Colorado State to be without star Lexus Bargesser in NCAA Tournament
· Yahoo Sports
A tough end to a sensational season.
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Lexus Bargesser transferred from Indiana to Colorado State ahead of the 2025-26 season for a chance to showcase her dynamic talent in a bigger role.
It worked great for both sides. Bargesser averaged more than 15 points per game, to go with 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game and 1.3 steals per game.
It earned her Mountain West Newcomer of the Year honors. But as the Rams head into the Women's NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, it will be without Bargesser on the floor.
She was injured in the first half of CSU's Mountain West semifinal win over UNLV and didn't play in the final against Air Force. CSU has said Bargesser suffered a "season-ending" injury, without specifying details after she hobbled off the court against UNLV.
"Lex is obviously a very experienced, veteran player that there aren't too many situations that she hasn't seen. For her to not be able to be on the floor, that's a tough thing. It's a tough thing for us, it's a tough thing for Lex," CSU coach Ryun Williams said.
Bargesser averaged 3.4 points per game at Indiana last season and her season-over-season increase in points per game is top-10 among Division I players.
With the Rams opening the NCAA Tournament against a Big Ten team Bargesser has faced often before, Williams has said her knowledge and insight will be used in the prep.
"We still have her experience. We still have her leadership," Williams said.
"It just shows the makeup of this group. Lex, her role might have changed, but her impact can be just as important as if she was on the floor."
The Rams rallied from a deficit to beat UNLV in the semi before stifling Air Force in the title game to earn a bid to March Madness.
With Bargesser injured, CSU used just seven players in the final and only 12 total minutes from bench players.
Sports reporter Kevin Lytle can be found on social media on X, Instagram and Threads @Kevin_Lytle and on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: CSU star Lexus Bargesser out vs Michigan State in NCAA Tournament