie Meisler can be reached a 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
