Colorado sophomore Jamee Swan (50) stuffs the shot of Oregon freshman Drea Toler (1) resulting in a Colorado possession on Monday at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. (Photo Courtesy of Taylor Wilder/Oregon Daily Emerald)
The University of Colorado women’s basketball team beat the University of Oregon at the Ducks’ own game on Monday, Feb. 10 in Eugene. They jumped out to an early lead behind a fast-break offense unseen for great stretches of the season, then held on in a tight second half for an 81-75 victory.
Colorado’s forwards led the way. Junior Jen Reese had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and sophomore Arielle Roberson contributed 17 points and 9 boards.
Ducks freshman guard Chrishae Rowe hit four three-pointers and led Oregon with 23 points.
The three-point shot was the Buffs’ weapon of choice at the beginning. Reese splashed one from the top of the arc, only her eighth three-pointer of the season. Senior guard Brittany Wilson hit her third of the game with 13:33 left in the first half, the Buffs’ fifth make from downtown.
The Buffaloes thoroughly out-hustled the Ducks in the first 20 minutes. Colorado’s threes came out of its half-court offense, but the team scored one transition layup after another. The Buffs ran on made shots, missed shots and turnovers.
Colorado gained as much as a 15-point lead in the first half. The Buffaloes were ahead by double digits until Rowe made a three to cut the lead to 41-32 going into halftime.
Coming out of the break, Oregon turned the game around. The Ducks used a 14-4 run to take a 46-45 lead. Colorado answered that with nine consecutive points as Oregon got into foul trouble. Ducks’ senior forward Danielle Love fouled out, and junior forward Jillian Alleyne went to the bench with four fouls.
The Buffs’ hot shooting cooled off as Oregon slowly climbed back into the game. Colorado’s 61-51 lead halfway through the second half devolved into a 71-70 Ducks advantage with 3:25 left. Two layups by senior center Rachel Hargis and a free throw by Reese gave the Buffaloes a 75-73 lead with a minute left.
Rowe tied it before Reese hit a jumper to give Colorado the lead for good with 43 seconds left, and the Buffs made their free throws to salt it away.
It was a welcomed victory for the Buffaloes after they lost three of their last four games. They will come back home to take on Washington and Washington State this weekend at Coors Events Center.
Buffaloes senior center Rachel Hargis (40) chases down an errant pass during the first half. (Photo Courtesy of Michael Arellano/Oregon Daily Emerald)
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Tommy Wood at Thomas.c.wood@colorado.edu.
