Thursday, February 27, 1997

FORT COLLINS-- Colorado State University lost its regular-season finale tonight to the University of Utah 68-59 at Moby Arena. The Rams go into next week's Western Athletic Conference tournament at 21-6 overall, 12-4 in the conference, having already clinched the Pacific Division No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.

Utah led for all but 1:10 of the game, utilizing a strong inside game and the crisp passing of Alli Bills to improve to 22-4 overall and 15-1 in the WAC with their sole loss coming from the Ute's last encounter with the Rams. The Utes have the Mountain Division No. 1 seed for next week's conference tournament, while San Diego State has the No. 1 seed for the Pacific Division.

Bills posted a triple double for the Utes with 13 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and Hilary King-Noel worked her way free inside for a game-high 20 points.

Katie Cronin led Colorado State with 19 points and eight rebounds. Jacque Johnson was the only other Ram in double figures with 14 points, nine in the second half when Colorado State mounted a small rally. WAC scoring leader Becky Hammon was held to five points - her season low and only the second time this season she has been in single digits.

The Rams made things interesting when Zenarae Pieters hit both ends of a one-and-one to cut the Ute led to 56-53 with 4:36 remaining. The points capped a 16-6 Colorado State run after a three-point play by Kristi Rose gave Utah its biggest lead of the night at 50-37.

Julie Krommenhoek - the WAC's leading 3-point shooter - then answered with her only trifecta of the night to get the lead back to six. Cronin then put in a twisting layup on the other end and Jolene Guthard hit one of two free throws after a Ram stop to make it 59-56.

Bills then found King-Noel free for a layup - her 10th assist of the game - and Colorado State could not find the answer the rest of the way.