The CU Buffs women’s basketball team is on a roll.
The team earned its sixth straight win on Saturday night against the University of Illinois to stay undefeated on the season.
Freshman forward Arielle Roberson had a career-high performance with 25 total points. Among them was a crucial three-pointer to give the Buffs an advantage toward the end of the game.
Sophomore guard Lexy Kresl attempts a lay-up against Wyoming’s Chaundra Sewell during a game on Nov. 28, 2012 at the Coors Events Center. The Buffs defeated The University of Illinois 69-62 on Sunday. (Kai Casey/CU Independent)
The CU Buffs led for a good amount of the first half, but lost some spark as Illinois took a six-point lead going into halftime, 36-30.
Illinois still had a three-point lead with three minutes left in the game — but a collective team effort gave CU a chance at a late comeback, and the Buffs pulled ahead, 63-60.
With just a three-point CU lead and less than 40 seconds left in the game, Roberson nailed a three-pointer on the left wing as the shot clock came close to expiring. Roberson’s three gave the Buffs the spark they needed to pull out a 69-62 win.
Roberson has been the leading scorer for the Buffs continually so far this season, averaging 18.5 points through six games. Sophomore forward Jen Reese also had her best scoring performance with 15 total points, and sophomore guard Jasmine Sborov added 11. Senior guard Chucky Jeffery recorded seven points, three steals, eight rebounds and six assists.
Illinois was led offensively by Alexis Smith, who scored 17 total points.
Throughout the game, the Buffs took advantage of fouls by putting two key Illinois players in foul trouble by half.
The next game for the CU Buffs will be held on Dec. 5 at 5:50 p.m. at the Coors Events Center against Colorado State University. The CU men’s team will also take on CSU in this double-header; the men’s game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jessica Malknecht at Jessica.malknecht@colorado.edu.
