Mackey's career night not enough as CSU spoils Whiting's regular-season debut

PROVO — BYU women's basketball was hitting from everywhere in the first half of the Cougars' season opener at Colorado State: off one foot, from downtown, and off the glass.

Then, in one big third-quarter run, the script flipped with the Rams.

McKenna Hofschild poured in 18 points and nine assists, and Colorado State used a 28-13 run through the third quarter to take control of the Rams' season opener and never let go en route to an 82-62 win Tuesday at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Cailyn Crocker added 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting for the Rams (1-0), who shot 50.8% from the field, 11-of-23 (47.8%) from 3-point range, and close to 60% in the second half to improve to 25-55 all-time against their former Mountain West rivals.

Arielle Mackey-Williams led BYU with a career-high 18 points and five rebounds in head coach Amber Whiting's first regular-season game of her collegiate career, and Lauren Gustin added 12 points, 13 rebounds, and two assists for the visitors who shot just 33.9% from the field and 8-of-26 from deep.

A brand-new starting lineup that featured just returners Gustin and East High product Nani Falatea shot just 33.9% from the field and 8-of-26 from deep with a starting five that also included Mackey-Williams, Amanda Barcello and Emma Calvert.

And the bench? Other than a first-half 3-pointer by Rose Bubakar, who also had three rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes, the Cougars' relievers shot a combined 0-for-3 from the field with only one 3-point attempt.

"The depth has been something that we've known we've had, and it was nice of them to perform tonight," CSU coach Ryun Williams said, who improved to 484-295 as head coach of the Rams. "Cailyn came in and gave us 17 big points and Joseana Vaz comes off the bench and gives us great play. Kendall Kinzer came off the bench and guarded those bigs and rebounded.

"It wasn't just the points, it was the overall play. I thought there was great toughness, and there was never a letdown. If anything, we picked up and the energy just stayed really consistent with the depth we played with tonight."

Falatea added 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists for the Cougars (0-1). The Rams out-scored BYU 40-3 off the bench, limiting Gustin to 10 points and nine rebounds before the walking double-double was forced off the court with her second foul midway through the second quarter and a fourth foul by the start of the fourth.

Trying to replace a bevy of players — including West Coast Conference Player of the Year Shaylee Gonzales and all-conference selections Paisley Harding and Tegan Graham, along with Sara Hamson, the two-time WCC Defensive Player of the Year — takes time and luck. On Tuesday night, the Cougars had little of either.

"I thought Ari have us great production tonight and Lauren was tough inside as well," Whiting said. "I saw some flashes from Emma and Nani in the second half of how they can help us this season. We'll build on that and get ready for Montana State on Saturday."

Mackey-Williams scored 6 points in the first quarter, and BYU used an 8-0 run early to take an 18-17 edge out of the first quarter despite shooting just 37% from the field. Falatea's open 3-pointer gave the Cougars an 18-14 advantage in the final minute of the period, but Hannah Ronsiek swished a trey at the buzzer to pull the host Rams, who opened the game shooting 8-of-18 from the floor, within one at the first quarter break.

Mackey-Williams hit back-to-back triples to open the second quarter, her third and fourth 3-pointers of the night to top her previous career-high with 12. The sophomore from Ngati Porou, New Zealand was feeling it in the first half, scoring a game-high 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including four 3-pointers, to pace a BYU bomb barrage of seven triples that kept the hosts in check.

But even her best efforts, which included a jumper with 51 seconds left, could only muster a 39-35 lead for a team that outrebounded CSU 41-32 and held the Rams to three offensive rebounds.

Of course, who needs boards when shots don't miss?

Colorado State exploded for 28 points in the third quarter, opening the frame with a 7-0 run spurred by seven BYU turnovers and leading by as much as 63-52 on Hofschild's 3-pointer with six seconds remaining as the Cougars shot just 4-of-11 from the field and 1-of-5 from 3-point range after halftime.

BYU never recovered, being outscored 47-23 in the second half.

"Hats off to Colorado State for putting us on our heels in the second half," Whiting said. "They are a great shooting team and demonstrated that tonight. We're going to focus on the positives tonight and look to build on those."

BYU's home opener Saturday against Montana State is scheduled to tipoff at 2 p.m. MST Saturday. The Cougars then turn around to host Oklahoma three days later in the Marriott Center.

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