Top-seeded Colorado State women advance in Mountain West tournament

With wins Tuesday, Colorado State, New Mexico and Fresno State advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament.

The Rams, led by 21 points from Elin Gustavsson, beat San Diego State 53-41 in the day’s first game.

Colorado State is undefeated in conference play this season and is the favorite to win the tournament.

“The first game is always difficult as a (No.) 1 seed,” Colorado State coach Ryun Williams said. “Once we got it settled down in our mind and midway through the third and fourth quarter, we started playing a little bit more like us.”

The Rams will play No. 5 New Mexico tonight. The Lobos beat No. 4 San Jose State 65-51 to advance.

Khadijah Shumpert led the Lobos with 26 points in 26 minutes on 11-of-15 shooting.

“I know that the tournament is a time where it’s do or die. And I was in the place — it’s not like I’m going to get a second chance,” Shumpert, a senior, said. “It’s come out and play with all the heart, all the effort and all the energy to make it happen, and that was my mentality.”

Las Vegas native Cherise Beynon finished with nine points and six rebounds in the Lobos’ victory.

In the third quarterfinal, second-seeded Fresno State edged No. 7 Utah State 55-47 behind a double-double from Bego Faz Davalos, who finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds.