The CU women’s basketball team look frustrated as they watch from the sidelines. The Buffs lost to the Washington Huskies 79-67. (Sarah Meisel/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado women’s basketball team fell into a 21-6 hole early against Washington Sunday night and couldn’t dig themselves out.
The Buffs climbed back with a three-point deficit in the first half and 10 points late in the second, but ultimately fell 79-67.
The loss leaves CU (11-14, 4-10) at 10th in the Pac-12.
Junior Colorado forward Jamee Swan scored a team-high 13 points and amassed 12 boards, seven of them on the offensive end. Jen Reese and Haley Smith each added 10 points for the Buffs.
After starting the majority of games in the frontcourt, Swan and Reese both came off the bench for the second straight game.
While Colorado had an advantage statically in rebounds, assists and field goals made, the Huskies dominated at the free throw line, going 32-37 from the charity stripe. CU’s 26 fouls compared to Washington’s 17 made this possible. Seven Buffs had at least two fouls.
Sophomore Washington guard Kelsey Plum, who led the Huskies with 28 points, went a perfect 10-10 from the line. She also took 21 of her team’s 52 shots and made four three-pointers. Plum played all 40 minutes.
It was a poor shooting night for the Buffs. They shot 24-66 total from the field.
“We just couldn’t convert,” head coach Linda Lappe said. “I’m not that upset about it, poor shooting nights are going to happen.”
On a positive note, two Colorado players moved up some spots in the all-time school record book. Sophomore guard Lauren Huggins moved into 15th for three-pointers made and Reese moved up to 22nd in points scored.
The Buffs continue their four-game home stand at 6:30 p.m. this Friday against No. 8 Oregon State (televised on Pac-12 Networks) and play in their last home game this Sunday vs. Oregon at 2 p.m.
Contact CU Independent assistant sports editor Jared Funk-Breay at Jared.funkbreay@colorado.edu
