Buffs Begin Two-Game Road Trip, Battle Colorado State Wednesday

THE GAME: The University of Colorado begins a two-game road trip as the Buffaloes first travel to Fort Collins to face in-state rival Colorado State on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Moby Arena. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. MST.

BROADCAST: Wednesday's game will air live on KKZN 760 AM. Cory Lopez has the call alongside Carol Callan of USA Basketball. A free live video stream will be available through Colorado State's video player at the following link: www.CSURams.com/videos.

ABOUT THE BUFFS: Colorado is looking to return to the win column on Wednesday night after dropping an 83-61 contest against Florida in the Omni Hotels Classic title game the last time the Buffs took the court on Sat., Nov. 28. After two straight wins to open the season, Colorado has alternated win-loss over its last four games.

Freshman Kennedy Leonard has made quite the impact for the Buffaloes in such a short amount of time. She enters the game as Colorado's second leading scoring, averaging 12.4 points per game and has also dished out a team-leading 30 assists, averaging 6.0 in each contest, which ranks fourth in the Pac-12 Conference as the Buffs' starting point-guard.

In her final year playing in a Buffs' uniform, senior Jamee Swan has been consistent with her play over the first handful of games. Swan is averaging a team-best 14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. She also has a team-leading 11 blocks on the season.

Junior Haley Smith has remained a constant in the Buffs' starting line-up, while averagaing a solid 11.0 points per game and 5.0 rebounds. She has been one of Colorado's most accurate shooters from the field with a .500 field goal percentage and has gone 8-of-9 (.889) from the free-throw line.

The Buffaloes have also received high-energy play from their bench, anchored by freshman Alexis Robinson, who is averaging 9.8 points per game and is coming off one of her best offensive performances of her young career as she scored 21 points against UMass on Nov. 27 at the Coors Events Center.

Junior Lauren Huggins, sophomores Zoe Correal and Brecca Thomas, and freshman Makenzie Ellis have combined to score a quarter of the team's total points this season (95).

ABOUT COLORADO STATE: The Rams are guided by fourth-year coach Ryun Williams and have posted a 5-1 overall record while winning their last two contests.

Colorado State is led on the offensive end of the floor by senior forward Keyora Wharry, averaging 11.3 points per game and is only one of two Rams averaging double-figures.

As a team, the Rams are holding their opponents to 48.7 points per game and just over 30-percent field goal shooting (.324) over their first six games.

Winners of 18 consecutive contests on their home floor, the Rams have also made two straight postseason appearances, making the WNIT in the previous two years.
THE SERIES: The Buffaloes hold a 35-11 all-time record against the Rams as the two teams meet for the 47th time on Wednesday night. Colorado has won five straight and 11 of 13 since 2002. The Buffs, who will be making their 22nd trip to Fort Collins is 12-9 all-time when playing on Colorado State's home court. Last season, Colorado defeated its in-state rival 87-81 at home in double-overtime to win the Omni Hotels Classic.

WHAT'S NEXT?: The Buffaloes conclude their two-game road swing on the west coast as the team travels to southern California to face Long Beach State on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. MST.