Colorado State Rams Host San José State Spartans In Mountain West Clash

All eyes were on Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colorado, as the Colorado State Rams women’s basketball team hosted the San José State Spartans for a Mountain West showdown on January 17, 2026. The Rams, riding high with a 14-4 record and a third-place standing in the conference, looked to extend their momentum after a nail-biting 65-63 victory over Air Force just days prior. Meanwhile, the Spartans arrived with a 2-16 overall record and a winless mark in Mountain West play, eager to shake off a tough 78-50 defeat at the hands of UNLV and searching for their first conference win of the season.

For the Rams, this matchup was another opportunity to solidify their position among the conference elite, trailing only San Diego State and UNLV. Head coach Ryun Williams, now in his 14th season at the helm and 28th year as a head coach, has steered Colorado State to a remarkable +219 scoring differential this season. The Rams have consistently outperformed their opponents, averaging 67.9 points per game while holding foes to just 55.7—a defensive stat that ranks them 23rd nationally. Their offensive efficiency at home has been particularly impressive, with an average of 70.6 points per contest at Moby Arena, compared to 64.1 on the road.

Leading the charge for Colorado State is Lexus Bargesser, who has been nothing short of electric. Bargesser poured in 19 points against Air Force, and across 18 games, she’s averaging 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. She’s not alone in making an impact. Kloe Froebe and Brooke Carlson each contribute 9.6 points per game, with Froebe adding 5.6 rebounds and Carlson chipping in 2.8 assists. Hannah Ronsiek has also been a key figure, averaging 9.2 points and 4.9 rebounds, while Madelyn Bragg provides additional muscle in the paint with 7.9 points and 4.1 boards per contest.

Offensively, the Rams have leaned on a balanced attack. They average 6.7 three-pointers per game, shooting 31.5% from beyond the arc. Their ability to stretch the floor and get contributions from multiple players has helped them maintain a steady scoring output, even as recent games have seen a slight dip in production—Colorado State has averaged 64.3 points over its last 10 games, a bit below their season mark.

On the other side, the Spartans have endured a challenging season. San José State entered the game with a 2-16 record, including an 0-7 run in Mountain West play. Their struggles on the road were well documented, with 10 straight losses away from home and a historical 2-11 record inside Moby Arena. Despite these hurdles, the Spartans have shown flashes of promise, particularly through the play of Allie Cummins. In the recent loss to UNLV, Cummins exploded for a career-high 20 points, going 7-for-12 from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range. She tallied 13 of those points in the third quarter alone, becoming just the second Spartan this season to surpass the 20-point mark in a game.

Maya Anderson has been the Spartans’ most consistent scorer, leading the team in points in nine games and averaging 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest. Rylei Waugh, though appearing in just nine games, has averaged 9.9 points and 5.2 rebounds. Amira Brown has made her presence felt with 8.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while Stella Sgro and Cummins have provided valuable contributions off the bench. Through 18 games, eight different Spartans have led the team in scoring at least once—a testament to their willingness to share the load, even as they search for offensive consistency.

Statistically, the Spartans have faced an uphill battle. They’ve been outscored by an average of 15.7 points per game, putting up just 56.7 points while allowing 72.4. Their shooting woes have been evident, particularly from three-point range, where they’ve managed only a 25.2% clip. Opponents, meanwhile, have connected on 31.1% of their threes against San José State. The Spartans do, however, rank in the top 100 nationally in several categories, including blocks per game (3.9, 87th) and defensive rebounds (26.5 per game, 100th). Maya Anderson’s high volume of field goal attempts (240, 55th nationally) and Gabriela Pato’s 23 blocks (96th nationally) highlight individual efforts amid a tough season.

The historical series between these two programs has favored Colorado State, with the Rams holding a 23-7 advantage since 1983-84. The last meeting ended in a 90-70 defeat for San José State on March 4, 2025. However, the Spartans have shown they can surprise—their last win over the Rams came on March 2, 2024, when they outscored Colorado State 23-9 in the third quarter to pull away for a 68-56 victory. Four Spartans reached double figures in that game, led by Sofia Kelemeni’s 16 points.

As the teams took to the court this Saturday, the Rams were looking to capitalize on their home-court advantage and stifling defense, while the Spartans aimed to break their conference drought and snap their road losing streak. The matchup pitted Colorado State’s disciplined, multi-pronged attack against a San José State squad determined to find its footing and perhaps catch lightning in a bottle, as they had in previous upsets.

With Bargesser running the show and a supporting cast that includes Froebe, Carlson, Ronsiek, and Bragg, Colorado State has the firepower and defensive grit to challenge any team in the conference. The Rams’ ability to limit opponents’ scoring and control the tempo has been a defining trait, and their home numbers speak volumes about their comfort at Moby Arena. For the Spartans, the keys lie in improved shooting and finding a hot hand—whether it’s Cummins, Anderson, or another emerging scorer—to keep pace with the Rams’ offensive output.

Fans in Fort Collins and those watching from afar were treated to a matchup that, on paper, favored Colorado State, but as any seasoned basketball follower knows, upsets can happen when you least expect them. For the Spartans, it was another chance to test themselves against one of the Mountain West’s best, while the Rams looked to keep their championship aspirations on track.

As the final buzzer approached, the contest remained a testament to the resilience and determination of both squads. Each possession, rebound, and defensive stop was a reminder that in college basketball, every game is an opportunity to rewrite the script. With the Mountain West race heating up, the Rams’ pursuit of the top spot and the Spartans’ quest for a breakthrough victory kept the energy high and the stakes even higher in Fort Collins.