LAS VEGAS — At this rate, Colorado State may never leave Las Vegas.
The No. 9-seeded Rams, with an RPI in the nether regions of the 300s, pulled off one of the greatest conference tournament upsets in history tonight toppling No. 12 Utah 60-52 and extending the season to Friday’s women’s Mountain West Tournament semifinals with New Mexico.
The teams came in with opposite records. Utah was 27-3 and 16-0 in the conference. CSU was 3-27 only because the Rams stunned UNLV in Tuesday’s play-in game to end a 20-game losing streak. CSU lost every game in the MWC regular season.
The very small CSU cheering section at the Thomas and Mack, including the men’s team that upset Wyoming earlier, was on its feet. They were outnumbered by stunned Utah fans.
CSU is 80 minutes away from the NCAA Tournament committee’s biggest seeding nightmare.
Rams sophomore Emily Neal had the hot hand in the second half, and led the team with 17 points. Once again, junior-college transfer Amaka Uzomah dominated the boards with 15 rebounds.
After Utah led at halftime 32-30, the Rams hung in with defense. Utah all-MWC first-teamers Morgan Warburton and Leilani Mitchell were a combined 7-of-24 with 7:04 left in the game.
After a 68-28 loss in Salt Lake City on Feb. 2, CSU coach Jen Warden said she had put in some new schemes before the Rams played Utah on March 5. CSU took Utah to the limit before falling 63-58 last week.
