LAS VEGAS — The Madness has begun.
The Colorado State women’s basketball team came to the Mountain West Conference Tournament with 20 straight losses. Now, it’s a one-game winning streak after a 68-49 play-in victory over UNLV on Tuesday night.
It was the first win by CSU’s men or women in 2008, and the men’s staff and players were celebrating in the stands. CSU is the only school in the country whose men’s and women’s teams both failed to win a regular-season conference game.
“We hit the big shots we missed a lot during the season,” said Rams senior guard Sara Hunter, whose back-to-back 3-pointers ignited a 25-5 run to seal the win. “But this is when it counts.”
At 3-27, it’s still the worst record for any CSU men’s or women’s team, but the Rams set a MWC tourney record for 3-point percentage at 63.6.
“Winning is not a small thing for us,” Rams coach Jen Warden said.
Warden’s defensive scheme to contain first-team all-MWC senior Sequoia Holmes worked; she finished with just seven points for UNLV (8-22).
“It’s a credit to our players,” Warden said. “This whole thing belongs to them. I could feel it Sunday. Even though they are a No. 9 seed, we had a spirited, high-energy practice.”
Warden was quick to credit center Amaka Uzomah, who had a game-high 12 rebounds, but added six assists.
The Rams advance to play league champion and 15th-ranked Utah at 5 p.m. today. CSU’s worst loss of the year came at Utah, 68-28 on Feb. 2.
COLORADO STATE (3-27)
Queen 5-12 6-8 16, Minor 2-5 0-0 5, Reimink 0-1 0-0 0, Cornell 4-10 2-3 10, Hunter 6-16 0-0 16, Barbee 0-0 0-0 0, Uzomah 3-4 1-2 7, Young 1-5 0-0 2, Neal 2-2 3-4 9, Simmons 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 24-56 13-19 68.
UNLV (8-22)
Holmes 3-15 0-3 7, Jupiter 3-7 0-3 7, Hampton 6-13 4-5 16, Harris 2-7 2-2 7, Halberg 3-9 0-0 8, Holiday 0-4 0-0 0, Helms 0-3 0-0 0, Tirtiaux 0-1 3-4 3, Hunt 0-0 0-0 0, Chaney 0-0 0-0 0, Oberg 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-60 11-16 49.
Halftime — Tied 29-29. 3-point goals — Colorado State 7-11 (Hunter 4-8, Neal 2-2, Minor 1-1), UNLV 4-20 (Halberg 2-5, Holmes 1-3, Harris 1-4, Tirtiaux 0-1, Oberg 0-1, Holiday 0-3, Helms 0-3). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Colorado State 39 (Uzomah 12), UNLV 38 (Jupiter 9). Assists — Colorado State 14 (Uzomah 6), UNLV 14 (Holmes 5). Total fouls — Colorado State 16, UNLV 20. A — 1,411.
Mountain West primer
Staff writer Natalie Meisler breaks down the men’s Mountain West Conference Tournament, which begins today in Las Vegas:
Five things to watch
1. No. 6 Utah vs. No. 3 New Mexico. The No. 6 seed has advanced to the semifinals four of the past five years. Both Utah-UNM games have been competitive this season. It’s an unofficial Big Ten game with Utah’s Jim Boylen coming from Michigan State and New Mexico’s Steve Alford from Iowa.
2. Potential New Mexico-UNLV semifinal. The Thomas & Mack Center will be packed with red. If UNLV wins, Alford will howl about homecourt advantage.
3. Any on-court or off-court meeting between Utah’s Boylen and Wyoming’s Heath Schroyer. Boylen had two words for Schroyer after a late-game dunk in a Wyoming win. He verbalized Wyoming football coach Joe Glenn’s gesture when Utah poured it on.
4. Will Brigham Young play for NCAA seeding or just take the opener and then get ready for the Dance?
5. Air Force is overdue, without a conference tournament win since 1990 in the WAC. Falcons were upset playing from a higher seed the past few years. This game is a tossup with San Diego State.
Three players to watch
1. J.R. Giddens, 6-feet-5 senior guard New Mexico. Co-MWC player of the year is the league’s showman, good and bad.
2. Lee Cummard, 6-7 junior guard/forward, BYU. Most versatile player in MWC averages 15.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.4 assists, and shoots 56 percent from the floor.
3. Wink Adams, 6-0 junior guard, UNLV. Dynamo is the catalyst for the Rebels. Top point guard in a league full of great guards.
Dark horse to watch
Utah is the most dangerous team in this tournament, and the Utes have more talent than their 16-13 record indicates.
Our pick
UNLV. BYU might just win one, go home and prepare for the NCAAs. Rebels are almost assured of a bid regardless, but there’s nothing like the support they receive on their home court on championship night.
Colorado State’s chances
Slim and Wyoming doesn’t show up. Nothing left for the Rams but for the staff to start recruiting for next year.
Air Force’s chances
Long overdue for tournament success and a longshot NIT candidate.
Wyoming’s chances
One (vs. CSU) and done (vs. BYU).
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
