we enter the final two games of the non-conference slate
This represents the final part of our series covering the Zags’ non-conference schedule. After averaging about one game every four days, the Bulldogs will get a chance to rest prior to the kick-off against CSU, something they will absolutely need after their grueling back-back-back games in the Paradise Jam. Let’s dive into the final two non-conference opponents!
Colorado State: December 8th – Away
The Rams entered this season as the team predicted to finish number 3 in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll while also receiving some individual honors as 6’1” graduate senior forward Emma Ronsiek, a Creighton transfer, was selected as the Preseason MWC Co-Player of the Year and 5’8” Kloe Froebe was selected as the Preseason MWC Freshman of the Year.
Thus far, the Rams have had a bit of up and down season. They currently sit at 6-3 with victories over teams like USF and Oregon State, but loses against teams like BYU and Northern Arizona. Like the Bulldogs, CSU also just finished an early season neutral-site tournament as they participated in the Puerto Rico Classic where they secured a win in their opener over 4-4 Kent State, but lost the next matchup against 3-5 Brown.
As expected, the Rams are led by Emma Rosniek as she’s averaging 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, all team-highs, while also serving as the team’s leader in three point attempts with 6 per game where she’s knocking 32.1% of those shots. Her sister, 5’11” junior guard Hannah Ronsiek, sits in second on the team in scoring, 8.6 per game, and rebounding, 5.2 per game while leading the squad in steals, 1.4 per game, and three point shooting percentage, 38.2%.
The team currently averages 66.3 points per game and restricts opponents to an impressive 55.1 points per game. They’ll look to do the majority of their shooting from outside as they hoist just under 24 threes per game, 74th nationally, compared to just under 34 twos per game, a number that ranks 334th nationally. The aforementioned Rosniek sisters will need to monitored on the perimeter, but the Zags will also need to watch out for two senior guards, 5’8” Hannah Siemental and 6’0” Sanna Strom, as these players are jacking up 4 threes per game and knocking them down at 31.6% and 36.1% efficiency, respectively.
While this team only connects for an average of 14.7 assists per game, they only commit 9.4 turnovers per game. Gonzaga’s turnover propensity has been on full display all year, none so as much as the Paradise Jam, so they will need to trim their mistakes while also forcing CSU into their own errors to help stabilize the game flow.
Transfers Out
Taylor Ray, 6′, G, Fr. (1.4 ppg) → BHSU (DII)
Cali Clark, 6’3, F, Sr. (1.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) → San Diego State
Transfers In
Hannah Simental, 5’8, G, Sr. (12.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg) Northern Colorado → Colorado State
Emma Ronsiek, 6’1, F, Sr. (16.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.7 apg) Creighton → Colorado State
Eastern Washington: December 14th – Home
As to be expected with a smaller school like Eastern Washington, the transfer portal hit the Eagles hard as they lost their 1st and 3rd leading scorers from last year to the portal while also seeing their 2nd leading scorer graduate. Therefore, just a year after winning the Big Sky, this team entered the year with much lower expectations and were selected to finish just 8th in the Preseason Big Sky Conference Coaches Poll.
Now, seven games into the season, the Eagles sit at 2-5 with their wins coming against non-D1 opponent, Walla Walla, and Cal State Bakersfield, a team currently winless in six games thus far. That being said, Easter has faced off against a fairly decent non-conference slate with matches against Washington State, Washington, Portland, St. Mary’s, and Hawaii, although all ended in defeats of varying degrees. They will have two games prior to facing off against Gonzaga, an away matchup against South Dakota State and a home matchup against North Dakota State, so it’s possible that this group gathers two more wins, but that seems more hopeful than based in reality.
The Eagles are led by the graduate senior transfer from Seattle U, 5’9” guard Peyton Howard, who is currently averaging 16.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals. However, after her, the Eagles offensive production falls fairly quickly as no other player is close to double-digit scoring, averaging more than 2 offensive rebounds per game, and only two players have a positive A/T ratio, although that’s sadly better than the Zags.
Eastern’s offense looks fairly balanced with regards to shot distribution as they’re averaging 42.9 shots inside the arc compared to 20.1 shots from deep, although their three point shooting has faired better thus far as the team averages just 40.7% from two, but 34.8% from three. These pale in comparison to the Bulldogs’ shooting efficiency, 47% and 37.1% respectively, so hopefully the defense can hold the ship steady and allow the offense to secure then grow a lead, rather than chase one.
However, the Eagles’ main soft spot looks to be similar to the Zags: turnovers. With a slightly better number than the Bulldogs’ 18.8, Eastern is still committing 16.4 per game so the opportunity is there for easy points from turnovers. Let’s hope it plays this way.
Transfers Out
Andie Zylak, 5’7, G, Jr. (1.6 ppg)
Devynn Warns, 5’7, G, Jr. (1.8 ppg)
Jaleesa Lawrence, 5’10, G, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg) → High Point
Aaliyah Alexander, 5’8, G, So. (14.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg) → UNLV
Jaydia Martin, 6′, F, Jr. (6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg) → Sacramento State
Transfers In
Peyton Howard, 5’9, G, Sr. (7.6 ppg, 2.7 apg) Seattle → Eastern Washington
Paris Kirk, 6’2, F, So.(2.3 ppg) Robert Morris → Eastern Washington